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Harvester Tracks

The fields are flourishing with harvest and the grain is ready for sowing. It would be really unproductive if all the work related to harvesting is done manually. Luckily, that is a thing of the past now. With present-day combine harvesters around, the job of grain crops harvesting is easily manageable. Harvesters make for one of the most important pieces of equipment used in agricultural work. In particular, these machines can reap, thresh and winnow, all at once. In essence, that means harvesters can address the entire harvesting process, saving a ton of effort and time.

The first combines were developed in 1834 by Hiram Moore in the US. The initial design featured ox teams, mules or horses to provide pulling power. By 1860, combine harvesters were widely used for work on farms. Later developments in 1882 led to the creation of the first commercial combine harvester – Sunshine Harvester – by the Australian inventor Hugh Victor McKay.

One of the first self-propelled harvesters was developed in Australia in 1923, which gave modern machines a blueprint to further expand on the idea of using harvester tracks for moving. The rotary design makes for another improvement in combine harvesters. It allowed the machines to separate the grain from the stalk after passing a helical rotor, in comparison to initially passing through rasp bars and concave. Onboard electronics were implemented in the 1980s. This allowed operators to monitor threshing efficiency and adjust parameters such as ground speed whenever necessary.  

The initial models of self-propelled combines came with manual transmissions that didn’t allow variable speed but rather a constant that was based on the input rpm. This led to deficiencies and a search for solution, which came in the form of variable speed drive. It allowed change of gears by the operator, should they feel slower or faster movement was required.

The removable head of the combine harvesters is one of the most vital components they are equipped with. Standard platforms of this type are called grain platforms, which do the job through a knife cutter bar and toothed reel that revolves and leads cut crops into the auger. Certain crops require different heads. Wheat for instance is best harvested with a draper head, while corn requires rowcrop and corn heads. The type of crop and the land it is sown on also dictates the need for harvester tracks.

It is exactly the harvester tracks that require regular maintenance and change to ensure optimal performance. Every combine harvester needs top-quality tracks to minimize wear and provide smooth movement. The last thing you need is a harvester that doesn’t run properly as that could lead to huge losses in terms of produce. That won’t happen when you equip your machine with the FieldMasterTM Multi-Season series rubber harvester tracks developed by McLaren Industries.

One of the key characteristics of these tracks is their improved resistance to wear and tear, as well as their durability and strength. The tracks owe all of that to the innovative materials used in the manufacturing of the forgings, which grants 50% more wear resistance. Should repairs be needed, the forging can be welded directly with a welding wire.

Improved tensile strength of the harvester tracks makes them much less vulnerable to excess stretching. Apart from that, all tracks feature the SpoolRite BeltingTM technology, which consists of a jointless belt system with a lot of cables, which are the source of improved tensile strength.

One more notable feature of McLaren’s harvester tracks is the Extra Wide Forgings (EWFTM) System. The extra width of the steel belting improves track strength and through that contributes for better machine stability on the toughest of terrains.

If it is uninterrupted use for multiple seasons that you require, then the FieldMasterTM Multi-Season tracks series are the ideal solution for you. They feature specially formulated High-Performance Rolling Area Track (HRATTM) compound, which supports the tread and all of the rolling areas. Even when the machine is near maximum capacity, it steadily marches forward due to the superb quality of the product. UV exposure is considered a risk factor for harvester tracks, but thanks to the 5-RT Compound it makes little impact on McLaren’s tracks. They are UV protected as well as resistant to cracks and cuts.