The TOP 812 pro rake

Pöttinger raises the bar by adding the TOP 812 to the top end of its range of rakes. This new side-mounted rake meets high expectations in practice regarding raking quality, perfect ground adaptation and minimum forage contamination.

Optimum raking quality at high operating speeds

With a working width of 7.60 m the TOP 812 is the perfect addition to the harvest chain. Pure productivity is guaranteed. Optimum raking quality and high working speeds are ensured by the rotor diameter of 3.70 m and 13 tine arms on each rotor. Like the TOP 722, its smaller brother, the new TOP 812 side swath rake is designed for right-hand placement, matching the right-hand configuration of all tractor controls. This ensures a more relaxed drive and a better view of the swath during operation. Right-hand corners are also easier to drive.

TOP 812

Despite the large rotor diameter of 3.70 m, the transport height remains below 4 m without dismantling the tine arms. As a result, changing from working position to transport position or moving from one field to another can easily be done with this high performance machine without leaving the tractor cab. The rotors are moved from the working position into the transport position by a linkage operated by a hydraulic cylinder. The chassis frame has an outside width of 2.90 m to ensure excellent stability on slopes and optimum safety during operation. With the standard 340/55-16 tyres on the chassis, high travelling speeds are no problem and the rake can be transported quickly and safely.

The height-adjustable main frame enables a lifting clearance of at least 45 cm at headlands thanks to its optimised geometry. As a result, swaths remain intact when driven over, no dirt enters the swath and the swaths can easily be picked up on the next pass, even with high density crops. Because the swaths are intact and are perfectly formed, this can have a decisive influence on the performance of harvesting machinery. The rotors are lifted using a double cylinder, so an interlock stop is not required. An intelligent stepping controller makes sure that the rotors are lifted and lowered in a perfect offset sequence. The stepping sequence can be adjusted to match operating requirements.
The manoeuvrability of this rake is sensational: with a steering angle of 80 degrees and a driveline with wide-angle joints at both ends plus freewheel gear, you can turn at headlands without stopping. This greatly increases productivity. No need to waste time with headland manoeuvres; the steered chassis runs like on rails behind the tractor both in the field and on the road.
Perfect ground tracking, one of the most important criteria for rakes, was a vital factor in developing the TOP 812, which features the new rotor chassis with Multitast jockey wheel (optional, can also be retrofitted). The cardanic suspension enables perfect adjustment to all ground undulations by up to +/- 5 degrees. The standard 5-wheel active chassis with two tandem axles each and a jockey wheel within the arc of the tines guides the rotor with precision over every bump. The 16 x 6.5-8 tyres guarantee smooth running. The tandem axles can be adjusted accurately using the proven spindle system - so the transverse angle can be set with precision. Additional 'Multitast' jockey wheels are available for operations on extremely uneven ground. The position of the Multitast jockey wheel has been optimised: located in the centre of the raking area it forms part of an enlarged triangle for stability to provide much smoother operation and a reduction in overall length of the rake. The Multitast jockey wheels, which have been proven many thousand times over, make sure that the tines never scrape the ground. Over crests the Multitast wheel is raised slightly, pressing the front of the rotor downwards, while in troughs the Multitast wheel lifts the front of the rotor to prevent the tines from scraping. Optimum raking quality and the cleanest forage is guaranteed with this system.

The rotor unit itself has been developed a stage further, combining a proven system with new features: The new 3.70 m rotor with 13 tine arms retains several proven properties. On the TOP 812 Pöttinger offers the largest cam track diameter of 420 mm and a bearing spacing of 700 mm. Both these properties ensure uniform tine movement and give the tine arms maximum stability with minimum stress on the arm bearings. The tine arms are easy to replace using just two bolts. If a collision should occur, a damaged tine arm can easily be removed and replaced. This is another positive contribution to ensuring availability of the machine. The cam track can be adjusted according to match changing forage quantities and harvesting conditions. The rotor transmission unit is extremely rugged with the gears submerged in oil and completely sealed. A large diameter gear wheel guarantees smooth running and a long service life. The complete system is fully encapsulated and sealed to keep out dust.

The results of the development of the TOP 812 are more productivity at the same as greater stability and enhanced maintenance friendliness.