Rubber Tracks Now On Market

Rubber Tracks Now on Market COMBINES Accessories 16-1-24 New compact, state-of-the-art rubber tracks simply bolt in place of wheels on tractors, combines and other farm equipment, giving the benefits of increased traction and reduced compaction. FARM SHOW first featured the tracks last spring (Vol. 15, No. 3), shortly after they were developed by England's national ag engineering research center. Now a private company, Richard Stocks Ltd., has begun manufacturing the tracks. They were shown for the first time at the Royal Smith-field Show. The rubber-cleated tracks can be driven on the road without damage, like Caterpillar's Challenger tracks. They sup-port the weight of tractor on four rollers and a rear idler fixed to a sub-frame which in turn attaches directly to the main tractor frame. A series of hydraulic dampers and air springs provides suspension, allowing higher field speeds than wheeled tractors, according to Richard Stocks. They're direct-driven by sprockets mounted on the drive axles and are no wider than normal tractor tires but cover twice as much ground area, cutting compaction in half. Stocks told FARM SHOW the tracks fit tractors (2-WD and 4-WD) up to 115 hp. and sell for about $21,000 per pair. Larger models may be produced in the future. Contact: Richard Stocks Ltd., Cromwell Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE 14 OSD England (ph 0945 64909; fax 0945 64985).

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