Davy O’Connor and his son Noel run a unique contracting business in Rathnure, Co Wexford. The O’Connors specialise in tree- and hedge-related services. All jobs, from hedge-cutting to mulching and tree felling are carried out.
A passion for machinery sees Davy and Noel selling secondhand machinery on the side. Davy explained that during the busy periods from July onwards, there could be anywhere up to 10 men employed.
A large proportion of the business is contract work for the likes of Coillte, ESB as well as Wexford County Council, alongside private work. Davy and Noel are both fond of running older classic tractors on the hedge cutters given their simplicity and reliability over the years. Both men have a strong passion in particular for the older Fiat and Ford New Holland tractors which is evident glancing over the yard.
The Vario transmission and a high power to weight ratio are standout features of the 724 for the O'Connors.
Why Fendt?
The O’Connors’ yard has anywhere up to 15 tractors, each hooked up to a hedge cutter or an implement and ready for work. But among the predominantly classic collection, a fresh Fendt 724 stands out.
The purchase of a Seppi Starsoil heavy-duty mulcher in 2012 for land reclamation left a need for a larger tractor. The 3.9t mulcher requires in the region of 200hp and ideally something fitted with a CVT transmission to achieve speeds as slow as 0.5km/h while mulching. Having shopped around, Davy found that Fendt was the only brand at the time that was willing to provide warranty given the application of the tractor. Fendt’s confidence to stand behind the tractor and the firm’s solid reputation for its Vario transmissions swung the deal.
The 724 was the right size for the O’Connors given its exceptional power-to-weight ratio of 33kg/hp, wanting something with lots of power yet capable of working in tight areas.
After arrival in 2012, the 724 was completely different to what the lads were used to. The tractor had to be slightly modified to suit their work, its undercarriage plated with steel to protect any exposed areas or components from branches or trees while mulching. The front mudguards were also removed to prevent damage from branches.
The 724's main job is to run the 3.9t Seppi Starsoil heavvy duty mulcher which has a minimum power requirment of 200hp.
New 724
Noel is the man who operates the mulcher full-time and he says the tractor is a perfect suit for the mulcher. The opportunity came up in 2017 to upgrade the 724 for a new model after clocking up in the region of 3,000 hours, almost all of which were running the mulcher. The tractor was changed in 2017 after giving little or no bother, which Davy and Noel partly claim was down to good maintenance and driving the tractor with care.
The new 724 is the lesser Profi model given that there was not much need for a high-specification Profi Plus model as the nature of the work doesn’t require features such as guidance and autosteer. The workload with the mulcher is increasing – now Noel clocks up in the region of 1,000 hours annually on the tractor.
The new tractor is also plated up underneath for protection. On the tractor’s front linkage is a three-in-one bucket with a built-in weight box to help balance the 3.9t mulcher on the rear. The bucket comes in useful for pushing stumps out of the way, Davy noted.
Noel noted how any small issues on the previous 724 have been ironed out on the new tractor. One of these is a difficulty at times shutting the cab door due to positive pressure inside the cab. He complimented how some of these small niggly issues have all been rectified on the new tractor.
Engine and transmission
The 724 is fitted with a 6.1l six-cylinder Deutz engine which has a rated 237hp and a maximum power output of 246hp (1,072Nm of torque at 1,450rpm). Noel and Davy noted how they’ve never once had to touch the engine of either of their 724s. So far, they are happy with how the Deutz power plants have performed.
The Vario transmission has two ranges – 0.02km/h to 28km/h in the first and 0.02km.h to 50km/h in the second range. The Vario transmission is a major stand-out feature.
“After all, it’s what Fendt are best known for,” Noel remarked. The option is there to drive the tractor on either the joystick or the foot pedal, which Noel likes. Noel noted that after spending some time with the tractor, it’s quite easy to get the hang of the transmission even for someone driving a CVT for the first time.
Davy and Noel O'Connor, Rathnure, Co Wexford.
When purchasing the tractor, Noel and Davy opted for the larger 193l/min hydraulic pump given the nature of the tractor’s work. The 724 has a maximum rear lift capacity of 10,500kg, while the maximum front lift capacity is 4,500kg.
The lads are impressed with the cab of the 724. Davy noted how visibility is good, especially out of the windscreen with the curved roof.
Control layout is just as you’d want, Noel explained: “Everything’s where you would like it to be.”
Davy and Noel’s Fendt is fitted with the smaller 7in Varioterminal and not guidance-ready as it was an option they didn’t require and wanted to keep the cost as low as possible.
Noel complimented the overall comfort of the tractor. Even after long days of mulching, you’d get out not feeling tired, he said.
The spec
Engine: 6.1l six-cylinder Deutz.Rated horsepower: 237hp.Max horsepower: 246hp.Transmission: Fendt Vario ML 180 CVT.Max speed: 50km/h (two ranges 0.02 - 28km/h & 0.02 - 50km/h).Hydraulics: 193l/min (optional).Weight: 7,980kg.Price: €180,000 plus VAT.
