Case IH Puma 225 CVT tractor

By: Terry Stevenson, Photography by: Terry Stevenson

Date: 13.09.2010

Selected as Machine of the Year at Agritechnica 2009, the Case IH Puma 225 CVT should be a force to be reckoned within the increasingly populated variable drive market

Case IH Puma 225 CVT tractor

Plenty of power for medium sizer
CVT system saves fuel
Easy-to-use control layout
Good visibility from cab
Competent all-rounder

The Puma 225 CVT operator doesn’t have to worry about changing ranges or gears while driving because the transmission is fully automatic to provide a variable speed system.

The 50km/h CVT transmission has four internal ranges, all electronically controlled to range-change at the right time with a minimum of fuss. Although the first one was barely detectable, they were all fast and smooth.

Engine and power

The 6.7-litre Cummins engine is powerful, as I experimented with different speeds and any effects on the transmission while towing a set of 6m Kuhn Discover XM disc harrows. At 1100rpm, the Puma 225 CVT could easily maintain 6kmh.

You have a choice of two different constant engine speeds for different applications, or you can pre-set two different values for constant power range so that the engine can power up or down as necessary to get your work done quicker.

Powering the latest Puma is an air to air intercooled six cylinder Cummins featuring common rail fuel injection managed by electronics and fed by a turbocharger. With four valves per cylinder the CVT225 engine is rated to produce a maximum of 185kW (251hp) at 1800rpm in Power Management mode, and 165kW (224hp) in standard running mode, at 2200rpm.

Maximum torque output is 1025Nm at 1500rpm in Power Management mode, and 950Nm in standard mode, at 1400rpm.

The Power Management mode kicks in when the PTO requires more than 35hp, or when the tractor travels above 18km/h. This keeps stress off the driveline by only providing larger quantities of torque at the right time to prevent over-torquing drive components, typically when using the PTO or in the higher gears on the road, allowing lighter tractors with smaller drivelines to carry that extra power.

The Tier 3 engine is 100% biodiesel factory approved and service intervals, including the transmission, have been extended out to 600 hour intervals.

Instrumentation

The main Multicontroller stick doubles as a manual speed controller, with an excellent array of very well placed buttons designed to make your life easier. On the same stick I could also select forward or reverse, and operate the pre-set remote valve and linkage controls.

Using my thumb I could easily spin the dial under the stick to adjust my speed pre-set, in 0.1kmh increments, in either of the three speed ranges. Not forgetting that I could still use the tractor in Manual with foot throttle at any time when the "speed" stick is returned to zero, and coming down from higher speeds the Puma slows you down gently too.

The Puma’s EcoDrive slide levers manually control your maximum and minimum engine rpm combined with a load limit control. The computer works out the most economical place the engine needs to work between your two slide settings, regarding transmission versus revs. There’s also a button on the front side of the control stick, which operates the Constant Engine Speed or Headland Management Control.

Take off in the high speed setting with the Multicontroller stick fully forward and the Puma 225 CVT automatically revs its engine and then transfers the power in just the right quantity to drive off the line at a rapid pace. The Cummins engine initially revs up then quickly drops its revs (and power) as the tractor speed builds up, to save fuel.

This type of take-off system would be used during hill starts or with a heavy trailer on the back, for example. No problem if you want to take off at a more sedate speed – just push the control lever to a mid-range position and the tractor will move off accordingly.

Operator comfort

Five steps up to the cabin will have you in a comfortable pneumatic seat and a very quiet cab with good visibility. The "B" pillars have been removed altogether to create an unusually open feel to the wide cab, with the seat positioned right back.

There’s no dash as all the main information is located on "A" pillar LCD displays. Once connected, you can operate implements through this monitor, too. Immediately in front of the monitor are the hydraulic (double acting) remote functions including a remote valve multi-use joystick. On the CVT-only armrest is a flat touchpad for the likes of headland management, cruise control, constant engine speed, and more.

There’s a lot more to the new Puma, such as the hitch’s damping Ride Height Control system to reduce implement bounce while driving, and the front suspension system – so you’ll need to inspect one yourself.

See a range of Case IH tractors for sale here.

Specifications

Engine Six-cylinder Cummins
Capacity 6.7 litres
Power rating 185kW (251hp) at 1800rpm, Power Management mode; 165kW (224hp) in standard mode
Maximum torque 1025Nm at 1500rpm, Power Management mode; 950Nm at 1400rpm, standard mode
Transmission Variable speed CVT transmission
Clutch type Wet
Maximum speed 50km/h
Fuel capacity 412L
Front suspension Hydraulic
Steering angle 55 degrees
Minimum turn radius 6.1m
Weight 7200kg
Max operating weight 13,000kg
Maximum hitch lift 6382kg (std)
Hydraulics Four remotes with 150 or optional 170L/min flow rates
Wheelbase 2884mm