Lotus 1500

Grip on the crop

The Lotus tedder operation is fundamental in achieving timely harvesting and optimum forage quality. The Lotus tedder range are unequalled in their ability to achieve this due to their unique hook tine and ultimate stability.

Due to their position and shape the hook tines have exceptional control of the crop giving unrivalled capacity. With each rotor rotation Lely tedders can move approximately 50% more crop than conventional straight tined tedders. Combined with their robust contruction greater forward speeds are possible.

Low r.p.m.; extra benefit

If tedding is done too aggressively, the loss of crop material can be seen immediately by all the dust that is thrown up. This is to do with the effect of the tedder tines on the crop. Decisive factors are: rotation speed of the tines, their position as well as the amount of steel that is in contact with the crop.

Due to the trailing tine position the crop material gains speed more gradually than those tedders fitted with straight tines. The tedder is ideally operated between 400 and 450 r.p.m. Due to the nature of the hook tines there is less crop contact but where the rotors overlap the separation of the crop material is much greater. Resulting in a very high backwards speed.

Best drying

The greater the distance the crop covers in the air, the better the rotating action. After all, wet crops are heavier than dry crops; they are therefore thrown further away and come to rest on top of the dry crop. The position of the double hook tine, the special tine angle as well as the steep position of the rotors ensure an unrivalled backward speed and a long 'flight' for the crop.

To further strengthen the rotating effect, the top tine is shorter than the lower one. The speed of the – drier – crop parts that are on top is lower. This further increases the difference in speed as compared to the wet crop and makes the final tedding result even better.

Effective tedding, irrespective of rotor size

Lely tedders with their unique hook tines have the big advantage due to their great flexibility and the trailed position of the tines, a slight pre-tension can even be applied to the ground. This means that the rotor can be angled relatively far forwards under all conditions, which improves the tedding results. The gap between the rotors where the tines cannot reach is consequently narrower, therefore allowing the rotor to operate at the correct tedding angle. Even with the larger rotors, the crop pick up is therefore assured, without negatively affecting the tedding and the rotary action.

Long crops

For long grass, a larger diameter rotor is an advantage. Due to the larger circumference, the distance that the material travels is greater, giving the tines more ‘time’ to disentangle the grass. A good example is the Lotus 600, which performs particularly well in rough and long material.

Flexible tines ensure clean crops

The Lotus tines are very flexible due to the rearward angle, the special materials and also the five coils. Compared to straight tines, only a small amount of energy is required to flex them. It is even better for the tines to apply a slight pre-tension onto the ground because the crop is picked up more effectively, while in addition the rotor position can be adjusted more abruptly without causing any contamination.

Side tedding with the Lely Lotus tedder

For tedding along field borders and ditches, the tines of the outer rotor are put in the innermost position. The tines of this rotor will then throw the grass away from the edge. This means the field borders remain clean and the grass is perfectly distributed. Other ways of side tedding, such as an angled position, produce uneven drying due to swath formation.

Contamination

Contamination (a high soil content) is eliminated by the correct working height settings. Working too low or with restricted ground contour following of the rotor frames are often reasons for contamination such as soil, dried fertiliser or clumps of grass in the silo. This can be eliminated by good adjustment of the tedder, flexible tines and making sure you have an effective, unrestricted ground contour following system.

Elimination of crop loss

The rotors of the Lotus tedders rotate at relatively low revolutions; hence loss of crop is avoided. Furthermore, the trailed position of the tines is very gentle on even the driest of crops.

Easy adjustment

In varying working conditions it is important that the tedding angle and working height can be adjusted quickly and easily. With the Lotus tedders, the tedding angle is set by adjusting the ground wheels. A pin ensures easy adjustment of the ground wheels in five positions. The working depth is then adjusted by extending or reducing the length of the top link or using the wind handle.

No awkward crop winding

The AWS Anti crop-Winding System fitted to all Lotus models offers a highly effective solution, in that grass can no longer wind itself around the ground wheels. Grass falling from the wheels lands in a specially shaped curve in the wheel axle, after which it falls to the ground.