Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes Farm Machinery Testing, Evaluation & Standards: practice questions

Question 1 · easy

The main purpose of a batch test carried out after a commercial test has been completed is to

1. develop a brand-new design and find its weak points before any production starts
2. give the maker private results that are never released to buyers or to agencies
3. confirm later production still matches the commercially tested sample
4. certify the protective structure of each individual tractor sold in that batch

Question 2 · medium

For the same tractor at comparable engine loads, how does specific energy at the drawbar (kWh/L) compare with specific energy at the PTO?

1. It is higher, because the drawbar test uses added ballast that saves fuel
2. It is lower, since drawbar power also bears tyre, slip and drive losses
3. It is the same, because fuel use depends only on the engine's speed
4. It is higher, because a moving tractor is cooled better by airflow

Question 3 · easy

In a hydraulic linkage holding test, a raised load is left with the control in neutral and its fall is measured over a set time. A large fall mainly indicates

1. internal leakage past valves or cylinder seals
2. an excessive pump delivery at rated engine speed
3. an incorrectly long top link on the linkage
4. a relief valve set at too high a pressure

Question 4 · hard

In a brake test, the tractor makes a series of repeated hard stops before a final stopping-distance measurement. This part of the test checks

1. how quickly the operator reacts to a sudden signal to stop
2. how much braking performance is lost when the brakes are hot
3. how far the tractor rolls on a slope with the engine stopped
4. how well the steering holds a straight line on wet concrete

Question 5 · medium

Why is a seat belt essential on a tractor fitted with a tested ROPS?

1. The ROPS protects only the space around the seat, so the operator must stay in it
2. The seat belt is part of the structure and carries the load during the overturn
3. The ROPS test is run with a dummy belted in, so the certificate needs a belt
4. Without a belt the tractor's brakes cannot be used and it may roll further

Question 6 · hard

A seed drill has a ground-drive wheel 1.5 m in diameter and sows 9 rows at 22.5 cm spacing. For calibration on a stand, the number of wheel revolutions corresponding to 1/25 ha is closest to

1. 41.9
2. 131.7
3. 83.8
4. 1048

Question 7 · hard

A seed drill with an 1.2 m diameter drive wheel and 11 rows at 20 cm spacing is turned through 50 revolutions on a stand, and 1.8 kg of seed is collected from all outlets. Assuming no wheel skid, the seed rate is

1. 43.4 kg/ha
2. 136.4 kg/ha
3. 4.34 kg/ha
4. 477 kg/ha

Question 8 · medium

In laboratory testing of a seed drill's metering mechanism, mechanical damage to the seed is best assessed by

1. weighing the seed before and after metering, since damaged seed loses mass
2. measuring the seed rate at two speeds, since damage raises the seed rate
3. counting the seeds per metre of row, since damage reduces the count
4. visible breakage checks plus a germination test against untreated seed

Question 9 · medium

A boom sprayer must apply 300 L/ha at 6 km/h with nozzles 0.5 m apart. The discharge required from each nozzle is

1. 1.50 L/min
2. 15.0 L/min
3. 16.67 L/min
4. 3.00 L/min

Question 10 · hard

A rotary tiller needs about 30 kW at the 540 rev/min PTO in the expected soil. A tractor's test report shows 33 kW maximum PTO power at rated engine speed and 31 kW at standard PTO speed (540 rev/min). The sound judgement is that

1. the match is ample, since 33 kW leaves a margin of ten per cent and more
2. the match is ample, since field power at the PTO exceeds the test value
3. the match is marginal, since it will run near full power with little reserve
4. the match is impossible, since a tiller can only run at 1000 rev/min