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While normally the domain of high power prime movers, the recent appointment of Cervus Equipment as the New Zealand distributors for the Soucy Track systems will bring the technology to a wider audience – with kits available for all the major brands in the marketplace.
Soucy Tracks are said to offer three times more surface contact than a typical tyre set-up, by way of a much larger footprint, while causing around half the compaction of a dual wheel arrangement and resulting in greater yield potentials.
While it is claimed that track systems allow users to travel over paddocks in less-than-ideal conditions of softer footprint and greater tractor, it's probably better to look at the benefits from a different perspective.
Wheeled tractors normally operate at 12-15% wheel slip in optimum conditions, but this can exceed 30% in difficult going, with the higher values causing major damage to soil structure.
Track systems see typical slip values of 3-5%, which over a given area and operating at the same power will see a reduction in operating hours of around 10%.
This fact alone will result in major savings in fuel, and preserve soil structure.
At Fieldays, Cervus Equipment will display a four track system fitted to a JD 6125R tractor, which is claimed to offer key benefits over a two track system – smoother ride quality and full power turns, while retaining the original transmission ratios of the tractor and so eliminating any additional loads on the driveline.
Supplied as a complete kit, the system also offers the benefit of being able to be removed from a tractor at the time of changeover, returning that unit back to the standard layout, and then being re-installed on a new unit.
"We are pleased to be introducing this cutting-edge technology to a market always keen to look at new ideas" Cervus sales manager Tim Harty says.
