Mallee Machinery Field Days: Better crop feeding with Turbodrum

WEST Australian engineer and farm machinery manufacturer Laurie Phillips will be at the field days to show off a replacement header front feed drum designed for canola.

The Turbodrum replacement feed drum has a smaller diameter to pull through bulky crops.

WEST Australian engineer and farm machinery manufacturer Laurie Phillips will be at the field days to show off a replacement header front feed drum designed for canola.

The Turbodrum was created in response to frustration caused by blockages and breakdowns in feed drums when harvesting canola.

Turbodrum has a smaller diameter than standard drums, to create a larger gap for pulling through bulky crops.

It has more than double the number of retractable fingers with a more aggressive pattern designed to grab crop and pull it through in a constant and steady flow.

Mr Phillips said this reduces the chance of breakdown caused by blockages, which can cost “$7000 to $8000 to fix it, $17,000 to $18,000 to replace it”.

“Not only is it more robust, it’s bullet proof as a far as breakdowns are concerned, and it also handles more crop,” Mr Phillips said.

He says it’s a plug in replacement to suit Macdon D60 and D65 header fronts and has adjustable finger timing for different conditions.

Mr Phillips said replacing a feeder with a Turbodrum is “like fitting a light globe — it takes just two or three hours” to complete.

He said Phillbourne Manufacturing in WA has sold more than 130 feeders since its first trial in October last year. The Turbodrum costs $5445.

For details, visit phillbourne.com.au.