info, opinions on track tractors

[dedbroke]

Considering the purchase of track tractor for my no till operation. Finding some cats/challengers and a handfull of deere in my price range. Looking at under 250 hp, will be using for planting and fall ripping. wondering what experiences you all have had with them, and if one model stands out over another. Cat C55 and jd 8400T comparable in size etc. Looking for info guys, TIA to all.

[tractor12]

        i also have considered going to a track machine, prob.  a 8310 or 8410  low houred machine. I think they would save on rubber because of no flats and no front wheel drive axle. they tell me the tracks cost around $10,000, but they last a while depending on road use of coarse.I have several neighbors who use them and really like them. Check with your shop and get there opinion on servicing them and repairs.  Today tires are very expensive and mounting and service calls add up. And yes there would be some expense with the rollers associated with the tracks themsevles. Also they ride and steer a little different but you adjust. I would use mine for field cultivating, grain cart and ripping, so no row cropping, but you can get narrow tracks for planting and or spraying.  I will be watching prices myself for another year before i make a move , good luck.

[Hobbyfarmer]

I Have a Cat rowcrop. Love the ride in the field. Absolutely the worst thing on rubber in mud/slick conditions while trying to turn.

That being said I love it on primary tillage (discing), NH3 application,  and finishing. Also a great sprayer tractor. Elbows, Hands and fingers do not get worn out turning the steering wheel due to the fact that less than a 1/4 turn of the "steering wheel" is a 90 degree turn. (slight learning curve there)

Edit; I am not interested in farming without one, but it is not the answer for every job. Mine has 16" rubber on it that will be changed out to 18" next track change.

[sw363535]

We use a deere 83-- series for notil air seeder(seed and fertilizer ap), disc ripper, and vt chopping.  We like it as well.  We normaly do not have the bad mud.  

Hobby hit one thing on the head------make yourself keep it till you adjust to it.  We have not used it for row crops, we are mostly hard pull jobs.  There is a big learning curve in some conditions.

We like ours a lot.

Tire quality is sure not what it used to be.  Many are very, very soft.

[mnvtfarm]

I had a 8400T that I used for planting, rc cultivating and sidedressing, it was a good tractor. I ran 24" tracks when planting and ripping for added traction and flotation, 16" tracks after the crop was up. IMO the 8400T was a little light on traction with narrow tracks. The wide tracks made a man out of it.

The other posters gave good advise on keeping the tractor till you get used to the how they handle. The narrow tracks did not wear good at all, especially on the road. 

Pulled a 7 shank three point mounted Deere 2100 in-line ripper, 16-30 planter with dry fert., the rc cult and side dress rig were three point mounted as well, thats probably why the narrow tracks didn't wear that well.     

[sw363535]

Thanks for that last comment,  I wondered if three point equipment would affect track wear..  We have avoided it so far.