Diesel domination and the quest for more hp
Throughout the history of tractor engine development, one of the key drivers has been the quest for more power. With each successive new Massey Ferguson range, horsepower increased in line with growing demand for greater performance and productivity.
When Massey-Harris-Ferguson changed its name to Massey Ferguson in 1958, the first two tractors to carry the new insignia were the MF 35 and the MF 65. The MF 65 was also the first MF tractor to be fitted with a Perkins engine (a 4-cylinder Perkins 4.192). At 50.5hp this put Massey Ferguson firmly into the high horsepower bracket of the time. The MF 35 was made available with a Perkins 3.152 engine later in 1959.
Although the diesel engine was relatively new in mass production (the first diesel – a Standard 2092 cc was fitted to a Ferguson TEF20 in 1951), Perkins engines had earned a worldwide reputation for performance, durability and excellent fuel economy – attributes that perfectly matched the MF tractor philosophy. The link with the UK-based Perkins Engines was further cemented in 1959 when the company merged with Massey Ferguson. Perkins units remained the number one power source for MF equipment for the next 40 years and still feature strongly today, together with units from SisuDiesel, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGCO Corporation.
From the 1960s to 1980s, engine power rose progressively. In 1989, Massey Ferguson’s largest model was the MF 3680 at 180hp. A key milestone came in the early 1990s with the introduction of the Dynatorque engine and Quadram combustion system. Dynatorque’s unique characteristics provided a high torque rise at PTO speeds and high torque values at lower engine speeds. Quadram, introduced on Perkins 1000 Series engines in the MF 3005 tractor range, featured a four-lobed combustion bowl to control and optimise air swirl in the combustion chamber, thereby making the air and fuel mixing process more effective. As well as boosting fuel efficiency, Quadram knocked 3dBa off noise levels. A sign of things to come.
As the 1990s moved on, there was increasing emphasis on fuel economy, power efficiency, noise and emissions to produce the outstanding range of engines available in MF machines today.
Power gets greener and more intense
“At Massey Ferguson, our underlying philosophy has always been to create the best engineering design and yet keep things robust, simple and straightforward,” explains Campbell Scott, Massey Ferguson’s General Brand Development Manager. “This is just the case with our advanced Tier III engines that meet the latest stringent emissions legislation. We had the best engine technology 50 years ago and we have the best today.”
These Tier III engines feature a common rail fuel injection system (so called because it refers to the fact that each individual fuel injector is fed by a common manifold) and four valves per cylinder. The solutions used for reducing emissions have simultaneously enabled the increase of power density (in other words the generation of more power within the same capacity cylinder) and torque level while maintaining good fuel economy. Lower noise and lower frequency levels have also helped contribute to exceptionally quiet operator environments in Massey Ferguson cabs – reduced to as low as 71dBa
As we will see with so many MF machine developments, electronics now play a significant role. Electronic Engine Management uses an electronic control unit to regulate and optimise the injection pressure to match every individual operating condition and load. By analysing the engine’s demand more than 100 times every second, the system regulates the fuel quantity and injection timing to precisely suit the load. Injection is phased in up to five stages, which is key to reducing emissions while maintaining fuel efficiency.
The very latest news on the Massey Ferguson engine front is that all SisuDiesel-equipped machines are now approved to run on 100% bio-diesel (B100).
Ends
About AGCO
Founded in 1990, AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AG) (www.agcocorp.com) is a global manufacturer of agricultural equipment and related replacement parts. AGCO offers a full product line including tractors, combines, hay tools, sprayers, forage, tillage equipment and implements, which are distributed through more than 3,000 independent dealers and distributors in more than 140 countries worldwide. AGCO products include the following well-known brands: AGCO®, Challenger®, Fendt®, Gleaner®, Hesston®, Massey Ferguson®, RoGator®, Spra-Coupe®, Sunflower®, Terra-Gator®, Valtra®, and White™ Planters. AGCO provides retail financing through AGCO Finance. The company is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, and in 2007 had net sales of $6.8 billion.
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