High Speed Tractor Makes US Debut

High Speed Tractor Makes US Debut TRACTORS New Tractors 18-6-34 A "high speed" tractor made in England recently debuted in North America and drew a lot of attention at farm shows this fall. The JCB "Fastrac" travels at speeds up to 45 mph on the highway. Key to the high speed is a revolutionary new suspension system, with semi-truck type spring shocks on the front axle and "hydro-pneumatic" springs on the rear that provide a soft, smooth ride in the field and on the road. Two models are available - one with a 155 hp Perkins diesel engine, and the other with a 185 hp Cummins diesel. The Fastrac has four equal-sized tires and is equipped with front-wheel drive. It's fitted with air-operated disc brakes on all wheels, powered by a compressor and air reservoirs under the cab. Electric brakes are optional, as are a front hitch and pto. A plat-form behind the cab can be used for carrying bales, tools, seed, fertilizer, etc. The cab is fitted with two seats side by side. "The soft ride provided by the suspension system allows you to increase forward speeds in the field without being shaken to pieces," says John Ellis, marketing vice president for JCB Landpower, White Marsh, Md.. "It lets you do tillage work comfortably at speeds up to 10 mph or pull spray booms or fertilizer equipment even faster. Conventional tractors are designed as draft vehicles to do fieldwork. However, studies show that a big share of the operator's time is spent going from field to field or picking up implements, etc. The tractor comes with special high speed Michelin radial tires that won't blow out at high speeds. Some farmers let the air out of the tires to do fieldwork, then use the tractor's air brake system to pump them back up for highway transport. The hydro-pneumatic springs even out the load and make the tractor self-leveling, so it always returns to the same height what-ever the weight of the implement mounted on the 3-pt. Implements such as sprayers and fertilizer spreaders alway stay at the same height, even though their weight drops as their tanks empty. Because of the even weight distribution, the tractor doesn't bounce up and down as much in the field so all four tires stay evenly on the ground to reduce soil compaction. The tractor wheels exert only about 11 psi, compared to about 15 psi for conventional tractors. Reduced bouncing also gives it outstanding hill climbing ability." The tractor has a 36-speed shift-on-thego synchronized transmission. The pto is reversible, allowing you to switch between 540 and 1,000 rpm's. Ellis says the company is looking for dealers. The 155 sells for $80,928 and the 185 for $89,000. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, JCB Landpower, 10939 Philadelphia Road, Box 209, White Marsh, Md. 21162 (ph 410 335-2800).

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