The latest self-propelled windrower from John Deere will make swathing faster and easier for canola farmers the company claims. The new W170 Windrower is compatible with a wide variety of draper heads and has been especially designed to help small grain customers tackle heavy crop and hilly conditions.
Customers can expect to experience a number of improvements compared with this machine’s predecessor, the John Deere W155.
“During benchmarking studies in heavy crop conditions, the W170 Windrower showed an impressive 20% productivity gain,” Nick McKelvey, John Deere marketing manager for windrowers, says.
Some of the productivity gain can be attributed to more ground clearance and wider walking beams. “With 46 inches of ground clearance and 12-inch-wider walking beams, tall windrows can flow easily beneath the machine’s frame and are corralled by a new swath compressor. The swath compressor forms loose crop into a tight, uniform windrow, making it easier for a combine to pick up, eliminating the need for a canola roller.”
Equipped with a 4.5L engine, the W170 also has 12% more horsepower than the older W155.
“The engine is paired with a higher-capacity, variable-speed fan that can be reversed, making it easier for operators to clean,” a John Deere press statement explains.
The transport speed of the W170 has been increased to 27.3, making it the fastest in the industry. This allows operators to cut downtime moving between fields and to increase time working.
AutoTrac Option
Farmers can add the John Deere AutoTrac guidance system to the W170 Windrower for improved line acquisition and online accuracy.
“Using AutoTrac, customers can harvest more comfortably and more accurately. AutoTrac also reduces operator fatigue, saves fuel by reducing overlap, and helps customers swath more acres in less time,” says McKelvey.
The John Deere website explains the fully integrated AutoTrac Controller uses hydraulics to steer the machine, which provides more precise control than the AutoTrac Universal solution.
The AutoTrac kit option can be ordered from the factory. The hydraulic kit will be shipped with the machine, but the AutoTrac Controller kit and mounting kit will ship separately.
The W170 is compatible with the GS3 and 2630 display and the GS2 1800 display.
Draper Headers
Seven new John Deere draper headers provide improved access to the end shield and are available in 15- to 45-foot widths. The larger 30- and 45-foot drapers give operators the ability to swath faster in high-yielding canola fields due to deeper belts with 30% more capacity.
The new draper models are 1415D, 1420D, 1425D, 1430D, 1435D, 1440D, and 1445D.
Attaching or removing the header is easy with single side hydraulic hookups.
Operators can reduce plugging problems by paying attention to the belt slip warning.
One-touch return buttons can be programmed to simplify header height control, tilt, knife speed, and reel operation.
Operator Experience
Improvements have also been made to the cab to keep operators more comfortable for long days of work.
“A 6-inch wider cab is quieter and more comfortable than previous models,” says McKelvey. “Two trim levels for the cab are available and include a leather seat and telescoping steering. For work at night, the new W170 Windrower has eight LED lights that provide outstanding 360-degree visibility.”
A smoother ride can be attributed to the four-point independent cab suspension. Four coil-spring shock absorbers are paired with fore-aft and side-to-side stabilizers to minimize cab roll.
Price and Availability
The W170 is built in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada. Orders will be accepted for the windrower beginning September 5, 2018. Pricing will also become available at that time. To learn more, visit johndeere.com or talk to your local dealer.