Less Compaction
All of J&M's track offerings provide these great benefits
No Maintenance, No Problem
Virtually maintenance free during day-to-day operations thanks to:
| J&M Track Characteristics | Competition Track Characteristics | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ✓ | Industry’s largest footprint-to-weight ratio for minimized compaction | ✓ | Bulky designs with smaller footprints - weigh up to an additional 3,200 lbs |
| ✓ | Easier handling during assembly, transport, and annual maintenance | ✓ | Weighty components require larger lifting equipment whenever handling |
| ✓ | Oil bath hubs with large, shatterproof sight windows for level verification at a glance | ✓ | Grease or oil-bath hubs with little to no lubricant visibility. In muddy conditions, grease hubs require daily greasing |
| ✓ | Synthetic oil in hubs for superior bearing protection and excellent cold weather lubricant flow | ✓ | Conventional oil or grease in hubs yields increased maintenance intervals and poor cold-weather lubricant flow |
| ✓ | Self-lubricated sleeve bearings eliminate the need for routine greasing | ✓ | Pivot locations require daily or weekly greasing or an expensive auto greaser option |
| ✓ | Large coil spring provides active tension without the complication of hydraulics (no adjustment needed) | ✓ | Hydraulic tensioner adds unnecessary complexity and requires additional operator diligence |
| ✓ | Sleek design leaves few places for mud and debris to settle | ✓ | Shields and/or large flat areas accumulate mud and debris |
| ✓ | Upper rollers limit unwanted belt movement across upper span | ✓ | Large, unsupported upper belt span prone to unsightly belt floppiness |
| ✓ | Uniform bogie wheel spacing and low pivot locations permit smoother movement over obstacles | ