The last time we experienced hype for a fixed-frame tractor fitted with track units was during the early 2000s when the Soucy Track units came to market as a specialised retrofit replacement for wheels.
John Deere’s purpose-built 8RX recently arrived in Ireland to carry out demonstrations on a number of tillage farms.
Twin-track and articulated four-track tractors continue to be the go-to for big grunt on many tillage farms, maybe not so much in Ireland, but certainly in the UK and further afield.
In recent years, manufacturers such as Claas, Case IH and New Holland have all taken the half-track approach with their respective Terra Trac, Rowtrac and SmartTrax rear-track options on larger tractors in excess of 300hp, but uptake so far appears slow.
The 8RX proved very comfortable even at top speed in the field.
John Deere is no stranger to the tracked market, having had the twin-track RT range for a number of years alongside its 9RX articulated range in recent years.
Obviously a firm believer of the track concept, John Deere in late 2019 unveiled its new 8R series, which included the industry’s first fixed-frame four-track option named the 8RX.
We travelled to see the flagship 8RX 410 in action with a 46m3 tri-axle Cross chaser bin near Ballyboughal, Co Dublin, where it was on demonstration with Country Crest on behalf of Hanlon Machinery, based in Co Louth.
Earlier in the week, it had been put to the test on a 6m Sumo Rippa leg cultivator working at 14in, as well as the farm’s 6m Lemken Solitair 9 mounted seed drill and front press roller.
The 8RX series offers maximum power outputs from 341hp to 443hp (310hp to 410hp rated).
The four models – 310, 340, 370 and the flagship 410 – are all powered by the firm’s own PowerTech 9.0l Stage V engine. The 370 and 410 fitted with twin turbos to help achieve the additional horsepower.
All models are available with the full powershift e23 40km/h double-clutch transmission or Autopowr IVT, apart from the flagship 8RX 410 which is only available as e23.
The absence of Autopowr is believed to be down to the fact the full 443hp exceeds the transmission power requirements.
The 8RX 410 and Cross chaser bin working alongside two New Holland combines
With an unladen weight of 18.4t the 8RX has a rear lift capacity of 12t and 5t up front. Unlike most tracked tractors, a rear pickup hitch can be specified.
How it differs from an 8R
The question on my mind when I first heard of the 8RX launch was whether it was just an 8R with a simple swap-out for track units.
It is safe to say this is far from the case. Deere claims that few components, aside from the engine, cab and transmission, are shared with the 8R.
The front axle and backend have been completely redesigned, with the whole machine sitting 200mm higher off the ground. The size of the rear axle casting has been increased. This extra height means drive from the axles is sent directly to the track’s drive wheels.
The front end has been beefed up. The large solid steering bar has been designed to cope with strain from turning the large track units.
The beam axle, which has been developed for such tractors, allows adjustability for different track spacing.
Straight away, the 8RX appears longer than its counterpart 8R, which would be true, as the rear link and hitch have been moved out of the way of implements, which also results in improved visibility.
The 8RX offers a footprint in the region of 4.5m2, which equates roughly to an impressive 7psi ground pressure.
With a price tag roughly 20% higher than its wheeled counterpart, it’s fair to say the 8RX is certainly not for everyone, but potentially a better all-round solution for some twin-track RT customers.
Steering lock is excellent for a tractor of such size.
Tracks v wheels
Similar to the 9RX, the 8RX uses positive drive units, meaning power is sent directly to the track by the large central drive wheel engaging with lugs on the inside of the track (similar to a digger).
Claas and Fendt predominately use a friction-based setup instead of the toothed-like drive wheel and lug approach.
The rear units are said to be a smaller form of those on the 9RX. They have three mid-rollers (two on the front) suspended on a frame under the main drive wheel.
Tracks can pivot forward and back up to 10° to follow the ground’s ever-changing contours.
The common track widths are 24in up front and 30in on the rear, although narrower 18in versions are available.
The positive drive system sends power directly to the central drive wheel of each track unit which engages with lugs inside the track.
What surprised me was its manoeuvrability and turning circle. Given the shape of the tracks, they can turn in under the engine and allow greater steering lock.
With a wheelbase of 3,235mm, it has a turning radius of 5.4m, slightly less than a John Deere 6215R, which has a wheelbase of 2,800mm and 5.6m turning radius.
This puts some perspective on how nimble the 8RX is for such a large tractor. Unlike a twin-tracked tractor, there is little or no scuffing on the headlands.
Modern styling and cab
The most striking aspect of the 8RX, aside from the track units, is the modern styling, which we now see with all new 7R and 8R tractors. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this is the result of a collaboration with BMW Designworks, which ticks all the boxes for me, especially in the flesh.
At a glance, the most notable changes are with the bonnet, roof and lights. Its evident sharp lines and angular designs were the main theme in the approach. The new colour-coded wing mirrors are just another example of such design themes.
Inside the cab, things are more familiar, with some subtle updates. The cab is certainly a more spacious environment than before, with excellent visibility all round, which could be to do with the higher ride height (200mm) and absence of large wheels, which leave the back end feeling more accessible.
The cab is suspended in each corner, providing comfort for the operator, as there is no front axle damping.
The cab is spacious and offers a high level of spec when optioned with the Ultimate comfort pack.
The command arm is the same as that fitted to the 6R and 7R tractors. However, CommandPro is an option for Autopowr model.
The demo model was equipped with the Ultimate comfort pack, which benefits from a fully leather heated and ventilated seat with lumbar support and massage functions. It can swivel 25° left and 40° to the right.
This pack includes the new 6.5in digital touchscreen radio, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Foot rests, a refrigerator and a leather steering wheel are just some of the other extras of the pack.
