Two users highlight advantages of remapped tractors

Agricultural machinery remapping is now a key tool used by many farmers and contractors to increase the output and efficiency of tractors, combines, foragers, loaders and other farm equipment.

Avon Tuning HD is a leading provider of the service and has over a decade of experience fitting remapping solutions to farm machinery.

We speak to two users who have benefited from having remaps professionally installed and supported by the experienced technician network.

Grassland contractor improves output for shorter-wheelbase tractors

Perched 250m above sea level with some land higher than 300m, a grass harvesting outfit that can beat the breaks in the weather is essential.

Graham turned to professional remapping when his three John Deere 6150R tractors suffered power loss during simple tasks such as hauling silage trailers and mowing.

Graham, and son Sam, use three John Deere 6150R for all the main works including mowing, raking and hauling silage at Chelker House Farm in Addingham, West Yorkshire, with the tractors between eight and nine years old.

Two of the JD 6150R tractors that have been remapped © Avon Tuning HD

“The shorter wheelbase machines are ideal for us as we have tight lanes and gateways, so even the larger 6R models would be too big,” says Graham.

He continues: “We used our local service engineer, Tom Eckton, who is part of the Avon Tuning HD network.

“The mowers were the biggest reason for getting the tractors remapped as they are power hungry.”

The output of the tractors with the twin mowers in a good silage crop was around 7kph, but bigger problems were faced when the front mower hit some already cut grass at the end of a row.

“The tractor just died and had nothing left to give,” says Graham. “It forced the operator to lift or slow to crawl.”

However, since the remap, the output has been impressive. The tractors have been increased to within the safe limits of the engine and drivetrain, as reliability is still key.

“The tractors can now handle the mowers at 15kph comfortably and can manage to cut grass and keep running to the end of the row even in the thickest crops.

“It means we can drop more grass per day which the forager can easily clear.”

Other jobs handled by the tractors include a 2,300gal slurry tanker, twin- and four-rotor rakes, along with hauling grass using 12t Bailey trailers.

In wet, heavy crops, the tractors struggled to keep up with the Claas Jaguar 870 forager, meaning output of the harvester was limited.

“This costs time and money and can lead us to miss valuable weather windows or getting finished on one farm before moving to another,” says Graham.

He also says that fuel use hasn’t increased as the wider benefits to the operation must be considered.

“Any fuel use increase is offset by greater output when mowing and hauling trailers.

“I also must factor in the implications that running an underpowered tractor has through slowing the forager down, which incurs greater cost,” concludes Graham.

Valuable additional power increases safety on existing fleet

Bigger implements and an increasing workload meant Louis Ford needed more output than his New Holland T6080 could offer him, but upgrading to a new tractor couldn’t be justified at the time.

The farm, in Olveston, Gloucestershire, purchased a larger 16t Richard Western silage trailer to match the contractor’s forager, and the subsequent arrival of a New Holland BB9080 large square baler meant the T6080 started to feel underpowered.

Haulage efficiency has been increased at silage time © Avon Tuning HD

“The turning point with the T6080 came in a really wet autumn when I was hauling maize for a local contractor but struggling to pull the full 16t trailer up the slopes,” explains Louis.

“At times it was touch and go if I would make it to the top, which was starting to worry me from a safety perspective.”

After doing his research, Louis found tractor remapping specialist Avon Tuning HD could safely increase the power and torque of his New Holland within the parameters of the engine.

Avon developed a new map by calibrating the boost and torque delivery, alongside aspects such as fuel injection duration and quantity, all of which contribute to safe improvements of power and torque.

Avon Tuning’s Disport remapping device plugged into the tractor © Avon Tuning HD

“It took a couple of hours for Avon Tuning HD to fit a stage 1 remap to the engine and I was back hauling maize that afternoon.

“The remap has increased my T6080’s power output from 160hp to 200hp, which is still within the safe operating limits of the engine and running gear.”

When the time came to add a second tractor – a 2017 NH T7.210 – Louis immediately fitted it with a tailored Avon Tuning HD map, which increased power from the standard 166hp up to 208hp, and the boosted output from 196hp to 246hp.

The purchase of the T7 coincided with the arrival of a Bunning Lowlander 120 manure spreader and a baler wrapper.

Louis says that, pleasingly, it is only work rates that have increased across the 1,000 hours per year and fuel use has remained very similar to before.

“We’re still using the same amount of fuel, but we can operate larger and wider machinery, or save time by increasing working speeds.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to remap our next tractor, but getting specialist advice on the modification is essential.

“I believe there are big financial savings and logistical benefits through not buying a higher horsepower machine, but we are only realising this as the remapping work has been professionally carried out,” concludes Louis.