New Rubber-Tracked Farm Power Unit

New Rubber-Tracked Farm Power Unit COMBINES Traction Devices 18-6-27 One of the hottest new products at farm shows this fall has been a new rubber-tracked "farm power unit" built by Byron Enterprises, Byron, N.Y. It's the result of a joint venture between Byron and Goodyear Tire Co. The articulated, hydrostatic drive "power unit" is equipped with four 30-in. wide, "positive cog drive" rubber tracks. The front tracks support the engine and cab (designed for a New Holland combine), and the rear tracks support a hydraulic arm and shuttle system that loads various equipment on or off the frame. A drawbar mounts on back and a 3-pt. hitch on front. Power is supplied by a 250 hp, 7.6-liter turbocharged and intercooled Deere diesel engine. The entire unit is 28 ft. long and 8 ft. 4 in. wide. "We designed it as a multi-purpose power vehicle with both carrying and pulling capacity," says Paul Dow, vice president of manufacturing and engineering. "It's more cost efficient than fitting tracked undercarriages to each piece of pull-type equipment because you can use it with a variety of equipment all year long. It'll carry manure spreaders, spray equipment, air seeders, bulk seed bags, etc., or pull tillage and planting equipment, liquid manure tanks, or grain carts. It's comparable to a 200 hp 4-WD tractor for tillage work. The tracks dramatically reduce soil compaction compared to conventional wheeled tractors. It applies less than 5 psi to the field when empty and 10 psi with a load. "The unit we demonstrated at farm shows this fall has 350 hours on it, yet track wear is minimal. The direct-drive track undercarriage keeps the drive wheels from slipping inside the tracks and provides tremendous traction. Each track `footprint' is 63 in. long and rides on a pair of wheels equipped with steel spokes that direct-drive lugs with 180 degrees of contact. The idler wheel is in front, and the rear drive wheel is powered by a variable displacement axle drive motor. The hydro-mechanical drive system has good low-end torque, yet the low wheels turn fast enough for good road speed - up to 24 mph. The low drive wheels provide plenty of room for hauling wide equipment on the rear frame. "The hydraulic arm and shuttle system lets the operator load and unload equipment without ever leaving the cab. The shuttle arm is raised or lowered by a hydraulic cylinder and pulls equipment forward onto the rear frame." The power unit is expected to sell for about $150,000. A pull-type rubber tracked undercarriage is also available for for $21,500. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Byron Enterprises, Inc., 7275 Batavia-Byron Road, Byron, N.Y. 14422 (ph 716 548-2665).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.