Rubber Tracks Fit Front And Rear Combine Wheels

Rubber Tracks Fit Front And Rear Combine Wheels COMBINES Traction Devices 18-6-26 A rubber track system designed to fit front combine drive wheels and rear wheels was shown for the first time at the recent Farm Progress Show in Illinois. The retrofit rubber track system, designed by Peter and Earl Christianson, Fargo, N. Dak., was shown on a Case-IH 1666 combine. The same drive wheel tracks can also be mounted on tractors. Fargo tracks fit over dual 12.4 by 42 tractor tires and are held in place by side plates fitted with rollers that ride against the wheel rim. "The tracks mount right on the combine or tractor without modifications. They fit right over the air-filled rubber tires so the system has an air suspension. You get the benefits of both tracks and tires and you can operate at normal speeds," says Peter. We recommend using the tracks all the time, even under normal field conditions be-cause they reduce compaction and virtually eliminate slippage. Working in wet field conditions is really only a side benefit. They work especially well in no-till where it's very important to limit soil compaction be-cause the compacted soil doesn't get ripped up. We figure the tracks reduce field traffic by at least 50% by eliminating the need for dual and triple wheels and there's less cornpaction where you do drive - up to four times less." Each track has four contact points - the top and bottom of the tire and the idler wheels, one located at each lower corner of the track. There are two friction or drive points - one on top of the tire and one at the bottom. Track widths range from 15 to 36 in. Estimated retail price for the rear tracks is $7,900, and $22,500 for the front ones. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Fargo Track, Inc., Fargo, N. Dak. (ph 701 241-6908).

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