Over the last couple of years, the ability to apply self-repair and maintenance on agricultural and capital grade equipment has become a big issue. While equipment makers, including John Deere, have been advancing the capabilities of vehicles and systems well beyond what could be expected of them five years ago, a lot of that direction has also been in the environment of dealer and specialist application to support. That left the owner and self-repair of owned equipment out of the picture, especially without the correct tooling to get the job done.
Responding to the Needs of Customers
However, listening to the market and what customers want in terms of hands-on capability, John Deere has put into motion a full revamp of self-repair support, including access to a number of tools needed to effectively maintain John Deere equipment outside of a dealer or specialist arena starting in 2023. This shift will open the range of diagnostic tools that are so critical now in identifying and isolating issues with equipment as well as their proper maintenance schedules. Additionally, the enhancement will expand mobile device support and software availability, allowing users to manipulate diagnostics with their own mobile devices as well as John Deere reader tools.
The self-repair push is consistent with the support platform John Deere has already been providing in the digital arena, particularly to smart phone users, pushing out software updates, diagnostic code interpretation and more. Now, the 2023 move will allow the same customers and more to add updates to tooling equipment and controllers as well. Additionally, customers and independent repair resources will see the John Deere ADVISOR system open up to them directly; currently, this support is only accessible through John Deere dealerships.
The changes come on the heels of the federal government putting the right-to-repair on the radar for many large equipment industries, and tractor manufacturing was high on that list. Rather than wait for a regulatory approach, John Deere has positioned to be proactive in the arena and support customers directly. This is a huge boost for many John Deere equipment owners, who already support a vibrant secondary market for additional parts, consumables, replacement components, software updates and more.
Long-term Lifecycles for John Deere Equipment Happen with Support
Spare parts and replacements are a big downstream element of the John Deere market. There is always a demand for lights, fenders as well as durable part replacements on gears, pulleys, sprockets, shafts and more. Some models are practically stripped clean as soon as they become available in somebody’s surplus as a result. Understanding this ongoing need, John Deere’s approach will continue to enhance and make it far more doable for folks to maintain their existing equipment versus struggle with forced obsolescence.
While everyone loves a good treasure hunt, sourcing a particularly hard-to-find part and finding it can be an accomplishment. It’s not so fun when the same equipment inventory is needed right away for a critical operation. In this regard, part support and essential consumables continue to play a critical element in maintaining equipment, especially during seasonal highpoints, such as field prep, transportation runs, and harvesting. Add in the network capability John Deere provides with the ADVISOR system for part-finding and consumable supply, and people really start realizing the ability to “cook with fire” when it all comes together in the ideal aftermarket support system John Deere is pushing in 2023.
Good Things Coming with the New Year
All the self-repair support changes coming will be a welcome paradigm shift for John Deere equipment owners in the next year. As many secondary market suppliers are fully aware, lots of folks have little idea where to go for different parts, components and items a given local dealership simply might not stock or have access to. No surprise, which has also led to some creativity and use of the wrong parts salvaged from other sources as well, creating even bigger problems downstream when things don’t run right, or worse, cannot be supported anymore by John Deere due to the mixing involved.
While the first reaction might seem to be more competition from independent sources, dealers will instead realize increased activity for their inventory as their information and stock is shared through a wider network. At the same time, equipment owners themselves will realize greater ease in finding the right parts and consumables for their given models and units as well. The 2023 John Deere support approach is really a win-win across the board, long-term, both for the broad interest in John Deere equipment as well as their long-term maintenance for years to come.
Case IH has had a long-standing reputation for building the highest quality of farm equipment, including tractors and machinery used on cotton farms. Technology has improved over the years, and Case IH has made it a point not just to keep up, but break out with new innovations. Here are a few common questions about the Module Express models.
The series of Module Express machines are very popular among industrial, commercial, and even with smaller cotton farms who rely on efficient harvests each year.
How Much HP Does the Engine Have on the Module Express?
The Case IH Module Express generates 400 horsepower via an 8.7-liter diesel engine. This amount of power is what is expected with an industrial cotton harvester, and is designed to provide the power you need to have consistent efficiency year after year when harvesting your cotton crops.
It uses a 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, which provides the balance of power and fuel efficiency cotton farmers need. More options include an engine built by Case or by Cummins, according to your personal preference.
What is the Capacity of the Module Express’s Basket?
The Case IH Module Express is available with either a basket, the 620 model, or one of two modules, the 625, and 635 models. The basket is specified for 10,500 pounds, the modules can hold either 10,000 or 12,000 pounds. This provides for a volume of 1,000-1,400 cubic feet in a roughly 8x8x16 foot module bin. This size is consistent with what other makes and models of cotton harvesters provide, and will not slow you down by forcing you to stop and unload at unexpected times.
Just like every other aspect of this harvester, the basket or module attachment you choose is designed to meet the needs of farmers who have the utmost of expectations concerning the equipment they use, and you won’t be disappointed with the Module Express.
What is the Maximum Module Weight of the Module Express?
The Case IH Module Express produces modules of standard height and width yet half the length, so they are easy to manage on the farm and can still fit in a regular shipping module truck by placing two half bales in it.
The weight of a standard module is 20,000 pounds, or 10 metric tons, so the bales produced by this machine are half sized at 10,000 pounds, with a minimum size of 4000 lbs. Although these bales are considered half-length, they are consistent with industry standards because they do fit into the traditional system of transport and processing.
How Many Bales Can the Module Express Wrap?
Although the Case IH Module Express does not wrap its modules automatically in the harvester compared to the John Deere round module builders, they can be manually wrapped easily with the 16 foot cover. It’s designed to hold the cotton in either a module or basket while running a row, and drop off the harvest for pickup at the end of the row.
Additionally: its good practice to place modules end to end with previously placed modules for easier loading on the transport truck. It can keep harvesting all day long until you’re ready to come in for refueling and evening cleaning at the end of the day. It doesn’t use either plastic or string, but instead after being deposited on the ground the cotton is held in a tension bale tight enough to hold itself together. From there, it can be separately tied or wrapped according to yours, or your purchasers, needs.
How Many Row Units Does the Module Express Have?
Depending on the model, the Case IH Module Express can have either 4 or 6 row units. They are designed to be spaced for narrow, wide, or medium rows between 30 and 40 inches apart. Height sensing is an automatic computerized system designed to give you the best yield efficiency during each harvest.
By harvesting 4-6 rows at once, you’ll be able to keep up with the production expected of commercial farms, and conduct the work at a speed which allows you to provide cotton to the needs of industrial level purchasers.
What Pro Units are available for Usage on the Module Express?
Pro Units are a John Deere product, Case IH makes the Module Express. The drum units for this model consist of two drums per row, one on each side, picking from both sides of the plant.
Each drum has 12 bars and 18 spindles associated with each bar. That’s a total of 432 spindles per row unit to assure quick and efficient harvesting according to the expectations of commercial farmers who need to harvest as much as possible in a day, every day of harvest season.
How Large is the Fuel Tank on the Module Express?
The Case IH Module Express boasts a 200-gallon fuel tank, enough to run for a full day between refueling, so you don’t have to come in from the fields before finishing a day’s worth of work.
It has different drive modes for different purposes, whether harvesting cotton, doing a second scrap run to pick up any leftovers from a previous run, or driving between fields at over 16 miles per hour. Each mode is designed to get the most fuel efficiency and make sure the 200 gallons is going to be plenty for your everyday use.
How Large is the Water Tank for the Moistener System on the Module Express?
The water moistener system holds 365 gallons, enough to conduct a day’s worth of work. The last thing we want is for you to run this machine without proper cleaning. Engineers made sure you’re not going to run out on a typical day in the field, so it can operate as efficiently as it was designed. Without the moistener system, the natural oils in the cotton will clog any machine, that’s why it was so difficult to invent the first cotton harvester.
Case IH provides an efficient cleaning system to keep spindles working all day without getting clogged up, so you can keep working. Keep in mind, the moistener system works during the day, before being parked at night the harvester is going to need a deeper cleaning to assure it’s ready to be refilled and get back to work the next day.
A cotton bale is defined as being refined cotton, packaged at a particular size, manageable for use by modern production methods. That is to say, a cotton bale is cotton which has been put through a cotton gin (engine) to remove the cotton fiber from seeds or any dirt and grime which may have accumulated in the raw plant during growth and harvest. There are different cotton plants which produce different grades and qualities of refined cotton fiber.
