New step in harvesting capacity combines

Last November, John Deere showcased a concept of its upcoming X9 flagship combine harvester series at the Agritechnica exhibition. The American manufacturer did however not disclose much more details at the time than just the capacity.

John Deere claims that the X9 1100 can harvest up to 30 acres per hour in wheat. And that it can harvest up to 7,200 bushels (about 180 ton) per hour in high-yielding maize, which is more than enough to fill 7 semi-trailer trucks per hour. To put this in perspective; in 2018, a Claas Lexion 760 Terra Trac combine broke the world record with an average harvesting capacity of 135 tons of corn per hour.

The backgrounds and concepts of that impressive capacity are now revealed with videos and on the company’s website.

There are two models, the 1000 with maximum 630 hp engine power and the 1100 with 690 hp. Both machines get their power from a 13.6 litre JD PowerTech engine. John Deere claims that the X9 has 45% more harvesting capacity than its previous flagship machine, the S790, at just 11% more horsepower. At the same time, fuel consumption would be 20% lower.

The new John Deere X combines deliver an average of 45% more harvesting capacity across all crops, with no sacrifice in grain quality. And this all while using 20% less fuel claims Deere.

Flexible headers

New headers have also been developed for the combines, including the 50-foot (15.25-meter) HD50R. Instead of an auger, it has a belt with a profile that guides the crop to the central intake. A newly designed thread on the belt ensures that lost grains do not roll off the header but go into the machine. The ends of the header can move up and down by half a meter to accommodate for uneven grounds.

Although the capacity has increased significantly, the outside dimensions are about the same as the S790.

More capacity in the same package

The feederhouse is 23% wider than with the S-series. After the grain conveyor, the crop is divided into two streams via a kind of drum with a V-profile; each part goes in one of the 24-inch rotors. The two rotors combined deliver an increased threshing area of 45% and increased separating area of 80% for better threshing and separating in high-volume crops. The new cleaning shoe offers 36% addtional cleaning area. Deere claims that even with 45% additional threshing area and 80% additional separating area, the outside dimensions are about the same as the S790. This makes for tight turns and narrow transport dimensions.

Instead of an auger, the header has a belt with a profile that guides the crop to the modulated feederhouse. The feederhouse can reverse under full engine RPM to reduce the chance of plugging in heavy crop.

Three versions

There are three levels of luxury and technological features for the driver: Select, Premium and Ultimate. The latter two offer a choice of two lighting packages. All trim levels feature the Starfire 6000 GPS receiver that allows the machine to navigate the field. Also standard is JDLink, which allows various machines to exchange data with each other in the field, with the farm and with John Deere. With the Combine Advisor and ActiveVision camera’s systems the combine can automatically maintain the settings that are chosen to improve grain quality and reduce losses.

Two 24-inch rotors with an increased threshing area of 45% and separating area of 80%1 for better threshing and separating in high-volume crops.

Wheels or tracks

The X9 1000 is the ‘little brother” with a 550 hp engine and a 14,800 litre grain tank. The front wheels can be exchanged for triangular tracks of either 30 or 36 inches wide. In terms of chassis’, there is a choice between four wheels, or wheels in the rear and two tracks in the front (30 or 36 inches, 76 or 91 centimeters). The capacity of the grain tank for the X9 1000 is 14,800 litres and 16,200 litres for the X9 1100. Unloading is done at 159 and 186 litres/second, respectively.