Frame takes the strain

Whether they need to be removed to change to row-crops or for routine maintenance, they are large and heavy and need to be treated with respect.

Part of the problem lies with the fact that tractors, unlike cars, don't come with jacking points, and invariably people are forced to use bottle or trolley jacks under the rear hitch to raise the tractor of the ground. This position is very close to the centre line of the vehicle, and removing a heavy wheel from one side, can lead to potentially dangerous accidents.

With these thoughts in mind, Irishman Pauric Fay from County Cavan devised a novel jacking system called Trakjak that utilises the tractors own three point linkage to do the job safely.

The system uses the principles of levers which sees the tractor's front wheels kept firmly on the ground whilst the rear wheels lift clear. In the centre of the Trakjak frame a heavy solid bar carries a pair of heavy duty sleeves or bushings which are free to rotate, and in operation bear up against the underside of the tractor hitch frame.

As the hitch is raised the unit pivots around this bar pushing the front wheels down and raising the rear end of the tractor off the ground. Removal of the wheels results in a stable units that can utilise the solid rubber wheels of the Trakjak, and the tractors 4WD system to move around the yard or onto a wash-bay.

This ability to remove the wheels and wash the tractor rear end is seen as a major plus for repairers who strive to keep dirt and contaminants out of their workshops particularly when working on complex transmission or hydraulic systems.

Easy to use the system only requires 12 inches of clearance, and has two settings only for the centre pivot bar and the lift arm fittings, whilst offering a 12 tonne certified capacity. As part of the kit an A frame is provided to couple the parking stands to the tractor hitch frame to facilitate removal of the rear lift arms if required.

www.trakjak.ie