Valtra T-Series Tractor Review
Words and Photography Howard Shanks
The flourishing, rolling red-soil fields of North East Tasmania are the perfect place to see the big white Valtra T-Series tractor demonstrate its versatility. The Valtra T-Series is blessed with more than just stunning good looks. In fact, the model range has racked up an impressive collection of awards, including “Machine of the Year” two years in a row and a “Golden Tractor” for design. But what makes the Valtra T-Series stand out from its competitors is its “smart connectability”, as Howard Shanks discovered.
But let’s forget about the “smart-stuff” for a moment, because without a robust backbone, a sound engine and transmission, the newfangled “smart-stuff” would be of little consequence. Yet, thankfully, under this sleek curved bonnet is a 7.4 litre engine with a tenuous heart that delivers the right amount of power to the Powershift transmission for the most economical operation.
Here in the red soil fields of Tasmania, the big white Valtra is a rumbling beast. As soon as turn the key is turned and the engine cranks into life, you know what horsepower sounds like; it’s a machine that says, “I’m ready for work”.
The T-Series combines raw power with smart farming features, including auto-guidance, customizable settings, and class-leading cab comfort.
AGCO Power
The Valtra’s engine is manufactured in house at AGCO Power’s engine plant that has been situated in Linnavuori, Finland, for more than 70 years. The engine plant enjoys a proud reputation as one of the world’s leading engine builders, employing 700 people and producing more than 30,000 engines per year.
In an AGCO engine promotional video, the narrator begins by saying, “it is a common belief that you cannot have horsepower and fuel economy; you either have one or the other“. According to the video, if you watch it a little longer, this is merely an old wives’ tale because the AGCO engine in the Valtra T-Series is both very powerful and extremely economical. For those who care about engine specifications, the 7.4 litre stage-4 engine uses SCR with a large 70-litre AdBlue tank which only requires filling after every third or fourth fill of the 380-litre main diesel tank. The T-Series engine design package helps reduce fuel consumption with 2000 bar injection pressure, an optimised cooling package, a high pillar air intake, electronic viscous fan control, and enhanced heat removal. Maximum engine torque starts as low as 1500RPM.
In addition, the engine’s unique Sigma-Power feature gives up to 36 additional horsepower (27kW) for PTO work when required. Valtra’s Sigma-Power is especially useful when working with implements that demand a lot of PTO power, such as chippers, mowers, or power harrows.
The marriage of the in-house AGCO engine to the in-house Valtra Powershift transmission delivers one of the most economical, versatile and smoothest shifting agricultural transmissions on the market. In automatic modes, the tractor gear shifts automatically based on your acceleration and torque requirements at the time. It is constantly fine-tuning the fuel delivery and gear selection to provide the most efficient operation, all the while minimising fuel usage.
Powershift Transmission
The 5-step Powershift transmission has four available ranges in the HiTech, Active or Versu transmission options. When combined with the two creeper ranges, the Valtra T-Series has 30 gear ratios available in either forward or reverse directions.
The gear lever is located in the armrest, which allows the operator easy access to select between auto and manual mode. Included with each Powershift transmission is a Hill-hold feature. The Hill-hold feature enables the machine to start smoothly, without any roll-back, with only a tap of the accelerator even when facing uphill.
The simplicity of the Valtra Powershift operation is a welcomed feature. The machine’s default gear mode is “Auto”, you merely select the direction of travel, and the Powershift transmission will make the optimum shifting discissions based on the load, speed and gradient.
In fact, when the Powershift is in “Auto” mode, the gear shifting is so seamless, it almost feels like it is a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Valtra Powershift also features a ground-breaking, patented hydraulic assistant that automatically delivers supplementary hydraulic output, either stationary or driving, with no adverse effect on driving speed.
Cabin Features
The Valtra T-Series cabin is certainly not the biggest on the market. Yet, its clever design that bulges through the middle and narrows at the top affords the feeling of a very generous operating environment. Meanwhile, the narrow five-pillar cabin design with a slim exhaust pipe imparts excellent panoramic views out of the cabin, which is especially handy for loader and reversing work. The 270 degree sweep front wiper certainly keeps the heated front windscreen clear in all conditions. Furthermore, you can see the front loader bucket easily through the sky-view roof window.
