1. ERGONOMICS & STYLING
iVT INTERNATIONAL 2004
ERGONOMICS & STYLING
??
STEVEN CASEY
W
hen Massey Ferguson set
out to create the new MF
7400 Dyna-VT agricultural
tractor, the OEM had far
more than one objective in
mind. True, there was the
matter of integrating the popular Fendt
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) into the top end of the MF prod-
uct line – a logical ‘transmission of
transmissions’ from one to the other of
the two prominent Agco brands. The
OEM had a strong business case for
driving Fendt’s technology leadership,
particularly its Vario CVT technology,
into other Agco product lines.
However, there was also the need
to bring Tier II engine technology and
electronic engine-management systems
to the MF product for emissions compli-
ance and to take full advantage of the
Fendt CVT.
“The two objectives worked pretty
much in tandem,” according to Mark
Perger, Agco product manager for the
7400 program. “We made the deliberate
decision to drive the technology down
through the two brands, to capitalize on
Fendt CVT leadership and successes and
the broad popularity of the Massey
Ferguson brand, particularly in the
European market. Massey Ferguson has
long been known as the ‘tractor-driver’s
tractor’, easy to use and a pleasure to live
with, and we wanted to bring to it the
proven capabilities of the Fendt CVT.” It
made the most sense, adds Perger, to
make all of these changes and meet all
of the objectives at the same time.
The end result of the effort has
indeed been a new ‘tractor-driver’s
tractor’ – a vehicle with state-of-the-art
mechanicals and user interface; a tractor
that has received accolades from owners
WHAT LIES BENEATH…… is neither here nor there for the users of Massey Ferguson’s
new 7400 Dyna-VT tractor. Despite complex CVT and electronic
engine management, engineers have ensured simplicity for drivers
??iVT INTERNATIONAL 2004

2. ERGONOMICS & STYLING
iVT INTERNATIONAL 2004 ??
and operators; a tractor worthy of the
‘Machine of the Year’ award recently
granted by the German agricultural press.
Program organization
“In actuality, there were 16 sub-projects
within the overall development pro-
gram,” notes Perger. As engineering
director and head of the 140-member
engineering team at Massey Ferguson’s
sprawling Beauvais plant north of Paris,
Malcolm Shute was in charge of overall
engineering development. The sub-
programs were organized into five units,
each with a team of specialist engineers
and designers given the responsibility to
address their part of the program.
Overseeing total vehicle architecture
and ensuring the co-ordination of the
various teams was Stephane Lamperiere.
Engine engineering activities were
headed up by Jean Andiano. The team
responsible for the rear axle, hydraulics,
and integration of the Fendt CVT was
led by Andre Rateau, while Yvon
LeClezio led the electronics and electrics
group – a particularly important func-
tion considering the new engine-
management system, CVT and accom-
panying operator-control system.
Changes to the front structure were
undertaken by the team led by Francois
Pottier and last, but not least, Christophe
Roudet spearheaded the engineering of
a new cab interior, controls and roof.
Having worked most recently on
Agco’s Challenger MT700 and MT800
tracked tractors, Dr Steven Casey,
Ergonomic Systems Design, was brought
in to develop the basic workspace geo-
metry for the operator station, to develop
logical layouts for the panels and con-
soles and, most importantly, help
develop a control interface for the CVT
that was easy to understand and use.
‘Simplicity of operation’ was the over-
riding goal for the cab interior, espe-
cially the CVT.
“Long discussions took place over
the transmission’s user interface, which
changed shape several times before the
final design met our criteria for total
usability,” says Malcolm Shute. “Much
of the new control console design and
cab layout reflect Casey’s suggestions.”
The talents of industrial designer
S. Cosnier of SERA (based in Paris) were
tapped to create an updated and pleas-
ing style to cab interior elements and
exterior features. Casey, Cosnier and
Massey Ferguson engineers especially
worked purposefully to develop a user
interface that simplified the underlying
technology for the operator.
CVT background
Around since 1997, the Fendt CVT is
widely recognized as one of the most
significant innovations in the industry
within the last decade. Perfection of the
true continuously variable transmission
has been called the ‘Holy Grail of gear-
box design’ – a system that will provide
great improvements in vehicle flexibility
without sacrificing efficiency, as is the
case with a traditional hydrostat.
In concept, the CVT breaks the tradi-
tional link between engine speed, ground
speed and PTO speed, allowing the oper-
ator to control speeds for optimum task
and fuel efficiency. Perhaps the most
significant breakthrough was the Fendt
CVT’s ability to handle high torques.
Essentially a hybrid – a combination
mechanical and hydrostat drive – it lets
the user run the engine at any rpm yet
maintain or vary speed as needed, all
while holding fuel usage down. Long
gone are the days when the operator
had to put up with discrete steps in rpm
and speed established by a set of gears.
