Great levels of operator comfort with a quiet and spacious cab and excellent loader functionality means this machine left all three judges impressed
The Case IH Maxxum 125 with ActiveDrive 8 is a machine I’ve been anticipating for a long time now. With a few dotted around the country, I’ve never actually driven one, so having this in our Tractor Showcase line-up was an exciting first moment.
ActiveDrive 8 is one of Case IH’s latest transmission offerings, giving eight speeds in three ranges. This is a dual clutch transmission, which we will dive more into under the transmission section.
Engine
Modern Case IH machines commonly use an FPT engine, and this Maxxum is no different, with a 4-cylinder, 4.5-litre engine that pumps out 125 rated horsepower and 135 max horsepower. The benefit of going to Stage V is extended service intervals of 750 hours for the engine and 1500 hours for the transmission.
From first impressions, the engine is snappy and perky. Given that this tractor is the smallest horsepower of all nine tractors tested, it handled the large load of bales well up the hill. The Stage V engine is dubbed the ECOBlue™ HI-eSCR, which essentially has an exhaust brake flap that’s controlled to keep heat in the exhaust when soot needs to be burnt off the DPF, giving a much longer service life. The diesel tank has a capacity of 245 litres with a large 39.5-litre AdBlue tank. The droop control is a simple feature, easy to use, and unique to the Maxxum ActiveDrive 8.
Sleek bonnet styling hides the Stage V emission well given the visibility over and around the bonnet. The three-piece bonnet opens well, and the radiators open plus slide out of the way for cleaning. Another sleek feature was the battery compartment. The steps simply unlock and swing out, where a battery isolator is located above – top job.
Transmission
The ActiveDrive 8 gave a good first impression, with snappy shifts within each range. Offering three ranges with eight shifts in each gives an array of speeds available before a range change. The way this tractor gets such a fast-changing transmission is through the dual clutch set-up. This means the next gear is pre-selected via two separate clutches.
One does all the odd gears, and another does all the even gears. The tractor works out whether you’re more likely to go up or down a gear and automatically pre-selects the next anticipated gear change, which is then done via synchros.
For those who prefer knowing the number of forward and reverse gears, it’s 24×24, and in the three ranges, a good amount of overlap occurs enabling the tractor to cope with all load levels. A modulated 4WD clutch improves operator comfort by eliminating any front axle clunk after braking due to the front axle lead. Multiple options are available for pre-ordered machines from the factory, with more spec, spools, transmission, and cab configurations to suit individual preferences.
Operator comfort
The Case IH Maxxum range has had several upgrades and now arrives with large wide-angle mirrors along with LED lights. These were definitely some of the brightest in our line-up for a base spec lighting package and standard cab suspension. Those new features are then combined with some creature comforts you’ll be familiar with, such as the well-laid-out MultiController armrest, the A-pillar display (which allows great forward visibility), and an integrated control panel so settings are intuitive to find and use.
Loader
More good things here with the new series (Stoll) Case IH-branded LRZ130 loader, which AG Attachments fitted at short notice. Not only was it a doddle to take on and off, but this new model also has some visible structural beefing up alongside some of the nifty existing features. A personal favourite of mine are the internal self-levelling arms, making this machine superb for visibility.
This particular tractor didn’t have a mid-mount valve, so the loader was actually plumbed into the Power Beyond fittings, with a Stoll electronic joystick mounted on the armrest. The Case IH has a nice wide armrest at the front, placing the joystick comfortably far enough away so you don’t feel like you have T-Rex arms operating the loader. Maybe this is only a me problem with my freakishly long arms but I don’t really care; I liked it. This was my favourite joystick to use. It’s hard to fault anything in the loader department here.
Hydraulics, linkage, and PTO
First up, the Case IH boasted the gutsiest hydraulic performance of the Showcase with 150 litres per minute. In terms of additional hardware, the Maxxum had three mechanical spools with flow control, float, and adjustable detent. Once you go electronic, you get the ability to go to four, plus a separate hydraulic top link, drop link, and stabiliser options. Power Beyond preparation is standard as are trailer brakes. Hydraulic rear link lift capacity is 7.8 tonnes, which is more than ample.
The standard tyre fit for this size tractor is 600/65R38 paired with 480/65R28, but it can also be spec’d right up to VF 710 and 600s. A flange axle is standard, but a bar axle is also an option for adjustable wheel tracks.
Performance/judging summary
I would have to say this machine impressed me the most. Having never driven the Active8 transmission, when combined with the dual clutch design, the shifting was superb. This matched with the number of powershifts in a range was the best on show (apart from the full powershift obviously), and I can see why it won Tractor of the Year 2019 for this new transmission.
The responsive engine and short wheelbase made it fantastically manoeuvrable and surprisingly well-balanced for a small tractor. Great levels of operator comfort with a quiet and spacious cab and excellent loader functionality means this machine was one all three judges were extremely impressed by.
| Tractor | Case IH Maxxum 125 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4-cylinder/4.5L |
| Stated max horsepower | 135hp |
| Emissions level | Stage 5 |
| Transmission | Semi-powershift |
| Number of gears | 24x24 |
| Hydraulic capacity | 150L/min |
| Tyre size | 600/65R38 rear, 480/65R28 front |
| Service interval | 750 engine, 1500 transmission |
| Warranty | 2-year/2000-hour |
