Optimised 1:1.6 Ratio

The 1:1.6 gear ratio is purpose-selected for PTO-driven implements where modest output speed increase is required without compromising torque delivery — ideal for rotary harrows, flail mowers and cleaning star assemblies used widely across English, Scottish and Welsh farms.

Universal 1 3/8 Z6 Spline

The cone-base aequilate spline shaft conforms to the globally recognised 1 3/8 Z6 standard, ensuring direct fitment to virtually every modern tractor PTO shaft in the UK market without adapters or modification — reducing installation time on farm significantly.

Heavy-Duty Cast Iron Housing

Precision-cast grey iron housing provides vibration damping, thermal stability and long-term dimensional integrity under impact loading — qualities that matter especially in UK sugar beet harvesting and root crop operations where field conditions are often abrasive and unpredictable.

Compact 28.7 kg Build

At just 28.7 kg net weight, the HC-55 agricultural gearbox fits comfortably within the weight budgets of mid-category implements, simplifying mounting design for UK OEM manufacturers and reducing implement balance adjustments for end-user farm machinery operators.

50HP Rated Capacity

With a 50HP power rating at 540 rpm, the HC-55 comfortably handles mid-range PTO implement demands without running close to its mechanical limits — extending service life, reducing heat build-up during extended duty cycles and minimising unscheduled downtime during critical harvest windows.

Case-Hardened Alloy Gears

Carburised and case-hardened alloy steel gears deliver surface hardness levels sufficient to resist abrasive wear, micro-pitting and scuffing — failure modes that commonly affect agricultural gearboxes used intensively across UK spring cereal drilling and autumn root harvesting campaigns.

Working Principle

The HC-55 operates on a bevel gear right-angle transmission principle. Rotational input from the tractor’s 540 rpm PTO shaft enters via the 1 3/8 Z6 cone spline, engaging the 15-tooth drive bevel gear. This meshes with the 24-tooth driven bevel gear mounted on the output shaft, delivering a 1:1.6 speed increase with corresponding torque adjustment. The bevel meshing geometry ensures smooth, low-noise operation and high mechanical efficiency — typically 96–98% — which minimises heat generation during prolonged field operation. Bearing preload is factory-set to optimise gear mesh contact pattern and extend both bearing and gear fatigue life across the unit’s designed service interval.

Materials & Construction

The housing is manufactured from GG25 grey cast iron, providing the combination of stiffness, machinability and damping capacity essential for agricultural service. Gear blanks are produced from 20CrMnTi alloy steel, which is then carburised to achieve a case depth of 0.8–1.2 mm and surface hardness of HRC 58–62. Input and output shafts are produced from 40Cr medium-carbon alloy steel, induction-hardened at journal diameters. Taper roller bearings pre-loaded to manufacturer specification handle combined radial and axial loads. All oil seals are nitrile rubber, rated for continuous operation in EP gear oil environments standard for UK agricultural applications.

Typical Field Applications

• Sugar beet harvester cleaning star drives — Lincolnshire & East Anglia
• PTO-driven rotary cultivators and power harrows
• Flail mowers and verge mulchers for UK councils and estates
• Fertiliser spreader drive units
• Grain auger and elevator head drives
• Potato harvester web and separation drive systems
• Straw baler pickup and pre-chopper drive trains
• OEM implement gearbox replacement for UK machinery dealers

Редуктор Cleaning Star для свекловичных комбайнов: высокомоментное решение, повышающее эффективность сбора корнеплодов на сельскохозяйственных угодьях Великобритании.

Explore how high-torque agricultural gearbox designs are transforming cleaning star performance on UK beet harvesters, reducing crop losses and increasing throughput in heavy clay soils.

Cleaning Star Gearbox for Beet Harvester: High-Torque Precision Drive for UK Sugar Beet Operations

A detailed look at precision drive requirements for UK sugar beet cleaning star systems, including torque demands, shaft compatibility and gearbox selection criteria for British conditions.

“We’ve tried three different agricultural gearbox brands on our potato harvester elevator drives over the past decade. The HC-55 is the first unit that has comfortably made it through a full East Anglian season without needing attention. The 1:1.6 ratio suits our application perfectly and the spline fit was spot-on first time.”

“As an OEM machinery builder based in Yorkshire, sourcing reliable agricultural gearboxes at a competitive price is fundamental to our margins. The HC-55 landed with accurate dimensional spec, consistent quality across the batch and genuinely responsive technical support. We’ve since placed a standing order for quarterly delivery.”

“Our workshop stocks HC-55 gearboxes as a direct replacement unit for several popular beet harvester brands. The fitment accuracy is excellent and our customers are consistently reporting longer service intervals. The price point also makes it straightforward to recommend as a proactive replacement ahead of the season rather than waiting for a field failure.”