The CVT allows the selection of any
ground speed while the required PTO
speed is maintained – ideal for ‘slow’
tasks that need a great deal of power. For
light duties, with no need for full engine
power, the operator can select a high
ground speed while keeping rpm low,
saving fuel and cutting down on noise.
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3. ERGONOMICS & STYLING
?? iVT INTERNATIONAL 2004
The ‘continuously variable’ engine
and continuously variable transmission
now work together in a way that better
supports the particular task of the trac-
tor, all in a surprisingly compact space.
Basic instinct
For the 7400’s CVT – dubbed the MF
Dyna-VT – the control system had to be
as intuitive as possible. In the final pro-
duction tractor, one finds a traditional
orange hand throttle to control fuel
flow, a foot pedal and a Dyna-VT con-
trol lever that looks and acts much like a
traditional powershift controller.
Push the hand throttle to throttle up
and pull it back to throttle down. Push
the control handle to move forward and
pull it back to slow down. Hold it in the
forward position until the desired ground
speed is achieved – let go, and the trac-
tor maintains that speed. Feel like con-
trolling ground speed with the pedal
instead? Simple – engage ‘pedal mode’
with the flick of a switch and the foot
throttle controls ground speed through
the transmission and the engine.
It all feels natural and intuitive, with
very little for the operator to learn and
memorize. Long-established control
interface paradigms have been put to
good use making the CVT and engine
functions work together seamlessly in a
very natural way for the operator. The
system underneath may be high-tech,
but to the operator the control inputs
are logical and straightforward.
Like setting the cruise control on a car,
controls for setting two independent
ground speeds can be set, and memorized
by the tractor, by adjusting two knobs
on the console near the main hand con-
trols. This ability to alternate between
two preset speeds is particularly useful
when working the field and turning on
the headland.
The ‘supervisor’ control knob lets the
operator optimize the relationship
between engine load and forward speed.
Again, the control has been designed
with the task and experience of the
operator in mind. Turn the dial to the
PTO symbol, or the trailer symbol, for
example to automatically optimize the
engine and transmission operating char-
acteristics for those particular applica-
tions. This user-centered approach to
design and labeling unburdens the oper-
ator and requires little or no technical
understanding of the underlying opera-
tions of the engine and transmission.
Elsewhere on the spacious right-hand
console, hydraulic, hitch, PTO and cab
suspension controls are placed in logical
locations and and grouped according to
function. The sweeping arc of the console
gives a powerful, user-focused feeling to
the cab overall and complements the
circular design of the front console,
developed by Cosnier of SERA. The
functional control layouts on the front
and side consoles are placed within the
context of an innovative interior.
Suspension and other features
The transmission, engine management
systems, controls and displays are not
the only new things on the tractor.
Perhaps the first thing one notices while
actually operating it is how quiet it is
(an industry-low 71dB(A) in the high
spec model). Also available are auto-
matic air conditioning and climate con-
trol; a pneumatic, swiveling, heated
seat; a suspended front axle; a dual-stage
suspended cab with user control over
suspension settings; and automated
control of four-wheel drive, the differ-
ential lock, and the PTO. These elec-
tronic driving aids allow the user to
program frequently performed actions,
contributing to a very comfortable ride
in a very user-friendly environment.
The MF 7400 actually includes six
different tractors with 120hp on the
7465 to 185hp on the 7495. Water-
cooled, direct-injection diesels by Sisu
and Perkins are available, with capaci-
ties ranging from 6.0-6.6 liters. All trac-
tors in the range carry the Dyna-VT
stepless, continuously variable transmis-
sion with a field speed range of 0.03-
28km/h and a road-speed range of 0.03-
50km/h. Maximum hitch-lift capacity at
link ends ranges from 7,600-9,300kg.
Feedback from early owners and
operators of the MF 7400 Dyna-VT trac-
tors has been excellent, especially with
regard to the tractor’s ease of operation,
performance of the CVT and quiet sus-
pended cab. After some initial chal-
lenges ramping up to strong buyer
demand, the Beauvais plant has dramat-
ically increased capacity.
Contributing to the tractor’s popu-
larity was its receipt of the ‘Machine of
the Year 2004’ award by the German
DLV Press Group at the recent
Agritechnica Show in Hannover, recog-
nizing the MF 7400 Dyna-VT’s engine
and transmission control system, and
categorizing the product as ‘the most
innovative on the market, particularly
in terms of the control system’s design
and ease and simplicity of use‘. The MF
7400 Dyna-VT tractor is, as they say, ‘a
tractor-driver’s tractor’. iVT
✎ Steven Casey is president, Ergonomic Systems
Design, and is based at the company’s design
studios in Santa Barbara, California, USA
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