Unlu Hercul

Purpose and Design Features

The Unlu Hercul plow is the flagship line of mounted reversible plows from the Turkish manufacturer Unlu Ziraat Aletleri. This series is designed for intensive operation in agricultural enterprises working with various soil types — from light sandy loams to heavy clay chernozems. The main structural feature of the Hercul is the use of high-strength alloy steels that have undergone a heat treatment process, which ensures increased wear resistance of working parts when operating in rocky fields.

Frame and Protection System

The plow is built on a heavy-duty frame with a cross-section of 120x120 mm or 120x150 mm (depending on the number of bodies), which provides a high margin of safety against torsion. This is critical when working with tractors ranging from 100 to 200 horsepower. The overload protection system is implemented via a shear bolt or a hydraulic spring mechanism. The hydraulic option is preferred for fields with high stone density, as it allows the body to deflect when encountering an obstacle and automatically return to the working position without stopping the unit.

Bodies and Moldboard Geometry

The Hercul series plows are equipped with screw or semi-screw moldboards, which are optimized for high-quality soil turnover at high speeds (up to 8-10 km/h). The moldboard shape ensures minimal resistance during plowing, which directly affects fuel economy. The angle of attack and share geometry are designed to effectively incorporate crop residues to a depth of 30-35 cm, creating an optimal soil structure for subsequent sowing.

Working Width Adjustment

The versatility of the model is highlighted by a stepped working width adjustment system for each body. The operator can vary the width in a range of 30 to 45 cm, allowing the implement to be adapted to specific agronomic conditions and tractor power. This option is key to achieving maximum performance when changing soil types or needing to adjust processing depth.

Hitching and Running Gear

The plow rollover mechanism is equipped with a powerful hydraulic cylinder that ensures smooth and fast switching of sides. A secure connection to the tractor is provided by a reinforced category II or III linkage. An important addition is the depth-adjustable support wheel, which can be located either at the rear or on the side, depending on the configuration, ensuring stable horizontal guidance of the plow.

Practical Application and Productivity

Unlu Hercul demonstrates top performance in fields of 100 hectares or more. Due to high-quality soil pulverization, the plow minimizes the need for subsequent intensive seedbed preparation. The high under-frame clearance (80-85 cm) prevents clogging with crop residues even when working in corn stubble, making it a universal tool for conventional tillage technology.

Maintenance and Operation

Maintenance of the plow is simplified by the use of unified consumables (shares, points, landside plates), which are widely available on the market. The high maintainability of the design allows for quick replacement of working parts in field conditions. Regular lubrication of the rollover assembly and checking the torque of all threaded connections after the first 50 hours of operation are recommended to prevent play in the rotation unit.