Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 55 MACHINERY All-new subsoilers range A NEW design for the Spaldings FlatLift subsoiler has been unveiled to cater for higher horsepower tractors. e new design incorporates a strong box-section frame to cope with the rigours of operating on powerful tractors in heavy soils, and its ‘V’ shape places the tines in the optimum position for soil loosening across the entire width but with low draft forces and good trash ow. Spaldings Managing Director Steve Constable said: “ e original FlatLift started the trend towards shallower, targeted subsoiling that restructures compacted soils with minimal impact at the surface. e new FlatLift V Range implements maintain that core purpose and ability but are much stronger to match today’s more powerful tractors and o er auto reset leg protection.” Key features from the original FlatLift design are retained, such as the slim legs with replaceable shins, and the prominent point and broad wings. e wings are set back from the point and at a shallow angle so that these two components work together to create a progressive lifting and aggregate restructuring action with the least possible e ort and without excessive heave or soil ‘boiling’ at the surface. “Maximum working depth is 500mm, the emphasis being on the ability to work at shallow depths just beyond any layers of compaction caused by eld tra c during cultivations, ploughing, harvesting, and so on, or at greater depths if necessary,” said Steve. “Restructuring compromised soils in this way helps maintain e ective drainage, encourages rapid in ltration of water after heavy rain.” In addition to the standard soil-engaging tments, the new V Range subsoilers can be upgraded with tungsten-protected and Spaldings’ own SPLUltra parts. Standard equipment includes multi-shot shear pin leg protection but a hydraulic auto-reset system is also available for work in more challenging conditions. e system has the added ability to lift the legs for increased clearance during transport. An 800mm diameter serrated ring nishing roller is also standard. e Multipacka is designed to provide a level, weather-proof nish while helping to maintain a consistent working depth, which is adjustable in small increments using the multiple pin-and-hole positions for the packer’s long trailing arms. ree fully-mounted sizes are available in the UK and Ireland: e three-leg FlatLift V3 with 900mm tine spacing to cover a working width of 2.7m; the FlatLift V4 with legs spaced 650mm apart for a 2.8m working width; and the ve-leg, 650mm spacing Spaldings FlatLift V5 works across 3.6m. Transport widths are 3.0m for the V3 and V4 models, and 3.6m for the V5, and all three are available with either shear pin or hydraulic auto reset leg protection, have a rigid frame incorporating a heavy-duty Category 3/4 headstock, and two pin-and-hole parking stands. ere is also the 4.7m trailed FlatLift V7 deploying seven legs in vee formation on a frame that folds to a 2.9m transport width; like the mounted versions, it too is available with shear pin or auto reset protection. ➜