Tracks or 4wd on an older combine

[beltbreaker]

Looking at changing the combine. Am looking at a Class 9 type combine 30ft header. Choice is of 4wd or tracks.

Are tracks worth it I am not sure extra maintenance wear. But on a heavy combine in a bad year is 4wd an advantage or just put you further into the hole..

 

[Flatlander]

I’ve had regular tires, rice tires and now have tracks with hydraulic rear steers. Without a doubt tracks leave very little Fir ruts and I assume compaction. My lexion 595 fully loaded with soybeans with 40 ft header in wet conditions will still float pretty good. Compared to my wheeled neighbours that have field that resemble trench warfare. Maintenance is minimal. Check the oil in the mid wheels and main casing and that’s about it apart from grease. Headlands will get chewed up turning from scuffing and the combine will turn like a boat.

 

[Tim G]

In my (albeit, limited) experience, I'd say the real benifit of tracks is the stability they give at wider header widths. Anything over 25ft really wants to be on tracks.

 

[Spencer]

Looking at changing the combine. Am looking at a Class 9 type combine 30ft header. Choice is of 4wd or tracks.

Are tracks worth it I am not sure extra maintenance wear. But on a heavy combine in a bad year is 4wd an advantage or just put you further into the hole..

Tracks 100%, Wet ground here, tracked Lexion got everything off that was ready, bogged big square baler two days later with no rain in-between. Amazing where it will go, but you still have to use the bit between your ears!

 

[HAM135]

Had 4wd on previous combine,thought it was really good,tracks this time,was a bit sceptical at first but much better than 4wd,we are on some very steep ground and it just cruises up now.

 

[Sandy]

Looking at changing the combine. Am looking at a Class 9 type combine 30ft header. Choice is of 4wd or tracks.

Are tracks worth it I am not sure extra maintenance wear. But on a heavy combine in a bad year is 4wd an advantage or just put you further into the hole..

Both needed this year now

 

[benny6910]

On a 9m header I’d definitely go tracks over tyres. I had a lexion on wheels and there were some places that I had to reverse up the hills as it would spin. Now I have tracks I’ve not had to reverse up any hills.

 

[Phil P]

Having gone back to a wheeled machine for the majority of harvest this year (not through choice!) I’d say DEFINITELY TRACKS. Going back to wheels is like stepping back in time 40 years, it’s horrible to say the least.
Apart from the travelling on soft ground I can’t get over how much I miss the stability of the track machine. It takes a lot of work away from the header trying to follow the ground and compensate for the machine rocking about and fekin bouncing .
So yes, tracks all day long you won’t regret it, worth every penny.

 

[Phil P]

Oh and not to mention the narrower overall machine width compared to big tyres.

 

[michael N123]

Our contractor uses tracked with the 4sd rear axle so both

It’s amazing how it travels goes places I won’t risk going near with tractor and empty trailer

 

[Oldmacdonald]

Can you retrofit terratracs to a 400 series claas?

 

[Phil P]

Can you retrofit terratracs to a 400 series claas?

Pretty sure the main chassis is different where the Claas track units mount compared to a wheeled machine. However that’s not to say there isn’t an aftermarket system available.

 

[Pringles]

@beltbreaker , I would suggest that anywhere north of the Forth you should be running on tracks.

Our first Claas was a 4 wheel drive 530 with 800 x 32 tyres and a 20ft header, it could certainly climb hills and get through wet bits, but by god it left hellish deep ruts even in "drier" fields so we bought a new set of step down dual wheels for it which transformed where it could travel, but taking the duals of to move between fields was a bloody nightmare!!!

So we now run one with tracks and the difference is night and day. As @Phil P has said above the tracked Combine is narrower than wheels so even better for road travel.

 

[JohnnyF]

Not driven a tracked lexion since the 480 days, god it was good in the field but take your false teeth out before going down the road.

 

[JJT]

Our contractor uses tracked with the 4sd rear axle so both

It’s amazing how it travels goes places I won’t risk going near with tractor and empty trailer

Lyles?

 

[Phil P]

Not driven a tracked lexion since the 480 days, god it was good in the field but take your false teeth out before going down the road.

Don’t think the 400 series had suspension did they?

 

[JohnnyF]

Don’t think the 400 series had suspension did they?

I can’t recall to answer properly, but the PTSD in me says no, they were awful. In comparison to the modern tracks on our ideal which are like a magic carpet on road and in field