Product Focus: Fendt 900 and 1100 Vario MT tractors

With new features to make turns smoother and towing implements easier, the new Fendt 900 and 1100 Vario MT track tractor range is ideal for the heaviest jobs

Two new high horsepower tractor models have joined Fendt’s product lineup in Australia and New Zealand, with the Fendt 900 Vario MT and 1100 Vario MT track tractors now available nation-wide.

With a host of new features designed to enhance both comfort and performance, the tractors are designed to handle big crop production jobs, including medium-to-heavy high-speed tillage, as well as the largest planters and seeding implements.  

“There’s nothing we haven’t thought of in creating the new Fendt Vario MT track tractors,” says Fendt product manager Tyron Midgley.

“For flotation, ride comfort, fuel efficiency, implement operation, power and reliability, these new track tractors will definitely stand out as a great choice for the heaviest jobs. 

“We’ve added some totally new, Fendt-exclusive innovations, such as a steerable three-point hitch system and a hydraulically controlled swinging drawbar option that make headland turns with large implements smoother for the operator, less demanding on the tractor and gentler on the soil.”

FENDT 1100 VARIO MT 

There are four different versions of the 1100 Vario MT, with the biggest being the Fendt 1167 Vario MT, equipped with a six-cylinder, 16.2L diesel engine making 673hp (502kW) and which Fendt claims is the highest horsepower track tractor available on the market. 

The three other models, the 1151 (511hp [381kW]), 1156 (564hp [421kW]) and 1162 (618hp [461kW]), are powered by MAN six-cylinder, 15.2L diesel engines – with all four models offering a CVT transmission and Fendt’s iD low-rev engine concept and tractor management system for fuel efficiency. 

Designed for the biggest jobs, the 1100 Vario MT tractors have been given plenty of attention in terms of suspension and hitch systems.

The tractors are designed using Agco’s patented Mobil-Trac track system, placing the hardbar closer to the front of the tractor and giving them a suspended undercarriage and a longer wheel base for better weight and power distribution.

Equipped with a category 5 free swinging drawbar with a 4,990kg load rating as standard, the 1100 Vario MT series also offers the choice of a hydraulically controlled 6,800kg load-rated drawbar and hydraulically controlled three-point hitch.

Fendt says both hitches make it easier for the operator to make headland turns while towing large implements – with the drawbar providing 28 degrees of swing left and right, which allows the tractor to turn closer to its natural turning point under load. 

The steerable hitch system provides 12 degrees of movement in the hitch and 11.5 degrees of swing, with the drawbar allowing the tractor to steer easily around contours and field obstacles without raising the implement. 

This hitch uses two steering cylinders to keep the drawbar in a fixed position or allow it to float with restriction. It is controlled from the tractor cab and integrated with the tractor steering for smooth turns with large implements.

Smart Ride Plus load levelling, a Fendt-exclusive option, integrates with the front suspension springs to adjust tractor height and also keep it level when operating heavy attachments.

The tractors also have two-point cab suspension with integrated rear shock absorbers and two more shock absorbers with rubber bumpers on the front for additional rider comfort.

Inside the cabin, the tractors have a single spoke steering wheel, implement controls and a joystick within the armrest and a 10.4 inch (26cm) Varioterminal screen.

Operators can easily manage all tractor settings and adjustments through the Varioterminal, as well as monitoring implements and managing camera functions field documentation and variable rate applications.

There is also a dual pump, dual circuit hydraulic system for up to 440 litres per minute of hydraulic oil flow and separate hydraulic oil reservoirs for implement and vehicle hydraulic systems.

The new Fendt 1100 Vario MT tractors are designed with front and chassis options for ballasting. Front weights improve machine balance and headland quality, and provide correct belt-to-ground contact for the idler driver. 

Options include 20 or 36 suitcase weights providing up to 915kg and 1,650kg, respectively, or the 2,000kg mono block. Chassis ballasting on the undercarriage places weight near the machine’s centre of gravity, using a combination of idler, frame and rear-drive wheel weights. 

Weight is applied directly to the ground without putting stress on the chassis, axles or final drives to improve drawbar pull capacity.

 

FENDT VARIO 900 MT

Like their larger siblings, the models in Fendt’s 900 Vario MT tractor range are designed for optimum efficiency and can run at a lower engine rpm to reduce fuel costs. 

The range boasts three models, the 938 Vario MT that has a 380hp (279kW) engine, the 940 Vario with a 405hp (298kW) engine and the 943 Vario with a 431hp (317kW) engine.

Each of the tractors have a dual pump and dual circuit hydraulic system, with energy-efficient flat-face hydraulic couplers available as an option.

The tractors are equipped with a standard Category 3/4N three-point hitch and a two-speed 1000 and 1000E power take-off shaft. The tractors offer standard wide-gauge settings of 72 to 120 inches (183 to 305cm) and three track styles in four widths from 18 to 30 inches (46 to 76cm).  

The 900s also have the Mobil-trac system and have a steel hardbar that acts as a front axle, attaching to the forward point of the roller frame and providing up to 11 degrees of oscillation, to improve ride and minimise compaction.

All systems can be controlled through the same 26cm Varioterminal operating system as appears in the 1100 Vario MT tractors, which are also compatible with ISOBUS.

Midgley says people operating the 900 Vario MT tractors notice a different level of ride comfort when travelling over terraces and rough field surfaces, helped in part by in-cab amenities including an air-ride seat and larger instructor’s seat. 

“The Smart Ride system combines oscillating mid-wheels, hardbar suspension, cab suspension and seat suspension, giving operators great ride quality without sacrificing the in-field benefits of power, control and traction,” he says.

“The tractors also handle well at the maximum road speed of 40km/h, and ride comfort on the road is noticeably better than other track tractors,” he adds.

In addition to these features, an LED light package adds more lights at the rear of the tractor, positioned to provide a clear view of each end of a 24-row planter during late nights in the field. 

Porch lighting on the cab provides a safe view of the area for operators leaving the field after a long day, and the battery smart-disconnect automatically powers everything down for the night. 

The 900 Vario MT also has an integrated walk-around platform that provides secure, fast access for cleaning windows.