WD 4 Series windrowers unveiled

The three new models made their debut at the company’s Red Excellence product showcase earlier this year.  

The WD4 Series windrower models are the WD1204, 90kW, the WD1904 with 142kW rated and 149kW maximum power and the WD2304 with a rated 168 kW and 179kW maximum power.

Case IH product manager Tim Slater said the WD4 Series, lives up to Case IH’s goal of continually improving our products to meet changing customer demands.

“The most significant upgrade in the WD4 Series is a redesigned hydraulic system,” he said.

“We’ve incorporated a header hydraulic drive system that uses two pumps to power two separate circuits on the draper headers.

“One pump is used to power the header knife drive circuit, and the second powers the circuit for the reel and draper belts,” Mr Slater said.

The knife drive circuit can require significantly higher operating pressures than the reel or draper drive circuits.

He said the benefit of splitting the two circuits into a high-pressure circuit, and a low pressure circuit is that there is a reduction in the horsepower demand on the windrower which means  reduced fuel consumption.

“We’ve paid attention to every detail to ensure the new hydraulics truly provide an improved user experience - from maintaining easy access for servicing and better valve performance and reliability, to mechanical locks that keep control cartridges from loosening when exposed to high pressure over time,” Mr Slater said.

The steering is another improvement on the WD4 Series.

A new hydraulically controlled drive system and rear castor wheels mean it can turn on itself, almost within its own length.

“We worked with NASCAR specialists, Pratt & Miller Engineering on the design of the steering components, and angled the rear axle swivel post caster at nine degrees, which allows the unit to respond to forward or reversing motions and quick turns while maintaining straight line stability,” Mr Slater said.

“Self-propelled windrowers are traditionally extremely responsive to steering wheel input which at times can make them difficult to steer, but with the new hydraulic system we can now incorporate AFS AccuGuide auto steering control down to two centimetre accuracy.”

There are three different heads available – a sickle mower conditioner (in 4.2, 4.8 and 5.4 metre widths) for more delicate crops, a disc mower conditioner (in 4.8 or 5.7m widths) for efficient hay cutting and a draper front (in 7.6, 9.1, 10.9 and 12.1m widths) for windrowing crops such as canola.

All WD4 units now have 1080 millimetres of ground clearance under the tractor unit, allowing the operator to drive over swaths more easily without disturbing the formed swath.

They also incorporate a powered lowering function which helps when changing heads over.

The remodelled cab utilises the deluxe cab used on previous versions of the Axial-Flow harvester.

Enhancements include automatic temperature control, front and rear sunshades, four speakers, windscreen washer/wipers, in-cab electric adjustable mirrors and an AFS Pro 700 display mounted on the console.

“The Multi Function Handle has commonality with the Axial-Flow combines, allowing the operator to raise the header, lower, tilt and return to cut – all without the operator removing their hand from the Multi Function Handle,” Mr Slater said.

Reel controls, header tilt, AFS AccuGuide engage and emergency stop can also all be controlled from the Multi Function Handle.

Updated to match the rest of the Case IH haytool line-up, the WD4 roof has been remodelled and lights updated to oval shaped LEDs, to improve visibility.

The WD4 Series includes a deluxe lighting package of four LED work lights and halogen lights in the roof, two rearward facing LED work lights and two LED stubble lights (forward facing mounted in front of the rear axle).

The left stubble light can be used to illuminate the fuel tank filler opening and will also remain on for two minutes for egress lighting when the engine is shut down and the cab door is shut.