Househam Harrier SP sprayer

The Harrier – available in tank sizes of 4000-litre, 5000-litre and 6000-litre (1056, 1320 and 1585gal US) – replaces the Merlin design as the company’s upper mid-range machine, slotting in between the high-specification Predator and the smaller Air-Ride.

The new Harrier is an upper mid-range self-propelled sprayer with an extensive technology options list from UK manufacturer Househam. Photo: Househam Sprayers

Like those vehicles, the Harrier has a front-mounted cab, with the 5.1-litre MTU engine developing 230hp and hydro drive pump located behind in a sound-proofed casing. This layout offsets the rear-mounted booms – dual fold at 13/24m (42/78ft) and triple fold to four sizes from 28-36m (92-118ft) with optional Norac boom height control – for balanced weight distribution.

Double- and triple-fold booms from 24-36m (78-118ft) wide are available for the Harrier, along with individual nozzle section control and Norac boom height regulation. Photo: Househam Sprayers

Having settled into the Excalibur cab, the operator is presented with Househam’s Total Machine Control (TMC) touch-screen terminal, which provides vehicle instrumentation, engine management and diagnostics, hydrostatic drive control and monitoring, fault detection and alerts, and service reminders. It is also the interface for setting up the spraying system, including application rate and section control, Househam’s Spray Pilot auto steering and the company’s FieldMaster GPS mapping technology, which is compatible with Yara N-Sensor, SOYL mapping and other software applications.

Almost all vehicle, spraying and guidance control and monitoring functions are performed through the TMC (Total Machine Control) touch-screen console. Photo: Househam Sprayers

The Harrier’s liquid system is said to have been designed for minimum ‘dead’ volume; standard equipment includes an Altek 260-litre/min pump, 19mm spraylines with triple nozzle bodies, Auto Nozzle Select and section control up to individual nozzle on-off.

Electrically-operated valves for filling, agitation and rinsing are controlled by a TMC display and keyboard alongside the 30-litre induction hopper.

Watch the How-to set the litre per hectare application volume video: