Some real Trac-tors...

[PineRidge]

I find it most interesting that the Japanese find a way to distribute weight while still maintaining traction. While here in the US we are busy loading our tires with fluids or adding weight to the axles. Do you suppose they know something that we don't?

GOOD pictures Henro!

 

[AndyMA]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I find it most interesting that the Japanese find a way to distribute weight while still maintaining traction. While here in the US we are busy loading our tires with fluids or adding weight to the axles. Do you suppose they know something that we don't?

I'm not sure they know anything we don't know. I think it's because there using their tractors under different conditions. We tend to load and add weight to counter front end loader weight, where in most of the pictures of Japenese tractors I see, they are dragging implements. Many time under very muddy conditions.

Andy

GOOD pictures Henro! )</font>

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

Cool looking Trac-tors /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[AndyM]

Bill,
Thanks for sharing all of your pictures from "Tractor Tour 2003"

(I'm sure your wife didn't all it that!) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[milkman]

Thanks for the pics. I could use a cigarette now!!!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Tracks have advantages and disadvantages. Many US and Canadian farmers have track setups they can bolt onto their combines and tractors if they run into a wet harvest. The advantage of tracks is the flotation and traction which means less compaction. Disadvantage is going over bumps and such as the machine will climb well but for the most part is a fun ride when it tips to the other side of the bump (anyone who has operated a crawler will understand what I mean). The other disadvantage is that in soft ground the tracks will tear up the ground if you turn to sharply. Another disadvantage is cleaning the tracks after you have been in the mud (especially on these large tractors).

Tires have advantages and disadvatages that most people already know so there is no sense repeating.

Now for how these tracks work, most bolt onto the hub and are easily changed to tires if need be. Just north of me there is a lot of farms having fun getting their corn in. A few of them bolted their tracks onto their combines to make it thru the harvest. You can order JD combines with tracks now if you want and you can get tracks for any tractor or harvester thru aftermarket companies. So far most farmers prefer the Case-IH Quad Trak over the two track setups from Cat and JD because they don't tear things up as bad and handle ditches and bumps much better while giving you the same advantage of the two track setups. Only disadvantage is you have 4 track assemblies to clean up instead of two, as well as more parts to wear.

 

[CMunger]

As far as being more costly to maintain, their ALOT more expensive to maintain. You not only have twice the amount of track drive on the ground, you have twice the drive train on the tractor, and I think the purchase price is higher also. I think these are tracks that, Case/IH purchase from a company in Hungry. And don't forget on the other two track units you get a 3-point with draft, and a PTO. Before Case/IH was sold it had track systems in R&D to be used on the Magnums, but was selved in light of the sale of the company to Fiat. I am not sure but I think it may have been a Quad type system also, like the Steiger/Case/IH
Chuck M.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

There is a rumor about a MX based quad trak. It is an articulated machine like the STX but still no pictures. The older CIH company had the MUT prototype which came out about the same time the original Quad Trak prototype came out. One was produced, the other was not. The 2wd tractors create problems for 4 track setups, one is turning. The front tracks would hit the tractor with a conventional turning system which is why the newer MX that is rumored to be around is articulated like the old International 6388.

There have been rumors of C-IH coming out with a articulated tractor for a while that was not a STX. Some thought it might be a variant of the NH TV140/145. Others thought it might be a reincarnation of the old International Anteaters. Eitherway, it is nice to see that C-IH is trying different things still and hopefully someone will luck out and get a picture.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Finally found a picture of some of the aftermarket tracks available for combines. This picture was taken by a friend of mine who runs www.toytractorshow.com and the combine belongs to Steins farm from Caledonia, NY. To see more pictures of Steins farm and other farms from the Churchville area go to http://www.homestead.com/churchvillefarms/index.html

 

[pekabu]

Cool pictures. New to tractors, but been around Snow Grooming equipment. It's not unusual for clubs to put track kits on Geo's and pull drags around. Mt Major Snowmobile club