John Deere 2660VT Variable Intensity Tillage

Wide range of working widths available to match acreage and horsepower requirements

With working speeds up to 16.1 km/h (10 mph), the 2660VT can increase productivity and cover up to 24.2 ha (60 acres) per hour.

The 2660VT is available in sizes ranging from 7.77 m to 15.2 m (25.5 ft to 50 ft). Power requirements range from 24.5 to 34.25 kW/m (10 to 14 hp/ft) depending on the gang angle, soil, depth, and speed. Multiple configurations enable producers to size their implement for their operation and agronomic needs.

Versatility to adapt to changing field conditions with a 0- to 12-degree gang angle

In the pursuit of a consistent field finish, producers are wanting a vertical tillage tool with great versatility in both the spring and the fall. For some producers, vertical tillage may mean a true 0-degree gang angle to leave more residue for highly erodible land. For others, it includes a more aggressive gang angle with greater horizontal soil movement to even out the field, fill in light ruts, remove weeds, or incorporate more residue.

To meet these ever-changing field conditions, the 2660VT has an adjustable gang angle from 0 degrees to 12 degrees.

This means that producers can adapt to both spring and fall fieldwork, as well as adjust to and match changing conditions within the same field or between different fields. Producers need to address multiple agronomic challenges like residue, weeds, and light ruts, and create an ideal seedbed even in changing field conditions. This range of gang angles allows operators to increase or decrease the gang angle to adapt to these challenges in the field.

Quick and easy gang angle adjustments

The 2660VT offers two different methods to adjust the gang angle to adapt to changing field conditions. With the TruSet™ system, the gang angle can be adjusted on the go from the cab, or it can be manually adjusted with the quick and easy-to-use gang roller slider.

MANUAL ADJUSTMENT

• Quick and easy-to-adjust
• Pull and lock open the spring-loaded pin, slide the gang to the new position, and lock it back in place
• Adjust gang angle in increments of two degrees (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12)

TRUSET ADJUSTMENT

• Done with the push of a button on the display
• Adjust gang angle in increments of one degree (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12)

Below are the capabilities of the 2660VT with results from different gang angle settings:

ProFinish™ system hydraulic double rolling baskets provide a smooth and level field finish

The John Deere ProFinish leveling system features a double rolling basket configuration as the solution for producers looking to flow high levels of residue and leave a smooth, level field finish. The front knife-edge basket in a reversed orientation allows the basket to passively keep soil and residue in the profile and adds an additional step that mixes, pins, and buries residue.

They help size clods and pin residue to reduce erosion in the fall, break down residue over the winter, and then leave a firm, smooth, and level seedbed finish in the spring.

The rear basket can be configured with either a flat bar or a round bar basket, depending on the producers’ agronomic needs. These baskets help distribute residue, reduce clods, and firm the soil to preserve moisture and level out the surface and sub-surface finish. If rocks are a concern, the round bar basket is the best option for finish and durability.

The drawbars and rolling baskets are built with strength in mind for demanding vertical tillage conditions. With these rolling baskets, a cast frame was designed to encase the bearing in a high-density polymer liner to allow dynamic movement and maintenance-free characteristics. The active hydraulic rolling basket features maintenance-free bearings to minimize non-productive activities.

To change the rolling basket down pressure, simply rotate the down pressure valve dial clockwise to increase pressure and rotate it counterclockwise to decrease pressure.

• Improve firming, mixing, and clod-shattering with double rolling baskets.
• Incorporate soil and residue and apply down pressure to shatter root balls.
• Decrease pressure to leave larger clods and a rougher field finish.

• Distribute larger soil particles on the surface and finer soil particles in the seed zone to promote excellent seed-to-soil contact. Yields can benefit when there is good soil adherence at germination for moisture and nutrient uptake, promoting early seedling growth.
• Soil particle size distribution also helps to deal with spring rains.
• Increase pressure to reduce clods and level the soil subsurface to create a more uniform seedbed and increase planter ride quality.

TruSet™ Tillage provides precise depth and pressure control from the cab on the go

Integrated TruSet Tillage technology enables field cultivator operators to adjust sweep depth and down pressure on the active hydraulic rolling baskets while on the go to respond to changing field conditions such as varying soils, heavier residue, and moisture.

With short window of time to perform tillage operations, TruSet can provide significant productivity improvements as operators are able to adjust the field cultivator while covering acres with the push of a button. By responding to conditions as they change throughout the field, TruSet enables operators to generate better-quality tillage performance with the first pass.

Using a GreenStar™ display, a user sees real-time data for sweep depth and basket down pressure for assurance of desired tillage outcomes. Once the actual set point is validated and configured to the display in the cab, operators can make independent adjustments as small as one tenth of an inch. Four customizable presets enable operators to save and name different combinations of settings for their most common field conditions.  