The last time we experienced hype for a fixed-frame tractor fitted with track units was during the early 2000s when the Soucy Track units came to market as a specialised retrofit replacement for wheels.
John Deere’s purpose-built 8RX recently arrived in Ireland to carry out demonstrations on a number of tillage farms.
Twin-track and articulated four-track tractors continue to be the go-to for big grunt on many tillage farms, maybe not so much in Ireland, but certainly in the UK and further afield.
In recent years, manufacturers such as Claas, Case IH and New Holland have all taken the half-track approach with their respective Terra Trac, Rowtrac and SmartTrax rear-track options on larger tractors in excess of 300hp, but uptake so far appears slow.
The 8RX proved very comfortable even at top speed in the field.
John Deere is no stranger to the tracked market, having had the twin-track RT range for a number of years alongside its 9RX articulated range in recent years.
Obviously a firm believer of the track concept, John Deere in late 2019 unveiled its new 8R series, which included the industry’s first fixed-frame four-track option named the 8RX.
We travelled to see the flagship 8RX 410 in action with a 46m3 tri-axle Cross chaser bin near Ballyboughal, Co Dublin, where it was on demonstration with Country Crest on behalf of Hanlon Machinery, based in Co Louth.
Earlier in the week, it had been put to the test on a 6m Sumo Rippa leg cultivator working at 14in, as well as the farm’s 6m Lemken Solitair 9 mounted seed drill and front press roller.
The 8RX series offers maximum power outputs from 341hp to 443hp (310hp to 410hp rated).
The four models – 310, 340, 370 and the flagship 410 – are all powered by the firm’s own PowerTech 9.0l Stage V engine. The 370 and 410 fitted with twin turbos to help achieve the additional horsepower.
All models are available with the full powershift e23 40km/h double-clutch transmission or Autopowr IVT, apart from the flagship 8RX 410 which is only available as e23.
The absence of Autopowr is believed to be down to the fact the full 443hp exceeds the transmission power requirements.
The 8RX 410 and Cross chaser bin working alongside two New Holland combines
With an unladen weight of 18.4t the 8RX has a rear lift capacity of 12t and 5t up front. Unlike most tracked tractors, a rear pickup hitch can be specified.
How it differs from an 8R
The question on my mind when I first heard of the 8RX launch was whether it was just an 8R with a simple swap-out for track units.
It is safe to say this is far from the case. Deere claims that few components, aside from the engine, cab and transmission, are shared with the 8R.
The front axle and backend have been completely redesigned, with the whole machine sitting 200mm higher off the ground. The size of the rear axle casting has been increased. This extra height means drive from the axles is sent directly to the track’s drive wheels.
The front end has been beefed up. The large solid steering bar has been designed to cope with strain from turning the large track units.
The beam axle, which has been developed for such tractors, allows adjustability for different track spacing.
Straight away, the 8RX appears longer than its counterpart 8R, which would be true, as the rear link and hitch have been moved out of the way of implements, which also results in improved visibility.
The 8RX offers a footprint in the region of 4.5m2, which equates roughly to an impressive 7psi ground pressure.
With a price tag roughly 20% higher than its wheeled counterpart, it’s fair to say the 8RX is certainly not for everyone, but potentially a better all-round solution for some twin-track RT customers.
Steering lock is excellent for a tractor of such size.
Tracks v wheels
Similar to the 9RX, the 8RX uses positive drive units, meaning power is sent directly to the track by the large central drive wheel engaging with lugs on the inside of the track (similar to a digger).
Claas and Fendt predominately use a friction-based setup instead of the toothed-like drive wheel and lug approach.
The rear units are said to be a smaller form of those on the 9RX. They have three mid-rollers (two on the front) suspended on a frame under the main drive wheel.
Tracks can pivot forward and back up to 10° to follow the ground’s ever-changing contours.
The common track widths are 24in up front and 30in on the rear, although narrower 18in versions are available.
The positive drive system sends power directly to the central drive wheel of each track unit which engages with lugs inside the track.
What surprised me was its manoeuvrability and turning circle. Given the shape of the tracks, they can turn in under the engine and allow greater steering lock.
With a wheelbase of 3,235mm, it has a turning radius of 5.4m, slightly less than a John Deere 6215R, which has a wheelbase of 2,800mm and 5.6m turning radius.
This puts some perspective on how nimble the 8RX is for such a large tractor. Unlike a twin-tracked tractor, there is little or no scuffing on the headlands.
Modern styling and cab
The most striking aspect of the 8RX, aside from the track units, is the modern styling, which we now see with all new 7R and 8R tractors. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this is the result of a collaboration with BMW Designworks, which ticks all the boxes for me, especially in the flesh.
At a glance, the most notable changes are with the bonnet, roof and lights. Its evident sharp lines and angular designs were the main theme in the approach. The new colour-coded wing mirrors are just another example of such design themes.
Inside the cab, things are more familiar, with some subtle updates. The cab is certainly a more spacious environment than before, with excellent visibility all round, which could be to do with the higher ride height (200mm) and absence of large wheels, which leave the back end feeling more accessible.
The cab is suspended in each corner, providing comfort for the operator, as there is no front axle damping.
The cab is spacious and offers a high level of spec when optioned with the Ultimate comfort pack.
The command arm is the same as that fitted to the 6R and 7R tractors. However, CommandPro is an option for Autopowr model.
The demo model was equipped with the Ultimate comfort pack, which benefits from a fully leather heated and ventilated seat with lumbar support and massage functions. It can swivel 25° left and 40° to the right.
This pack includes the new 6.5in digital touchscreen radio, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Foot rests, a refrigerator and a leather steering wheel are just some of the other extras of the pack.
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