2017 International Forest Industries Magazines June July 2017 | Page 65

The perfect operator station After working with a John Deere 1470D harvester for 5 years , machine operator Jérôme André was thrilled to receive the new 1470G fitted with the H290 harvester head . He immediately felt comfortable . He ’ s always driven with a rotating cabin , so he was familiar with his surroundings right away . He was pleased to find that rotating cabin technology has come a long way since the D-series . “ This machine is secure ,” he explains , for both the operator and the harvester ’ s different equipment . The cabin adjusts its position evenly and seamlessly and follows the direction of the boom , ensuring a much smoother and more comfortable ride . Once in control of the 1470G , he comments on the lack of vibrations in the cabin as well as the almost unperceivable sound level of the 6-cylinder turbocharged John Deere PowerTech™ Plus 6090 diesel engine . This engine boasts 200 kW of power , 1,315 Nm of torque , and is compliant with Final Tier 4 emission standards .
With the 1470G Jérôme can work uphill or downhill alike ; its boom allows him to approach even the biggest stems from any angle . This is proven in the sector he ’ s currently working in : a clear cutting of average diameter Scots pines .
The logger is currently producing large logs for carpentry and smaller ones for pulp or energy wood . Good-looking conifer logs are most often destined for carpentry . There are trees at 5 m3 that are just waiting to be harvested .
Extended boom capacity After 1,000 hours of operating his new machine , Jérôme has identified a few positive points that he finds essential compared to his 1470D . First and foremost , the hydrostaticmechanical drive gives the machine a consistent tractive force of 200 kNm without any jolting . The traction has been greatly improved : the machine stays on the ground and gently keeps going no matter what keeping wheel slippage to a minimum .
Next up is the development of the hoses , which Jérôme notes have advanced greatly . They ’ re much better protected and less exposed at the boom . The whole hydraulic system has been simplified . He also appreciates the new front position of the boomtilt cylinders , which increases the boom strength enormously . The strength of the CH9 boom is , indeed , the operator ’ s greatest satisfaction . He has had to adapt to its 8.60 m range , but in these large forest areas he is logging trees as close to the machine as possible . one to think so : several 1470E harvesters equipped with H290 heads have also been spotted in the area . The machine is serviced by “ Etablissements Payant ,” and , according to our logger , “ the mechanics know what they have to do and the team there is just fantastic .”
The hydrostatic-mechanical drive gives the machine a consistent tractive force of 200 kNm without any jolting . With the 1470G Jérôme can work uphill or downhill alike . The machine stays on the ground and gently keeps going no matter what , keeping wheel slippage to a minimum . “ The 1470G can also comfortably tackle a slope gradient of up to 24 degrees ,” Thierry
Boucaud adds
International Forest Industries | JUNE / JULY 2017 59