This is a subscriber-only article
Case IH has been manufacturing the Puma since 2007. For the past 10 years these machines have been the mid-range of Case tractors, ranging from 130hp power up to 210hp.
The 150, which I tested, is the smallest of the current Pumas and produces 150hp before the EPM (engine performance management) kicks in – upping the output to 190hp.
The Puma 150 is powered by a 6.7-litre FPT common rail diesel engine with a 19x6 semi power shift gearbox, which was rated to 40 kph while running at less than 2,000rpm. This is known as 40kph eco.
In the Field
The Puma 150 was attached to a Tulip Multi disc 300xl vario-s, consisting of two rows of large disks, a set of five deep cultivation legs and a packer roller.
A sizeable piece of cultivation equipment to give the Puma a good test.
Hooking up to the cultivator was as easy as you would expect, with all the necessary controls at hand on the arm rest and easy to get used to.
Once lined up to the machine and out of the cab, the fender-mounted controls were very responsive and well-positioned. Access to the bank of hydraulic couplings required to lower and raise the deep cultivation legs was easy, with lots of room to get past the cultivator.
Once hooked up, the distance from the tractor to the back of the packer roller was considerable, giving some serious leverage.
Once back in the cab, the machine was lifted slowly so as to see if the front wheels got light on the ground.
The Puma comes with a 600kg weight block mounted on its front linkage, but still got a little light when the cultivator came up off the ground.
This is not a problem, just a reminder that heavier weights may be required to make things more comfortable and stable on the road.
Once in the field, it took around a minute setting up the working depth and forward speed before we were off. The semi power shift gearbox allows for easy control of the forward speed and changes are easily made with multi controller.
On the multi controller there are also the up and down buttons for the lift arms, forward reverse shuttle buttons, a valve control and a headland management system start button.
When using this cultivator there was no need to use any other control in the cab when starting or ending a bout width. This made working for long hours very easy.
Even if a more complicated implement which requires more input is used the multi controller should still make operating it simple and painless. The multi controller also functions as the hand throttle literally making everything you need at hand.
With the cultivator in the ground, the Puma was more than able to travel at working speeds of 10km/h plus without any strain on the engine and the gearing allowed for very precise control of speed. Speeds of over and above 15km/h are possible, but not advisable with a demo machine.
One of the headlands of the test field was on a bit of a slope and when faced up the slope the front wheel had a tendency to get light if throttle inputs were anything but silky smooth. Again, more weight would solve this problem.
For the full time in the field, the five deep working legs were lowered to their maximum depth, but still caused no problems.
The legs could be adjusted using the electronic spool valve switches, of which there were four. Having these allows for a sequence to be programmed into the HMS system, if required.
A farmer who used the same system to sow with a one pass earlier in the year told me that it was very easily programmed and greatly improved his output and comfort.
The Puma was very impressive in the field, with lots of power and just enough gadgetry to keep the tech-savvy farmer happy.
Pulling a trailer
As it worked out, the day that I tested the Case a neighbour was pulling beet – the perfect opportunity to put the Case’s trailer manners to the test.
The tractor was attached to an 18ft Dooley trailer for the day. Hooking up was easy, with good visibility from the cab using the telescopic hitch.
This tractor had the TMR (Tractor Mother Regulation) standard double mirror with electric controls in the cab. This made them very easy to set up for good visibility along the side of the trailer.
On the road with no load on board, the Case cruised at 40km/hr at less than 2,000rpm.
Once in the field, automatic four wheel drive was engaged and progress was good. Conditions were good for this time of year, but still got mucky once the field had been trafficked at all.
The beet was being pulled by a six row self-propelled harvester, so a fleet of four tractors was required for the 5km trip to the yard.
Once loaded, the Puma got moving without any problem, making light work of the very mucky gap thanks to the four wheel drive.
Once on to the road, shifting up through the semi power shift gearbox was close to seamless, with only a slight stutter between ranges.
On the route back to the yard there were a couple of serious inclines which the Puma managed with consummate ease.
With the weighing scales in the yard reading 14.7t, the Puma’s smooth road pulling and field escape were all the more impressive.
Verdict
The 150 is the smallest of the current Puma range, and given its horsepower it would be suitable for many different farmers, from the larger drystock or dairy farmer to the medium-sized tillage operator.
The thing I liked most about this tractor was that it had enough technology to make it of use to a tech-savvy operator, but could also be driven in a very simple manner if required.
On the power front, I never found it wanting, either when pulling the cultivator in the field or the 14t of beet on the road.
This model of the Puma in this specification comes with a price tag from €88,000 + VAT.
SHARING OPTIONS: