The arrival of the Case IH Puma 260 hasn’t just added a bigger number to the bonnet. This ‘contractor’s favourite’ has essentially received a massive shot of adrenaline and a brain transplant.
Better still, the cab is 8% bigger and 50% quieter. This thing is whisper-quiet at 66dB(A) – seriously, like pin drop stuff. It beats the competition hands down by at least 2dB(A). That’s the equivalent of trying to shave seconds (not milliseconds) off an F1 lap time.
Even better still is the active suspension system, which synchronises the front axle, cab, and rear linkage – it makes a corrugated gravel road feel like a bowling alley. So, there’s lots to like: saddle up the red chariot folks, we’re into it.
Big dog (or should that be cat)
Right: The optimised wheelbase has the ability to accommodate 2.05m diameter tyres
The Case IH Puma 260 AFS Connect represents a significant bridge between the agility of the traditional Puma lineup and the brute strength of the larger Optum series. The foundation of the Puma 260 is a reinforced chassis designed to handle significantly higher payloads – the integration of Heavy-Duty (HD) axles allowing a GVM of up to 15 tons.
The optimised wheelbase now has the ability to accommodate 2.05m diameter tyres (in this case 710/70 R42). This allows for lower pressures, significantly reducing soil compaction and increasing ride comfort.
Engine
Underneath the bonnet, the very familiar 6.7-litre FPT engine thumps out a mighty 260hp (rated) with a maximum output of 281hp. Additionally, there’s another trick up its sleeve with 20hp power boost when there is sufficient loading on the PTO – while moving at more than 0.5km/hr or when on the road (at more than 16km/ hr), allowing it to crack the 300hp mark.
Reaching Stage 5 regulations, it also features the cool new HI-eSCR2 engine chimney sweeping technology from FPT, turning the harmful N₂O (Nitrous Oxide) into Nitrogen and water – clever stuff. Additional cleverness particularly for New Zealand contractors is the 750-hour engine service interval. This means more time in the seat during the October rush and less time with the oil drain pan.
Transmission
Right: The monitors cleverly allow operators to drag and drop different data windows
I’ve always said that if you can’t drive a CVT, you probably shouldn’t be driving at all, and Case IH has refined this to a point of near telepathy.
The revised CVXDrive stepless transmission has also had some engineering tinkering to enhance the engine-gearbox control. This ensures the power delivery is always optimised for the load, allowing the tractor to maintain a precise ground speed regardless of engine RPM.
Mechanically it’s still a four-range setup that uses a split-path system combining mechanical and hydrostatic power, swapping between them seamlessly from 0.03 km/h to 50 km/h (achieved at 1500rpm) to ensure the transmission stays in its ‘sweet spot’.
Operators can also flick between stick and pedal driving modes. Like the OG Pumas, the Multicontroller lever actually moves along the slider and stays there. This is well received, as is the ‘traditional’ split throttle and the 8 programable ‘hot’ keys where you can choose from 100 functions to assign – 100!
Hill starts are drama-free thanks to the automatic parking brake, and for additional safety the clever ‘Advanced Trailer Brake’ system recognises driving situations and changes to the load on the flywheel. This is then followed by stabilising the tractor through pulsed activation of pneumatic trailer brakes when slowing down – either by pulling back the Multicontroller or using the brake pedal; perfect for some of our hills that would even make a mountain goat nervous!
Hydraulics/ Linkage/PTO
Right: Scooby snacks holder
Hydraulic performance is strong at 170l/min with up to 5 rear (which benefit from pressure relief levers) and 3 mid-mount valves. The ability to switch control between the cross-gate joystick, the main Multicontroller or the paddles (which change colour when you swap them around) – small things amuse small minds remember people – earns the Puma top marks in the hydraulics department.
The rear linkage boasts a lift capacity of 10,464kg, which will prove to be ample, as will the front factory-fitted linkage offering a whopping 6 ton. The 4-speed PTO is also very nifty with both 540E and 1000E reached at just 1600rpm.
Operator Environment
Boasting an 11% larger glass area and a plush upgrade gives a more upmarket feel to the cab. The refinement continues, from the elaborate steps to the handle on the left-hand side. Inside, the high-quality materials are just as impressive.
The A pillar and armrest-mounted AFS Pro 1200 monitors are both high-res and anti-glare thanks to high-definition glass. This allows it to overcome the large tractors screens’ nemesis – to remain visible in direct sunlight – and cleverly allows operators to drag and drop different data windows such as ISOBUS implement controls, camera feeds, and fuel efficiency metrics into a personalised layout. You can have as many as 16 LED work lights, the controls are densely packed but logically arranged, and the materials, fittings and screen clarity in the new connected machines all push the Puma into premium territory.
The Tech Revolution
I mentioned the brain transplant earlier. Well, this large CANBUS upgrade makes the AFS Pro 1200 screen faster than my last three laptops combined and turns the tractor into a rolling office. You can monitor, tweak, and share data from your phone, tablet, or the cab’s 12-inch touchscreen. GPS guidance, remote diagnostics, and automatic field mapping mean you’re farming in the 21st century. It’s technology that actually makes you more productive, rather than just more frustrated.
Some of the tech highlights:
AFS AccuGuide
The Case IH auto-guidance system with precision down to 2.5cm for pass-to-pass accuracy, including the pretty patterns where you can choose field, circle, curved, heading, spiral and straight.
AFS AccuTurn Pro
This combines the benefits of headland management and automated headland turning. Turning radius, speed, and implement control at headlands can all be taken care of without operator intervention.
Remote Support
If an operator gets stuck or a warning light pops up, the dealer (or owner) can ‘remote-in’ to the screen to see what’s going on, often saving a trip to the field.
Connectivity
Data is pushed to the cloud in real-time. For a contractor, this means instant billing accuracy and proof-of-placement for fertiliser or spray maps.
ISOBUS Class III
This allows the implement to control the tractor – bale chamber getting full? It can tell the tractor to slow down and get ready to stop. Or just additional functionality from ISOBUS compatible implements – the choice is yours.
Verdict
The CaseIH Puma 260 is the Swiss Army knife for the serious New Zealand contractor. If you’re looking for a machine that can jump from the buckrake to the mowers and then onto a 30-ton trailer without breaking a sweat, the Puma 260 is your huckleberry. Just make sure you’ve got enough work to keep it busy; this thing doesn’t like sitting in the shed!
