McConnel has extended its Tele-VFR technology to the 77-Series Power Arm range, combining 6.5m reach, improved operator visibility and up to 85hp hydraulic performance in a lighter, more compact package.
Designed and built in Britain at McConnel’s Ludlow manufacturing facility, the 77-Series Tele-VFR gives farmers, contractors and local authorities access to capabilities previously reserved for the company’s larger heavy-duty Power Arms.
The new Power Arm has been developed for operators who require extendable reach and high cutting performance but want to avoid the additional size and weight of a flagship Power Arm and tractor combination. Suitable for tractors from 100hp and 5,000kg, the 77-Series offers a practical option for working on softer ground, challenging terrain, narrow lanes and around around hedge and verge obstacles.
Its reduced weight helps limit ground pressure, while the compact design improves manoeuvrability and broadens the range of suitable carrier tractors. This makes the Power Arm particularly versatile for contractors undertaking a mixture of hedgecutting, verge maintenance and more demanding vegetation-management work.
At the heart of the machine is McConnel’s Tele-VFR armset, which combines Variable Forward Reach with telescopic arm movement. The system allows the operator to position the flailhead alongside the tractor cab, providing a clearer and more natural view of the working area.
Bringing the flailhead forward reduces the need for the operator to continually look over their shoulder, helping to improve comfort and reduce fatigue during long working days. It also enables the operator to maintain better awareness of the tractor, the road ahead and surrounding hazards.
The armset can also be moved rearwards by up to 1.0m, allowing the flailhead to work behind the tractor wheel and cut within the tractor’s overall width. This provides greater flexibility when working along narrow lanes or around obstacles such as telegraph poles, road signs, trees and field corners.
To bring Tele-VFR functionality to the lighter 77-Series platform, McConnel has developed a new phased-ram system. This maintains the correct arm geometry as the flailhead is moved forward and rearwards, replacing the heavier mechanical parallelogram arrangement used on larger Tele-VFR machines.
The simplified design contributes to the machine’s lower weight while delivering controlled arm movement and an improved range of motion.
Despite its compact dimensions, the 77-Series has been engineered for demanding workloads. Its arms are manufactured from premium high-strength Strenx steel, while larger-diameter pivot pins provide a 48 per cent increase in bush contact area for improved strength, durability and service life.
The machine can be specified with an 85hp hydraulic system, providing the oil flow and power required for heavier growth and challenging cutting conditions. Its robust construction also allows it to carry larger and heavier-duty cutting attachments.
Alongside the 6.5m Tele-VFR model, the 77-Series range can be specified with a 6.0m Standard armset or 6.5m and 7.0m Telescopic armsets.
By combining the visibility and flexibility of Tele-VFR with high-output hydraulics, durable construction and a lighter overall design, the McConnel 77-Series provides farmers and contractors with a highly capable Power Arm that remains compact, manoeuvrable and suitable for a wide variety of working environments.
