MACHINERY AND TRACTOR Redesigning its combine track frames to suit installation on the Axion Terra Trac, and ground contour following characteristics for the tractor. Geoff Ashcroft
Cla vis
Clever concept keeping c
N
.E. Salmon Farming is no stranger to rubber-tracked tractors. Based at Great Fransham, Norfolk, the farming family was an early adopter with the original Cat 65 tractor and has had a succession of rubber-tracked machines for primary cultivations ever since. The fleet includes a 17-year-old 9,000-hour example of the legendary Claas 95E, which supports a 3,000-hour Challenger MT865C by shouldering about 300 critical hours/year with autumn cultivations. And until last year, the farm also ran an older MT865B. Ed Salmon, who runs the 1,900-hectare contract farming operation from Hyde Hall Farm
The half-track offers far more versatility than an all-out tracked machine ED SALMON
alongside his father Robert, says: “The raw power of a C18 Cat motor takes some beating. The only downside with twin-track machines
is the potential for scuffing on headlands and a relatively low travel speed.” But he says this has all changed since the arrival of a Claas Axion half-track last year, in the guise of a pre-series Axion 960TT. The 445hp FPT-powered half-track uses Claas’ CMatic continuously variable transmission, offering a 45kph maximum travel speed.
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“The half-track is a seriously good tool and one that offers far more versatility than an all-out tracked machine, so it can handle a wider variety of tasks,” he says. “We are very compaction-conscious and anything that reduces ground pressure for us is a huge step forward.” The Salmons’ focus on reduced compaction has seen the farm adopt a controlled traffic focus at harvest. Running a 36-metre tramline
system with 2.5m wheel track widths allows the farm’s Claas 780TT combine with 12.3m header and chaser bin to minimise wheelings. “Our soils have restructured well over the last few years from using a 12m CTF system at harvest. “For us, it is about knowing when to get off the land and the low ground pressure tracked machines means we can make the most of our resources,” he explains.
Fuel tank capacity is 220 litres more than the wheeled Axion 960 but mudguards need to extend further back.
www.gtbunning.co.uk
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4 | NOVEMBER 2020
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