Interestingly the black panel mode is a welcome feature for night operation, which allows the interior to be dimmed to maximise outside visibility. Meantime the optional safety camera provides an unimpeded view of the hitch or working device.
The Valtra T-Series boasts a 2995 mm wheelbase which provides good stability along with a steady ride even over the roughest paddocks. But thanks to the cleverly designed steering geometry and narrow engine construction, this large machine is very agile, with a turning radius of only 5.25-meters. There is plenty of ground clearance too with 600mm (1.96-feet) of space from the ground to the bottom of the tractor.
The T Series delivers excellent grip thanks to its front and rear weight distribution of 40 per cent and 60 per cent, respectively. The rear lift capacity of 95kN is one of the highest in the market for this size machine. The unique 890 mm (2.91 ft) lift height makes it easy to work with various implements. The tractor boasts both a three-speed, electrically controlled PTO and a Ground Speed PTO in the T-Series models.
Smart Farming utilises positioning signals from satellites to map fields and to guide the tractor.
Smart Farming
Valtra offers an in house designed advanced set of intelligent farming technologies that integrate seamlessly together. The systems called; Auto-Guide, ISOBUS, AgControl Section, AgControl Variable Rate, and TaskDoc, are all controlled via the SmartTouch terminal.
These systems automatically guide the tractor and implements to improve accuracy and precision, reduce working time, and ensure farmers get better yields and better return on their investment.
Smart Farming utilises positioning signals from satellites to map fields and to guide the tractor. Satellite guidance then makes automatic steering far more accurate than manual steering, so the tractor will be precisely where it needs to be at every turn, in every field, in all conditions to minimise overlap.
By using satellite maps and ISOBUS control, each implement can then be automated to vary the way it works in other parts of each field and different rows. For example, AgControl Section automates section control functions in implements, and AgControl Variable Rate automates and controls variable rate application functions.
And, much like an early morning TV infomercial, “but wait, there’s more!” all of these intelligent farming systems beam their information up to the “cloud”. Then through the Valtra Connect smartphone app, it can display history and real-time data of tractor activity and GPS coordinates on your mobile device, and you can access the data anywhere, anytime. This data is beneficial for scheduling maintenance and servicing requirements.
A great AGCO trait is the separate transmission and hydraulics oil reservoirs, which I genuinely believe is a real plus. The long-extended oil drain intervals are another actual cost of ownership saver; 600 hours for the engine, 1200 hours on hydraulics and a 2400-hour oil drain for the transmission, which is hard to beat.
Overall, the Valtra T-Series is undoubtedly an impressive machine; it’s an exceptionally well-made machine with an abundant supply of lower and raised A/C vents around the spacious cabin. The ride is very comfortable with a smooth, user-friendly transmission, and the panoramic vision out of the cabin is exceptional. While the fine weather meant the 270-degree windscreen wiper and heated windscreen didn’t get a workout, their addition will not go unappreciated during the inclement winter months. Furthermore, the location of two spools and the PTO and linkage control on the rear guards make the machine a more efficient and safer workplace.
ENDS.
Specifications: Valtra T-series
Engine: AGCO Power 74 LFTN-D5
Capacity: 7.4 litres
Emission Control: Stage-V
Power: 175HP – 235HP (129kW – 173kW)
Torque: 545 lbs-ft – 686 lbs-ft (740Nm -930Nm)
Transmission: Powershift 30-speed
Wheelbase: 2995mm
Length: 5800mm
Height: 3130mm
Turing Radius: 5.25-meters
Fuel Capacity: 380-litres
Ad-Blue Capacity: 70-litres
Ground Clearance: 600mm
Weight: (full tanks): 7300kgs
Weight Distribution: 40/60
Max Front Axle Weight: 5500kgs
Max Rear Axle Weight: 9000kgs
GVM: 13500kgs
Powerlift: 78kN x 868mm