Davy O’Connor and his son Noel run a unique contracting business in Rathnure, Co Wexford. The O’Connors specialise in tree- and hedge-related services. All jobs, from hedge-cutting to mulching and tree felling are carried out.
A passion for machinery sees Davy and Noel selling secondhand machinery on the side. Davy explained that during the busy periods from July onwards, there could be anywhere up to 10 men employed.
A large proportion of the business is contract work for the likes of Coillte, ESB as well as Wexford County Council, alongside private work. Davy and Noel are both fond of running older classic tractors on the hedge cutters given their simplicity and reliability over the years. Both men have a strong passion in particular for the older Fiat and Ford New Holland tractors which is evident glancing over the yard.
The Vario transmission and a high power to weight ratio are standout features of the 724 for the O'Connors.
Why Fendt?
The O’Connors’ yard has anywhere up to 15 tractors, each hooked up to a hedge cutter or an implement and ready for work. But among the predominantly classic collection, a fresh Fendt 724 stands out.
The purchase of a Seppi Starsoil heavy-duty mulcher in 2012 for land reclamation left a need for a larger tractor. The 3.9t mulcher requires in the region of 200hp and ideally something fitted with a CVT transmission to achieve speeds as slow as 0.5km/h while mulching. Having shopped around, Davy found that Fendt was the only brand at the time that was willing to provide warranty given the application of the tractor. Fendt’s confidence to stand behind the tractor and the firm’s solid reputation for its Vario transmissions swung the deal.
The 724 was the right size for the O’Connors given its exceptional power-to-weight ratio of 33kg/hp, wanting something with lots of power yet capable of working in tight areas.
After arrival in 2012, the 724 was completely different to what the lads were used to. The tractor had to be slightly modified to suit their work, its undercarriage plated with steel to protect any exposed areas or components from branches or trees while mulching. The front mudguards were also removed to prevent damage from branches.
The 724's main job is to run the 3.9t Seppi Starsoil heavvy duty mulcher which has a minimum power requirment of 200hp.
New 724
Noel is the man who operates the mulcher full-time and he says the tractor is a perfect suit for the mulcher. The opportunity came up in 2017 to upgrade the 724 for a new model after clocking up in the region of 3,000 hours, almost all of which were running the mulcher. The tractor was changed in 2017 after giving little or no bother, which Davy and Noel partly claim was down to good maintenance and driving the tractor with care.
The new 724 is the lesser Profi model given that there was not much need for a high-specification Profi Plus model as the nature of the work doesn’t require features such as guidance and autosteer. The workload with the mulcher is increasing – now Noel clocks up in the region of 1,000 hours annually on the tractor.
The new tractor is also plated up underneath for protection. On the tractor’s front linkage is a three-in-one bucket with a built-in weight box to help balance the 3.9t mulcher on the rear. The bucket comes in useful for pushing stumps out of the way, Davy noted.
Noel noted how any small issues on the previous 724 have been ironed out on the new tractor. One of these is a difficulty at times shutting the cab door due to positive pressure inside the cab. He complimented how some of these small niggly issues have all been rectified on the new tractor.
Engine and transmission
The 724 is fitted with a 6.1l six-cylinder Deutz engine which has a rated 237hp and a maximum power output of 246hp (1,072Nm of torque at 1,450rpm). Noel and Davy noted how they’ve never once had to touch the engine of either of their 724s. So far, they are happy with how the Deutz power plants have performed.
The Vario transmission has two ranges – 0.02km/h to 28km/h in the first and 0.02km.h to 50km/h in the second range. The Vario transmission is a major stand-out feature.
“After all, it’s what Fendt are best known for,” Noel remarked. The option is there to drive the tractor on either the joystick or the foot pedal, which Noel likes. Noel noted that after spending some time with the tractor, it’s quite easy to get the hang of the transmission even for someone driving a CVT for the first time.
Davy and Noel O'Connor, Rathnure, Co Wexford.
When purchasing the tractor, Noel and Davy opted for the larger 193l/min hydraulic pump given the nature of the tractor’s work. The 724 has a maximum rear lift capacity of 10,500kg, while the maximum front lift capacity is 4,500kg.
The lads are impressed with the cab of the 724. Davy noted how visibility is good, especially out of the windscreen with the curved roof.
Control layout is just as you’d want, Noel explained: “Everything’s where you would like it to be.”
Davy and Noel’s Fendt is fitted with the smaller 7in Varioterminal and not guidance-ready as it was an option they didn’t require and wanted to keep the cost as low as possible.
Noel complimented the overall comfort of the tractor. Even after long days of mulching, you’d get out not feeling tired, he said.
The spec
Engine: 6.1l six-cylinder Deutz.Rated horsepower: 237hp.Max horsepower: 246hp.Transmission: Fendt Vario ML 180 CVT.Max speed: 50km/h (two ranges 0.02 - 28km/h & 0.02 - 50km/h).Hydraulics: 193l/min (optional).Weight: 7,980kg.Price: €180,000 plus VAT. 
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