Contractors who like to use a wheeled loader to fill and consolidate silage clamps have a new option in the New Holland W170B.

Kitted out with Alliance 750/65R26 tyres to give it plenty of grip and flotation, the 14.8t machine packs a ZF torque converter four-speed transmission with manual or auto powershift, limited slip diff axles and Ride Control suspension for the loader booms.

Electronic management delivers different power outputs according to need: 157hp for light duties, 182hp for regular loading work and 194hp when max muscle is needed.

Locating the 6.7-litre FPT industrial engine in the tail behind – rather than ahead of the cooling pack – means it acts as a useful counter-weight and a smaller steel block weight is needed.

Air is drawn in through grilles immediately behind the cab over a single-layer cooling pack arranged on both sides and above the hydraulic oil tank. The fan can be reversed under manually control or automatically every 30 minutes to clear any debris.

* For more stories, pictures and videos from Grassland & Muck 2011.

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