As a direct result of its success McHale extended the range to include a linkage machine, the McHale C430, a 3 point linkage silage feeder & straw blower with approximately a 2.2m³ capacity and the McHale C470 a trailed machine with approximately a 4.65m³ capacity that can blow or feed out two 5ft round bales of hay, straw, silage or haylage.

These machines has been very well accepted in the market and responding to user requests McHale have now introduced the McHale C490 a machine which can handle three 5ft bales.

The McHale C490 is a trailed machine with approximately a 6.85m³ capacity. It features a 3m conveyor length and can blow or feed out three 5ft round bales of hay, straw, silage or haylage.

The extra capacity of the McHale C490 allows farmers to increase their output when bedding or feeding, especially if they may be using the machine on another farm which is some distance away from the main farm.

The McHale C490 also features the C4 Expert Control Console from which the following actions can be operated

• Power switch
• Floor movement: Constant / Intermittent
• Comb Control
• Loading Door Control
• Rotor Control
• Floor 1 Direction & Speed
• Floor 2 Direction

The chute is joystick controlled, allowing the operator to adjust the chute height and the shoot direction easily from the control console in the tractor cab.

• It can be rotated 300°, which allows material to be spread on the left, right and behind the machine.
• The chute may also be lowered to blow material on to the feeding slide for better control when distributing feed along a barrier.

The McHale C490 is available with an optional linkage drawbar which allows the machine greater access to tight sheds with narrow entrances.

The McHale Silage Feeder & Straw Blower range consists of a versatile range of machines, which can be used for feeding short fibre silage and can also be used to easily distribute long fibre fodder such as hay and straw. The four models in the McHale silage feeding straw blowing range can either feed round or square bales.

The four machines in the McHale Silage Feeding & Straw Blowing Range share a number of common features which deliver optimum performance.

A key feature in the McHale Silage Feeding & Straw Blowing range is the machines twin speed independent gearbox, which allows the operator to easily adjust the rpm from 280 rpm for feeding silage or hay up to 540 rpm for using the machine to distribute straw for bedding.

Feeding: The McHale Silage Feeding & Straw Blowing Range are ideal for feeding silage and hay, the two speed gearbox allows silage to be distributed exactly where it is desired. The speed of the conveyor is proportionally controlled, allowing the operator to adjust feeding speed depending on material density and composition.

Bedding: The McHale Silage Feeding & Straw Blowing models can be used to distribute bedding material quickly and efficiently leaving a thick aerated bed of straw. In difficult to access bedding areas, the chute on the range can pass through 300 degrees for ease of feeding. Straw can be blown 18m on the right hand side and 13m to the left hand side of the machine.

Machine Specification

1. Machine Body: The machine body on the McHale Silage Feeding & Straw Blowing Range is compact which makes the machine easy to manoeuvre. The machine body is designed so that it is narrow at the bottom and tapers out as the machine gets higher; this is a design feature which keeps the machine low to ensure superior visibility. It also ensures that as a bale is turning in the machine any loose material which comes over the top of the bale falls within the machine body.
    
2. Fly Wheel (Straw Blowing Turbine): The 1.57m diameter flywheel on the McHale Straw Blowing and Bale Feeding Range is fitted with 6 blowing paddles, which provides a powerful blow for an efficient distribution of material. The flywheel housing design ensures that any loose material in the flywheel housing is blown out.
    
3. Floor Conveyor: The floor conveyor on the McHale Silage Feeding & Straw Blowing Range consists of a hydraulically driven chain and slat conveyor. The slats are mounted on 11mm high tensile chain. The chain and slat format takes the bale into the machine; the slat format has been designed to ensure consistent and even feed to the rotor. The rotation speed of the conveyor is adjustable via a dial on the control box in the tractor cab.
   
   The floor conveyor extends under the rotor and is positioned above the flywheel. As a result any material, which may gather between the conveyor and the bottom, can be removed by simply reversing the conveyor.
    
4. Blowing & Feeding Chute: The McHale Silage Feeding & Straw Blowing Range is fitted with a three-stage chute. The three-stage design minimises resistance and allows for maximum blow distances to be achieved. Chute adjustment moves through an arc to ensure that there is minimal resistance. The deep wide chute design reduces the risk of blockages and provides more even delivery of material.
   
   The chute on the McHale Silage Feeding & Straw Blowing Range can pass through 300 degrees for ease of bedding in buildings with one opening. Straw can be blown 18m on the right hand side and for difficult to access bedding areas the 300 degree chute can blow straw up to 13m to the left hand side of the machine.
   
   The chute is joystick controlled, allowing the operator to adjust the chute height and the shoot direction easily from the control box in the tractor cab.
    
5. Rotor with Hydraulic Feed: The feed rotor is equipped with 56 blades mounted on seven discs. The feed rotor is driven by a hydraulic motor, which is independent of the flywheel (straw blowing turbine). This reduces the amount of power required to start the machine.
    
6. Rotor High Torque Belt Drive: The belt system, which drives the feed rotor, can be hydraulically disengaged. The high torque belt drive system ensures that the flywheel (straw blowing turbine) can be worked independently of the rotor. This gives a number of advantages, namely:
   - The flywheel (straw blowing turbine) can be at full rpm before the rotor starts to feed.
   - The horsepower requirements are reduced.
   - It ensures that the machine is less likely to block on start up.
    
7. Bale Loading: The tailgate on the machine can be used to load a bale onto the machine without the need for a second tractor. The cupped tailgate design means that when a bale is loaded into the machine, the bale can be held in the dip in the tailgate, while the twine or net is being removed. The ram mounting points on the tailgate ensure that maximum lifting power can be achieved so that the heaviest of bales can be handled. Tailgate and conveyor alignment ensure that square or rectangular bales can be loaded easily.
   Electronic Controls: The McHale C430, C460 & C470 Silage Feeding & Straw Blowers are controlled via an electronic control console, which allows the operator to control machine operation from the tractor cab. The McHale C490 features the new C4 Expert Control Console. Grouping the major machine function on one operator efficient control console allows the operator to adjust;
   1. The conveyor speed and directon.
   2. The tailgate position.
   3. The chute position and height.
   4. The rotor comb movement for unblocking.
   5. Rotor activation & deactivation.

The direction and height of the feeding chute can be controlled via an integrated joystick on the control console in the tractor cab. The McHale C490 utilises a joystick handset for even more operator convenience.

With the four models in the McHale range, there is a model to suit every user’s requirements.

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For additional information, visit www.mchale.net.