[Notill-Odell]

I am thinking of switching to a 630 tow between air seeder cart, and I am thinking of going with Elmer Mfg. tracks instead of dual 710/70R38 wheels. Does anyone have experience with tracks? ie; will I have less chance of getting stuck, less compaction should be a given, do they ridge soil when turning.
Also thinking I will put on my 875 bushel grain cart in fall. Any and all comments welcome.

 

[SWMan]

I think this is a good idea especially if you are ordering a tank without tires/rims. It will have more flotation for sure and there will be less tramping than duals. Two things I can think of are: Is speed taken off the wheel and what allowance will be made for that? Also because of tow between it may drag sideways while seeding around corners and get dirt on the bogey wheels??? I just wonder about that. Elmer's tracks on my cart are much longer than the transfer tracks and do berm a bit on corners but not bad. Some dirt sticks to bogey wheels when wet but I have never had to clean them.

 

[Haystack]

There are a few photos and some discussion in this thread from last spring. I think there is another one with more photos travelling on soft ground, I'll see if I can find it.

This would be simplest if done on a cart that can use either GPS, radar or the tractor as the speed signal as well as hydraulic drive meters, (we use GPS but tractor speed is an instant automated fallback), otherwise its a far bigger challenge to add tracks.

(Page 6+)
http://www.thecombineforum.com/foru...-seeding-season-turning-into-gong-show-6.html

Here's the other thread.
http://www.thecombineforum.com/forums/23-crop-production/153818-2014-crop-ground-6.html#post1309889
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[Notill-Odell]

Thanks for the reply's guys. Haystack, looks like the big bourgault tank is not sinking much with the tracks on even through the really wet spots, quite impressive! Will be using Raven Viper pro setup with hydraulic drives I believe, so don't need to worry about where speed is taken from.[I hope]
SWman, do u have tracks on air seeder cart or grain cart? how is the wear on tracks after a period of time?
Haystack what part of Manitoba r u located[approximate if u don't want to give details]
What about daily greasing on wheels, any of that to do?

 

[SWMan]

SWman, do u have tracks on air seeder cart or grain cart? how is the wear on tracks after a period of time?
What about daily greasing on wheels, any of that to do?

On grain cart(2000 bu.) I have been through some wetter harvesting conditions with tires and tracks on a grain cart and tracks are way better. I also have lots of experience with both on tractors and it makes a huge difference there too. Big rubber can work well too if sized right for the load, I actually didn't have any issues with my 7950 BG tank running low pressure in the tires(12-14 psi if I remember correct?) but they were huge! A tow between with 650 bushels full would require very large tires and would be wide on the road as well. BG is probably the only company putting enough rubber under the tank for a wet spring right now. You will likely be wetter than I am, so will Haystack(who is nearby).

I haven't noticed any wear but alignment is worth checking when new. I grease a few times per harvest. All fittings are accessible and take grease easily so not a huge issue. Would not go back to tires on the cart.

 

[Haystack]

Haystack what part of Manitoba r u located[approximate if u don't want to give details]

I'm not too far from you, 3340 miles straight south of the North Pole to be exact. The drill in the photos is not mine, we just have a general understanding that I'll approach the job that it has to do as if it were my own. To my knowledge the owners aren't active contributors on this forum and I wish to maintain their privacy. It would be interesting to put up a photo of the 2015, 70 foot drill with the high float front wheel option turned sideways in the shop. I haven't been down to see how its progressing yet, but I think the shot would be too invasive in my judgement. Once you give up privacy it takes decades to get it back.

In general the photos in the linked threads are on medium textured soil that has been no till farmed and planted with a disc drill for about 15 years, except for the odd fall knifing of fertilizer and discing the GPS tracks for the sprayer ruts when they get bad. I don't think it would be any different on a tilled farm other than I think the Quadtrac would break traction sooner, since this was in a near ideal situation for lug penetration on a firm surface.

The tractor is also having all of the available weight added since the drill is heavier because of the HF option and more width.

There was once last spring that I spun out coming out of a little dip with the drill in the bottom and the cart still on its way in. I looked over at the entrance platform and decided, no this thing is still moving, a bit. I just took out my phone and played for a while. The tracks made steam for 2 or 3 minutes then we continued seeding.
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