Single-point depth control is included with the TruSet Tillage system, giving operators the choice of automated or manual adjustments. Hydraulic routings on the 2230 Field Cultivators are designed to allow each implement to feature both TruSet and standard single-point depth control for system redundancy, operator preference, and flexibility at resale.

COMPONENTS

TruSet is compatible with John Deere and competitive tractors. Depending on the tractor, a compatibility kit may be needed in addition to the TruSet Tillage system. The following chart identifies the components needed to operate TruSet on a 2230LL or 2230FH Field Cultivator with a GreenStar ready tractor.

Both the TruSet Tillage system and the compatibility kit will be available as a field-installed option that can be ordered with the field cultivator or through aftermarket parts.

All model years of the 2230LL and 2230FH can be retrofitted with TruSet.

TruSet Tillage requires a GreenStar ready tractor with a supported display. The TruSet Tillage system must have a connection to the tractor ISO connection. Additional TruSet Tillage information:

• Tractor compatibility
• Display compatibility
• TruSet compatibility kit
• TruSet with side-to-side leveling

Tillage documentation and prescription functionality included with TruSet™ Tillage

With integrated TruSet Tillage technology, 2230 Field Cultivator operators can incorporate documentation and prescription functionality into their tillage operations. The tillage documentation feature will give producers the ability to capture and analyze the field cultivator pass for additional coverage of the crop production cycle. Prescription functionality provides producers the capability to ensure their tillage operations are executed correctly, optimizing their investment in preparing for the next crop.

Operators can document data for the depth of their field cultivator sweeps along with rolling basket down pressure. By creating an as-applied map based off of global positioning system (GPS) data for the job performed by each functional area on the implement, TruSet enables producers to document their tillage passes then later review and analyze the data for future agronomic decisions.

Additionally, the Prescription Creator by Agrian® company, a connected partner tool through the John Deere Operations Center, enables producers to create prescriptions for each functional area on the 2230 Field Cultivators. Data from previous yields, soil surveys, or freehand drawing tools can be used to create prescriptions that will command the implement to the desired depth and pressure settings for optimum agronomic results.

Agrian is a trademark of Agrian, Inc.

Vertical tillage agronomic challenges

The 2660VT adjustable gang angle helps speed up soil warmup, so operators can get in the field to plant sooner.

It also levels the surface and sub-surface to ensure excellent planter ride quality and improves emergence that contributes to greater yields.

With the gang angle set at 0 degrees, operators get vertical soil movement and can chop, size, and pin residue.

Adjusting the gang angle from 1 to 12 degrees provides more horizontal soil movement. The more aggressive the gang angle, the more soil mixing and burying of residue. Operators can remove light ruts, tracks, and weeds at the most aggressive gang angle.

SPRING

• Size and cut residue
• Break up surface crust layer
• Control weeds
• Dry/aerate and warm up the soil
• Improve seed-to-soil contact for uniform emergence
• Level and smooth surface

FALL

• Cut, size, and bury residue
• Improve water infiltration
• Mix soil and residue for faster decomposition
• Level and distribute residue
• Incorporate nutrients or cover crops
• Fill in light tire tracks

Four stages of soil and residue processing

STAGE 1: CUTTING AND SIZING

The 2660VT adjustable front disk gang is the beginning of the soil and residue mixing process. The wavy blades have unique beveled angles that easily penetrate the ground to fracture soil, generating tiny clods and starting the initial residue cutting, sizing, and chopping process.

To adapt to varying field conditions, the gang angle can easily be hydraulically adjusted from 0 degrees (true vertical tillage) to 12 degrees (aggressive mixing) on the go with TruSet™ Tillage system via a simple push of a button from the cab.

STAGE 2: DISTRIBUTING AND MIXING

The adjustable rear gang continues the mixing of loose soil and residue. The 2660VT rear gangs provide a consistent and uniform cut to maintain a shallow depth at higher working speeds.

The slightly offset blade-follow-blade design of the 2660VT allows for a more aggressive sub-surface soil blow out, where loose soil is lifted to the surface to be distributed and mixed in the following stages of the process. Slicing residue and placing it in contact with the soil speeds up the breakdown process.

STAGE 3: RECONSOLIDATION

This exclusive John Deere ProFinish™ solution passively reconsolidates soil as it leaves the gangs, re-orientating it from parallel to perpendicular. The knife-edge basket in the reverse position keeps material in the soil profile, adding an additional step of processing to reduce clods and mix and pin residue, anchoring it to the surface.

The design levels the subsoil by perpendicularly knocking out larger ridges commonly seen behind competitive vertical tillage tools. This sub-surface interaction provides a smooth and uniform seedbed to optimize the planter ride quality in a variety of field and soil conditions.

STAGE 4: LEVELING

For further processing, this John Deere ProFinish solution pulverizes remaining clods, removes remaining soil from any worked root balls, and anchors remaining residue all while firming up the soil.

The hydraulically adjustable rolling basket helps distribute larger soil particles on the surface and finer soil particles in the seed zone to promote excellent seed-to-soil contact in the spring and to leave a level finish in the fall.

The dual hydraulic rolling baskets allow the operator to adjust down pressure, adapting to changing field conditions on the go and achieving the preferred final smooth and uniform field finish.

Blades and extended-life bearings

Due to supply constraints and to aid in timely shipments, John Deere is utilizing 32- and 28-wave blades in 2660VT production. Performance is matched on the 32- and 28-wave blades. Machines ship with either 32-wave or 28-wave blades.

Blades work across the entire gang angle range from 0 to 12 degrees.  These low-draft, wavy straight blades on 18.41-cm (7.25-in.) spacing use a serrated edge to fracture and lift soil as well as cut and size residue.

The 55.9-cm (22-in.) wavy straight blade’s double-cut edge has specialized angled bevels to easily penetrate the ground, even in hard soil conditions. The straight wavy blade with shallow concavity leads to reduced blade compaction and less soil smearing than traditional smooth blades.

Adjusting the gang angle from 1 to 12 degrees provides more horizontal soil movement. The more aggressive the gang angle, the more soil mixing and burying of residue.

BLADES

The 55.9-cm (22-in.) wavy straight blade is 6.5-mm (0.256-in.) thick, which allows operators to work in many different soil conditions. The blades are built to flex and absorb impacts in rocky conditions without bending, cracking, or breaking the blade for added durability.

Made of high-quality steel, the double-cut-edge blades retain their sharp cutting edges due to the hardness on the outside surface, which also ensures even wear life.

EXTENDED-LIFE BEARINGS

John Deere’s vertical tillage implements feature extended-life bearings. These more durable and reliable bearings allow producers to customize bearing maintenance for specific growing conditions and soil types.

The flange-mounted bearing and sealing system features improved contamination resistance. The advanced seal material is highly resistant to wear and damage caused by abrasive soils and other crop materials. The design of these is more durable and reliable than previous bearings.

The design of this bearing system allows for dynamic self-alignment to the gang bolt, as opposed to trunnion-mounted bearings that have limited alignment capability. The system features additional freedom of movement, accommodating a wider variety of field conditions. It has been designed to decrease stress and fatigue on the inner rolling surfaces, supporting extended bearing life.

The bearing and seal design allows for a limited, seasonal maintenance interval to minimize downtime. They also allow producers to customize maintenance for specific growing conditions and soil types. The multi-lipped sealing system cannot be damaged by frequent greasing. It allows bearings to accept grease within the bearing as well as provide grease to the outer bearing surface to eliminate wear between the bearing and housing. With this design, the bearings can accept grease even if misaligned to the housing.

Compact transport dimensions

Producers are increasing the size of their operations and adding miles of transport to their day. To accommodate those changing demands, the 2660VT is designed with tight and narrow dimensions for easy transportability.

Low power lines and narrow roads and bridges can be a concern when transporting equipment. The 2660VT has a compact transport design that minimizes transport height and width to provide some of the best transport dimensions in the industry.

Light-emitting diode (LED) lights

LED service lights are standard on all 2660VT configurations.

Soil shield

Increase productivity and get a true working width with every pass with the full-width 2660VT. No overlap is required with the soil shield equipped on the 2660VT. The soil shield is designed to keep soil and residue in the profile at more aggressive gang angles. Reduce passes through the field and cover more acres per hour all while decreasing fuel usage.

Hydraulic wing down pressure

Hydraulic wing control is available as optional equipment on all three-section 2660VT models. This feature allows for varying hydraulic pressure to the wing-fold cylinders, which transfers weight from the mainframe to the wings to improve penetration in hard ground or heavy soils.

Maintaining consistency across the entire width of the tillage tool is crucial to the final field finish. Hydraulic wing control stabilizes the wings at shallow depths and high speeds. To fine-tune down pressure, a valve is conveniently located at the front of the implement to adjust the down pressure.

To make this adjustment in the cab, TruSet™ hydraulic wing control is another option that can be configured on three-section implements.

Easily apply dry product at any time with MonTag® cover crop seeder for the 2660VT

Beginning fall 2020, John Deere has a cover crop seeder enhancement available for the 2660VT Vertical Tillage Implement. Supplied through Montag Mfg., the cover crop seeder provides you the opportunity to broadcast dry material by leveraging its Gen 2 2108 Dry Product Metering System. The Gen 2 2108 Dry Product Metering System fits conveniently onto the frame of the 9.2-m (30.33-ft) 2660VT without sacrificing transport dimensions.

• Work your fields and have the convenience of applying dry product at any time without additional tanks or carts to hook up or tow around
• Controlled with only one additional selective control valve (SCV)
• Large tank sizes of 0.85 or 1.4 m³ (30 or 50 cu ft)
• Apply up to 560.4 kg/ha (500 lb/acre) of dry material

The cover crop seeder is the perfect solution for growers who want more out of their vertical tillage implement.

MonTag is a trademark of Montag Manufacturing, Inc.