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The 6% increase in the pulling power of the 8400R (compared with the 8370R model) will enable the tractor to pull wider implements in the field, according to John Deere.
The company is pushing hard on the point that this tractor converts 91% of its rated horsepower to the ground. They company has stayed away from the traditional CVT transmission and instead used an E23 direct drive gearbox. It offers a full 23-speed powershift transmission and achieves 40km/h in 19th gear.
The top three gears in the transmission are designed to reduce engine rpm when conditions allow it. They are essentially economy gears, allowing the tractor to run at its top speed of 50km/h, but at reduced engine revs on the road.
The transmission is controlled by a small right-hand gear lever and can be effectively driven in one of three main modes – fully manual, fully automatic or a blend of both in custom mode. The 8RT Series tracked range will also be updated for next year, to add more power, comfort and functionality.
Powered by a new John Deere 9-litre Stage IV-compliant engine, incorporating an updated piston design, the 8400R will deliver up to 450hp with intelligent power management (IPM).
This model’s E23 transmission is supported by the efficiency manager feature. As a result, the 8400R offers a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 2% compared with the officially tested and proven fuel efficiency of the 8370R model, according to John Deere.
The new 8400R tractor also features the same level of equipment as the rest of the 8R series, including various seat options, an integrated hydraulic joystick and the CommandARM console with CommandCentre display.
Beside these updates, the 7R, 8R and 9R series tractors will benefit from enhanced connectivity and integration into the John Deere FarmSight range of precision farming solutions.
Deere says the newly designed StarFire 6000 satellite receiver features enhanced SF1 signal accuracy from 23cm down to 15cm, a new SF3 signal with 3cm path to path accuracy, in-season repeatability, faster signal acquisition and a one-year subscription, plus an updated RTK/mobile RTK option.
A new optional locking device for better theft protection will also be available. JD Link will come as standard on the high-horsepower and combine from the manufacturer.
Other options include a new connectivity package featuring JDLink and remote display access (RDA), the fourth-generation CommandCentre display and settings manager, which allows the operator to save and recall all vital machine settings at a later date or stage of operation.
Settings manager helps to reduce setup time when implements need to be changed or a new operator uses the tractor. This will not be available until next year at some stage.
John Deere also highlighted the change to the rear axle. To provide extra durability and improved wheel attachment, the new 8400R tractor features as standard a more robust double flat-axle design with an overall width of 255cm.
John Deere said the new ductile iron hubs will further enhance durability and allow the installation of 970kg rear wheel weights to transfer the improved pulling capacity more efficiently to the ground. This new rear axle design will be optionally available on the smaller 8R series models.
John Deere added that this size of tractor conventional tractor can be fully utilised and remain road legal. They company commented in its research that a tractor with higher horsepower will not satisfy the legal road weight limit and have the optimal power to weight ratio in the field.
John Deere is focusing on efficient transfer of power and operator comfort. John Deere also commented that it is not interested in developing a hybrid tracked and conventional tractor.
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