| Claas Selbstfahrer | |
| Manufacturer: | Claas |
| Production: | 1952–1963 |
| Length: | 7320 mm |
| Width: | 2950 mm |
| Height: | 3800 mm |
| Weight: | 4710 kg |
| Propulsion: | Tyres |
| Engine Model: | Perkins 4.270 (Diesel, 4420 cm3, 44 kW) Claas LD 40 (Diesel, 4700 cm3, 44 kW) Unknown model (Otto, 41 kW) |
| Type: | Self-propelled combine harvester |
| Succeeded: | Claas Matador Gigant |
The Selbstfahrer is the first self-propelled combine harvester by Claas. In total, 19.465 units[1] were produced from 1952 to 1963. The German name Selbstfahrer literally means Self-propeller and in the German agricultural language, it refers to a combine harvester or agricultural machine that can propel itself. Initially, the name of the Selbstfahrer was Hercules; due to an already registered trademark with the name Hercules, the combine harvester was renamed SF for Selbstfahrer in 1953.[2] In contemporary brochures, the Selbstfahrer is called Claas Selbstfahrer Type S.F.55. It was targeted at agricultural contractors and large farms in Europe.[3] In 1961, the Selbstfahrer was succeeded by the Matador. However, it was kept in production until 1963.
The Selbstfahrer is a self-propelled straw walker combine harvester. For the German market, the Selbstfahrer was offered with a 2600 mm cutter bar, in other countries, 3000 mm and 3600 mm cutter bars were offered as well. The cutter bars – designed for harvesting bent fruit – and the reel are adjustable vertically with a hydraulic system. The cutter bar is replaceable with a pickup-reel. The Selbstfahrer is usable as a stationary threshing machine as well.
The threshing drum with a width of 1250 mm and a diameter of 450 mm has six rasp bars, its rotational speed is infinitely adjustable between 650 min-1 and 1400 min-1. The distance between the threshing drum and concave is finely adjustable. Four straw walkers with an overall width of 1250 mm and a total length of 2400 mm separate the remaining grain from the straw. The grain is cleaned twice with sieves measuring 920 mm × 1070 mm. An elevator transports the cleaned grain to a sorting cylinder on the roof. It sorts three quality grades of grain. For some fruit types, special sorting sieves were offered.
The sorted grain is sacked on the roof with a sack-filling machine, the sacks can either be put on the field or loaded over onto a trailer with a chute. The Selbstfahrer′s roof can store up to ¾ – 1 tonne of grain (15–20 sacks, 50 kg each). An unloading pipe was also available for the Selbstfahrer, grain can be unloaded with it while harvesting. A grain tank was offered by Claas too. Per hour, the Selbstfahrer can harvest up to 4 t of grain. The Selbstfahrer was offered with or without a straw baler.
Like later Claas combine harvesters, the Selbstfahrer has a three-speed-gearbox with an additional reverse gear. It also has a hydraulically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) that uses a belt to transfer the torque. The driving speed is adjustable within the three gears using the CVT. At maximum engine rotational speed, the top speed is 19 km/h in the third gear; the minimum speed is close to 0 km/h in the first gear. Only the front wheels are propelled, the tyres are filled with air.
The standard engine offered in the Selbstfahrer is a straight-six otto engine producing 41 kW. It is mounted on the roof to prevent the air intake from drawing in the threshing dust.[4] The torque is transmitted to the gearbox with a single disc dry clutch. A straight-four diesel engine was offered as a factory option. At least two engine models were used: The Claas LD 40, a 4.7 L diesel and the Perkins 4.270, a 4.4 L diesel. Both engines produce 44 kW.