combine tracks lifespan

[sausage pl4te]

My dad and I were talking about combine tracks last night. We're running a 9250 on tracks, and we had one fail before it even hit 1500 hours. Now we're worried the other one might be on its way out.

The stubble was really gouging them up, wearing through the first layer of wire, and the lugs were wearing unevenly. The failed track ended up having the wire ropes break on the inside, which tore up the idlers.
We're in a spot with some really hard ground, and we're wondering if that's what's causing the accelerated wear.

We also have Quadtracs and haven't had these issues at all. Has anyone else run into a similar problem, or can you share your experience with how long these tracks should last?

Any tips to make it last longer?

 

[harvestlinepro761]

Hard ground can really lead to early track wear on 9250s. It's a good idea to lower the ground pressure settings, keep the tension just right, and steer clear of sharp turns on harder surfaces. While 1500 hours is still on the lower side, you should be able to hit over 2000 hours with the right care.

 

[HarveyHauls]

Hard ground definitely sounds like a big factor, especially if the stubble is already chewing them up. We had a similar situation a few seasons back on a different machine, and it was mostly due to the track being too tight for the conditions. When the ground is that hard, the tracks can't really flex properly, and all that stress goes right into the wires. The uneven lug wear is a dead giveaway for improper tension or alignment, so it's worth checking that again. The Quadtracs are built differently and spread the load out more, so it's not surprising you haven't seen the same issues there. I think the 2000-hour mark is a solid target, but for a 9250 in those conditions, it's really a matter of managing the tension and making sure you're not overdoing it on headland turns. You might even consider swapping the tracks side to side if one seems to be wearing more than the other to even it out.