THERE’S a few range tweaks and additions from Claas for the 2019 combine year in its Tucano range to get potential buyers excited.

A new Cebis terminal, an extended model range and optional hill-side levelling are among the highlights of the new-generation Tucanos from the German-built stable.

For the first time in this range, five of the eight new models in the range can come with the Montana hill-side levelling kit. Working in conjunction with Claas’ auto crop flow operator assistance system and an auto slope facility which adjusts fan speed for reduced losses, this is aimed at producing optimum grain samples when working across rougher terrain.

Grain tank capacity of up to 11,000 litres is a feature of the new top-of-the range model, the Tucano 580, plus its smaller sibling, the 570. The bigger machine comes with a 381hp Mercedes engine and the 570 with 354hp available – an engine which it shares with the 560/560 Montano versions of the Tucano.

All these have Claas’ APS hybrid grain cleaning system while the rest of the range – the 450/450 Montana (213hp), the 440 (286hp), the 430/430 Montana (285hp) and the Tucano 420 (245hp) have a simpler mix of five or six straw walkers with APS. Bottom of the range is the Tucano 320, a five straw walker conventional of 245hp.

All are powered by a series of Mercedes Benz engines that comply with the Stage V (Tier 5) emissions standard and also feature Dynamic Power – an engine management system that was first introduced on Claas Jaguar forage harvesters. This matches the engine power curve to the prevailing operating conditions or, for instance, when the straw chopper is not engaged and just leaving a swath. If more power is needed for the likes of unloading, the full engine output is made immediately available.

The hill-side levelling system compensates for slide slope inclines of up to 16% (or up to 18% for the Tucano 560 and 430). All the functions run automatically with the current tilt and cutting angle displayed in Claas’ touchscreen Cebis control system.

The Tucanos all have a two-speed manual transmission with automatic adjustment of the engine load. In either gear there are two drive ranges which are selected on the basis of the load on the ground drive. No manual selection is necessary, the machine switches automatically to the lower drive range when high traction is required.

An all-wheel-drive axle in the Montana models provides up to 70 % more tractive power compared with the standard all-wheel-drive axle, with a diff-lock for the front axle available as an option.

Excellent visibility under all conditions is ensured by a wide range of terminal adjustment options for the Cebis touchscreen. It can pivot from its normal position in the operator’s field of vision or completely to the right, next to the armrest, thus giving the operator full visibility over the entire cutterbar.

Auto Crop Flow, an operator assistance system previously only available in the Lexion series, is also now available in the Tucano for the first time. This uses sensors to continuously monitor the speed of the APS drum, residual grain separation system, straw chopper and engine and will automatically react and alert the operator to a potential blockage or overload.

Also, a new auto slope function ‘stolen’ from the Lexions is aimed at providing a cleaner sample when working on uneven terrain. This continuously adjusts fan speed relative to the angle of the combine, reducing it to avoid losses when going uphill and then increasing it again as it goes downhill to help clean the grain at a constant rate.