In a potato harvester, a drive axle is not only a useful feature, but also the technically and economically most appropriate solution for a wide range of harvesting conditions.
Improved traction is a key factor. Potato harvesting often involves working on soggy, loose or hilly soil. With non-driven axles, this quickly leads to the tractor slippage. A drive axle ensures that the available traction can be actively utilised. The harvester runs more smoothly, stays on track and can work reliably even under difficult conditions.
The reduction of the tractor's load also plays an important role. Without a drive axle, the tractor not only has to pull, but also to overcome increased rolling and slip resistance. With a driven axle, the harvester actively supports forward movement and prevents soil from accumulating in front of the wheels. This reduces the traction requirement and means that smaller or more efficiently utilised tractors can be used.
Another important factor is soil protection. Slippage results in soil compaction and smear planes, precisely what you want to avoid on arable land. The drive axle reduces wheel spin and distributes power more evenly. Results: less compaction, improved soil structure and long-term increase in crop yields.
The drive axle also scores highly in terms of work quality and safety. Uniform feed motion ensures consistent harvesting performance, clean separation of soil from tubers and less blockages. At the same time, driving stability improves, especially on slopes or when turning at the headland, which is a safety factor that should not be underestimated.
New drive axle
The new drive axle and the Black Bruin wheel hub motors combined with a separate hydraulic pump, deliver maximum thrust and traction. The ROPA has specially developed a control block that enables sensitive control of the drive axle and smooth engagement while driving.
An anti-skid control (ASC) prevents the wheels from spinning, which improves driving performance, protects soil and increases operational safety on wet ground and slopes.
In automatic mode, ISOBUS automatically switches between forward and reverse driving. The wheel drive is also fully available at the headland.
Despite the powerful drive technology, the outer width remains at 3.0 m, making it possible to drive on public roads without restrictions.
Practical insights
The benefits of additional drive technology become particularly apparent when working on extremely wet fields, as the machine remains operational even when high traction is required.
The drive axle actively supports forward motion and drives the machine reliably forward, even when the tractor's tyres reach their limits. This means that the machine retains its operational capability even on soggy soil, and harvesting can proceed efficiently.
The ROPA Keiler 2 RK22 video shows what further cleaning options are available in Keiler 2 RK22 under these conditions.
If harvesting conditions are very wet and the soil sticks strongly to the potatoes, it is important to clean the tubers to ensure good quality of the harvest.
An effective solution is offered by "double unloading" with an overloading bunker:
The integrated transfer roller at the transfer point from bunker trough to unloading conveyor provides additional separation of soil and dirt!
In addition, the unloading conveyor is constructed as a sieve conveyor. This ensures additional sieving during the unloading process, so that adhering soil is constantly detached and sieved out effectively.
A bit of fun from customers in Denmark – using the Keiler 2 as a receiving bunker
In the latest fun video, a ROPA Keiler 2 RK22 transfers its load into another Keiler 2 RK22, demonstrating what additional soil removal is possible under these conditions.
When harvesting conditions are very wet and soil adheres heavily to the potatoes, thorough cleaning of the tubers is essential to safeguard crop quality.
The integrated transfer roller at the handover point between the bunker trough and the unload conveyor provides an additional cleaning action, removing soil and debris!
In addition, the unload conveyor is designed as a sieve conveyor. This achieves a further sieving effect during the unloading process, ensuring that adhering soil is continuously loosened and effectively screened away.