John Deere Introduces All-new PitStop Pro That Lets Customers Quickly Change Anhydrous Ammonia Tanks

LENEXA, Kansas .— John Deere introduces its all-new PitStop Pro tendering system to help customers quickly and efficiently change anhydrous ammonia tanks without leaving the cab of the tractor. PitStop Pro will be available for use with John Deere 2510H Nutrient Applicators in 2010.

“This revolutionary new tender system sets a new standard in applying anhydrous ammonia fertilizer. It drastically reduces the amount of time it takes to switch from an empty tank to a full tank from about seven minutes down to two minutes. Best of all, the operator never has to leave the comfort of the tractor cab during the entire process,” says David Wendt, John Deere product manager.

To exchange a tank using PitStop Pro the tender driver arrives at the field with a fresh tank and unhooks the hitch and safety chain. Next the driver makes sure the tank’s hose is in the cradle, opens the valve on the tank, and then pulls away.

When their tank is empty, the applicator operator in the field finds a level surface and makes sure the applicator and tank are in a straight line before disconnecting. The operator then pushes the “decouple” button on the monitor. The coupler automatically moves down a track, places the hose in the stand, and then moves back up the track. The operator then presses the “unhitch” button to retract the hitch pin, and then pulls the applicator away from the tank. A stand drops down to support the hitch on the tank to complete the disconnection.

After they disconnect from the empty tank the operator drives to the fresh tank and lines the applicator up with the hitch on the trailer. They back the applicator in to trip the hitch pin and to automatically hitch up the tank. The operator then pulls forward to make sure the hitch is locked. After they press the “couple” button on the monitor, the coupler automatically moves down the track, engages the hose and moves back up the track to complete the connection. What used to take an operator seven to 10 minutes to complete, while they would get in and out of the cab numerous times and wrangle hoses around, now takes less than two minutes to accomplish.

“In a single day, with a 1,500-gallon tank and 400 acres, this process would typically be completed about 15 times. An operator that utilizes PitStop Pro can save more than an hour per day in what used to be wasted time. This enables a more timely application of nitrogen, and can increase revenue potential for commercial applicators. Thanks to greater productivity and efficiency of PitStop Pro, they can finish their work faster, or they can work more acres per day. Operator exposure is also greatly reduced while the connection process is underway,” says Wendt.