The different types of cotton are used for different projects. Some variations are great for clothing, underwear, t-shirts, or nicer outerwear. Some are better than others in being used to press the seeds for cooking oils. Still others provide structural support for rubber products such as car tires. Regardless of its intended purpose, these bales conform to uniform standards which allow for transport and further manufacturing process needs.
Nominal versus Actual Weight
To provide a direct answer to a direct question, a bale by law weighs 480 lbs. For people using the metric system, that’s 218 kilograms. The 480 figure is nominal, in reality, bales of cotton average a weight of 495 pounds, or 225 kilograms. The extra weight allows for humidity and moisture which may have accumulated to dry out, and to assure the recipient of the product receives what they paid for. Cotton is typically grown in climates which are hot, humid, and generally wet during the growing season, and crops can vary annually based on rainfall during the dry months. Regardless of what might happen on the farm each year, the final product is going to be a bale ready for factory production usage, and it’s going to weigh 480 lbs., or maybe a little more in actual weight.
Cotton Bale Size by Volume
Volume is another consideration of cotton size. Bales are defined by law as being 55 inches long, 21 inches tall, and 33 inches wide. Cotton isn’t a factory-produced iron or plastic, such measurements can’t be guaranteed as absolute, but each bale is going to be within an inch of such measurements to assure efficient packaging and transport. The purpose of baling cotton is to compress it for storage and transport until later use.
The Worth of Cotton and Pricing
Cotton as an investment can be either risky or profitable, depending on one’s understanding of the market. Farmers seem to understand the market intuitively as if they know what the weather is going to be each season, and grow their crops accordingly. Pricing fluctuates each year according to supply and demand economics. Pricing it at around 80 cents per pound comes out at $384 per bale. That price has been much lower over the past few years, as low as 60 cents per pound, but is expected to jump up over the 2021 and 2022 growth seasons.
It’s a consumer-driven market. When the economy is tight and people aren’t spending, the price of cotton falls. In turn, production falls, until the need for these products exceeds the production levels. Then, the demand for cotton resumes and cotton sales skyrocket as prices go up and farmers strive to meet the demand. The cotton market may be driven by the rules of supply and demand, yet the size of a bale of cotton remains constant as an international standard which defines how much cotton is being purchased at the current rates.
The John Deere CP690 is an extremely popular cotton picker available on the market today. Built, like all John Deere models, to be efficient, powerful, and durable, there are a few places that this model differs from the other equipment that John Deere offers. With that in mind, here are some of the most frequently asked questions around this model.
How Much HP Does the Engine Have on the CP690?
The CP690 uses a 13.5L John Deere Turbocharged Final Tier 4 engine provides 590 maximum horsepower, which is actually 560 standard horsepower with a 30 HP boost system for those times you need a little bit extra to get over rough terrain or come across other difficulties in the field. That amount of power is regulated by a Pro-Drive Automatic Transmission and front to rear traction stability. It harvests cotton at a standard speed of 5.3 mph, or can be switched to transportation mode and drive at 17 mph when moving between fields or back to the barn to drop off the harvest.
What Is the Capacity of the CP690’s Basket?
The CP690 is not a conventional basket style cotton picker. It, like its predecessor the 7760, bundles and wraps the cotton as it conducts the harvest, then drops each module in the field for later collection. As such, it doesn’t have a basket. This system requires each farmer to evaluate what works best for them to determine if this is the ideal machine to suit their needs. It has distinct advantages such as being lightweight, as the picking units have lighter components than older conventional and in-line units, and because of its design, it requires less additional harvesting equipment to process the cotton crop. This is an advantage over earlier machines that required separate module builders. Even with its advantages it still needs a separate machine to collect and potentially load the cotton bales. The system does fully wrap each round module to protect it while it remains in the field at the end of the row awaiting collection. The system is more efficient than traditional basket equipment in that you don’t need to compact the module separately from the picker, it simply might take a little different planning to harvest the cotton and prepare it for shipping.
What Is the Maximum Module Weight of the CP690?
The CP690 produces 4500 to 5500 pound cotton round modules, wrapped eight-foot-wide by 94 inches in diameter. This size bale meets the same specifications to be able to fit in standard module transporting trucks. Gin personnel are going to expect to be able to process the cotton they receive, and with a few modifications to the gin module feeder and machinery needed to break up the bales, from only processing the standard square modules in days past, they are equipped to process the cotton from raw form to a cleaned baled product which is what’s needed for making the end product the consumer will see.
How Many Modules Can the CP690 Wrap?
The machine’s wrap magazine is able to hold enough wrap to wrap 120 round modules of cotton before reloading the rolls. Because it’s not a conventional basket style machine, the CP690 can bale cotton all day long, according to how much work is expected to be accomplished during a regular work shift. It’s going to bale more cotton than typically expected and produce much less waste, but even so, the cotton Modules which might be scattered around the field do have to be picked up later. Because of the way the CP690’s system works, the picker requires less support labor on the ground to help the machine operator, as the CP690 does the bulk of the work itself. It saves time with the process even with consideration of having to go back through to collect the modules, and it saves labor expense along without having the need to rely on additional people on the ground.
How Many Row Units Does the CP690 Have?
The six row units offer adjustable spacing for different farms and the different breeds grown in various regions which may need wide or narrow rows. Not only are the row units adjustable, but they’re also designed to be easily adjustable by a single person, and they allow for fine tuning to assure the most precise harvest with less waste than may be expected of traditional cotton-picking equipment.
What Pro Units Are Available for Usage on the Cotton Picker 690?
The CP690 uses the John Deere roller and crank PRO series system which easily moves around the Pro 16 or Pro 12 Series Picking Units. The system is well known for both reliability and versatility, as it is a simple means of conducting the task being built of high-quality parts. The versatility comes from its simple hand crank, which is stored on the picking unit, and wide range of adjustability for different row sizes, whether a specific farm needs to set it once for planting crops in the same row width or if they need to adjust it for different breeds of cotton grown throughout a single season. The variety of cotton needed may change each year according to market demands.
How Large Is the Fuel Tank on the CP690?
In direct terms, the fuel tank holds 370 gallons or 1401 liters of diesel fuel. Additionally, the unit has a 16 gallon, or 61-liter, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank used to mix with the regular fuel in order to reduce air pollution. What those figures mean in real time is there is generally enough fuel to last for an entire day of harvesting, reducing the downtime of having to refuel during the middle of the day or toward the end of a day’s work expectations. The picker was designed with the needs of farmers in mind and was built to maximize performance efficiency.
How Large Is the Water Tank for the Moistener System on the CP690?
The CP690 uses a Quick-Fill system which holds 360 gallons in the water tank to keep the equipment clean throughout the day. Just like the fuel system, the moistener system was designed for the needs of a commercial farmer who needs to spend working hours in the field rather than having to waste time conducting refills. Of course, picking is a messy job, the moistener system keeps the machine clean enough to keep running during the day, but it does need additional cleaning after the harvest is finished. It’s important to know your machine and field conditions to know if your machine needs cleaning more often, so keep a good eye on it.
Do You Need Replacement Parts for your John Deere CP690?
The John Deere CP690 is designed for industrial cotton farming, and like all other professional John Deere equipment, cotton harvesters were engineered with the input of experienced farmers to meet the stringent needs of daily field work. Although it is one of the well-known strongest brands of field equipment, even John Deere machines will require maintenance or repairs from time to time. In such cases, be sure to contact us at Certi-Pik, USA for quality aftermarket parts. By replacing parts with appropriate top-quality parts, you assure your equipment will be properly fixed and ready to continue performing for years to come. Each of our representatives understands the importance of your equipment, and will be happy to discuss your needs and help you make sure to order the right part and offer advice on the repair so you can get back to work as soon as possible with full confidence in your machinery.
John Deere is known as one of the most famous tractor companies who set the standard for farm equipment, both in terms of how the job gets done and quality of available machinery. They are most commonly known for providing industrial farm equipment, in addition to meeting a homeowner’s residential needs. The John Deere Cotton Picker model 7760 meets all the standards the company is known for. It’s a heavy piece of equipment designed specifically for the rigors of cotton farming.
There are a few common questions people ask, and rightfully so, to determine whether the machine is going to serve the needs of their farm:
How Much HP Does the Engine Have on the CP 7760?
