JD self-propelled forage harvesters

[Ire]

The current range of JD forage harvesters are relatively low in power when compared with the likes of the Claas 900 (605hp) or the Krone Big X (780hp).  Apparently they are due to launch a new range for the summer 2003, possibly even winter 2002.  I did see pictures in last weeks Irish farmers Journal of one in test, the one showed did look quite different than those currently available, pretty beefy and with a cab like the new combines.  It has been rumoured that there will be too models above the 6950 in the next range.
Just wondering if anyone else has any other information on these or if they have come accross any pictures of these machines

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i saw it too. very beefy. did it give a figure of hp. i was thinking that the very large bonnet is carrying something up to 700-750 hp. the big x is quite small. do they sell them in ireland.

[paddyland]

Lots of big m mowers working not sure on big x availability but will have to see if they can stick the pace. But why do so many companies want silly sized machines speaking from experience the guy on the clamp must suffer there is only so big you can go

[Laapa]

I thought Krones Big M and X machines were ridicolusly oversized as well. Then I read somewhere, unfortunately I don't remember exactly where or the exact figures, that the Big M was actually a big sucess for Krone. It alone makes up a large chunk (Wish I remembered the exact %) of Krones total (agricultural) sales.
With that in mind one might belive the company wants to ride the wave and establish huge machines in other markets such as choppers, and also that JD, Claas and others wants a piece of the "Bigger-than-reasonable-but-seems-to-sell-quite-well-anyhow"-market and we'll see more 700+hp sp choppers soon.

[paddyland]

If this is the case why didnt the Case/Mengele harvester not do too well was it reliability?

[Ire]

No there there were no horsepowers given but I would agree that we can expect something big, possibly around 700hp.  
As for the Krone Big X I dont think they are properly commercially available until next year, although there are apparently 8 of them on test in Germany this year.  When launched it may actually last fairly well since they have been properly testing them with 2-3 years.
As for the Big M, they appear to have been a big hit for Krone, they have given trouble but are still selling well, there are now 40 of them working in Ireland alone.  With the availability of Swarthers and now with the launch of the Big M II, their success seems set to continue
Mengele harvesters were always an excellent machine- very tough. As for the red versions im not so sure, the 544hp Mammoth 8790 gave a serious amount of trouble.  From about 8 of these models sold in Ireland in the space of a couple of years, only a couple are still working - the rest went back.  One contractor kept his going one year alright but was given another to park in his yard as a standby