The CP 7760 provides 560 horsepower with a 13.5-liter turbocharged engine. This amount of power is distributed through a four-speed transmission with either two-wheel or four-wheel drive configurations. Such a configuration has proven itself to be more than adequate for cotton farming use in most regular situations, and there are means of upgrading for extraordinary conditions.
What is the Capacity of the CP 7760’s Basket?
The basket is sized for production-based cotton farming and can handle around 2.8 tons of cotton. There are intermediate and full-sized baskets available, and extensions if needed to increase the volume of cotton the machine can transport. This is one of the most modern machines available and was designed with the needs of large-scale commercial farmers in mind while remaining dexterous and agile enough to remain useful on smaller farms which need maximum efficiency from their equipment.
What is the Maximum Module Weight of the CP 7760?
The average weight of a round module of cotton rolled off the harvester is 2.8 tons or 5600 lbs. The John Deere CP 7760 is overbuilt to easily handle the standard module weights or go over when needed. The machine actually has different modes in which it conducts the harvest, transport the crop, gate, and cradle the harvest, and finally wrap the load. The mode is set by the operator as they need to conduct each of the steps throughout the day.
How Many Round Modules Can the CP 7760 Wrap?
The unit is designed to pick and have enough wrap to wrap 120 round modules of cotton before re-stocking the magazine. Each module can be up to 90 inches in diameter by 96 inches wide which is about one fourth smaller in weight than a conventional module which measures 7.5 feet wide, 32 feet long, and around 11 feet high, but can be more desirable as it can maintain about half as much moisture, and can be much more cost effective to get to the gin.
How Many Row Units Does the CP 7760 Have?
The John Deere 7760 is designed to work with 6 rows of cotton. There are adjustments to account for different spacing between rows which can be from as little as 15 inches apart or up to 40 inches. Each row unit uses a 560-spindle system to pick the material while being constantly cleaned by the onboard moistener system.
What Pro Units are available for Usage on the Cotton Picker 7760?
The 7760 is compatible with either the PRO-16 or the PRO-12 VariRow System Picking Units. The final decision depends on the geographic location and therefore the breed of cotton intended to be grown and harvested. It’s always important to keep an open mind when purchasing new farm equipment, as technology has changed and what one person grew up with may not always be the best part for today’s equipment, so definitely discuss the situation with a dealer before determining which option to go with.
How Large is the Fuel Tank on the CP 7760?
The fuel tank holds 350 U.S. Gallons, or 1325 liters. The sheer amount of diesel it holds is relevant to mpg, which isn’t really a factor with this type of machine. To put it in usable terms, it’s consistent with what farmers expect based on other equipment and even similar pickers built by the competition. It’s impossible to predict local terrain conditions or how much fuel individual operators are going to use, other than you can plan on the fuel lasting as long or longer than you might expect based on experience with other machinery which conducts cotton harvesting.
How Large is the Water Tank for the Moistener System on the CP 7760?
The water tank for the moistener system holds 360 U.S. Gallons. Traditionally the tank used oil-based cleaner for the picker’s spindles, the modern standard has moved towards using a specifically designated soap with water. The 360-gallon tank is typically enough for a day’s worth of operation. The moistener system keep the machine running through the day, but just like other equipment used when harvesting cotton, the spindles are going to require a full cleaning each evening after the work is finished. A fully self-cleaning picker has yet to be invented, the fact is cotton harvesting equipment requires lots of lubrication and so can be messy to operate, so there’s no simple way around having to clean equipment after use.
Contact Us at Certi-Pik, USA, for Quality Replacement Parts for You Cotton Harvesting Equipment
At Certi-Pik, we specialize in selling aftermarket parts for farm equipment, cotton harvester parts to be specific. You’ll find our representatives to be knowledgeable and experienced, prepared to meet your needs. If you already know what part you need, we’re here to get it ordered and shipped to you, if you aren’t sure, we can discuss your equipment’s failure and symptoms to help determine what the problem might be.
We’re available via direct phone call or through email at our website, whichever method you prefer. We understand how downtime affects both small and commercial farmers, especially during the planting and harvesting seasons, and therefore make it a point to provide service as quickly as possible on all orders. If your equipment is having trouble, we’ll do everything possible to get you back up and running, so you can continue to do the valuable job you provide to our country.
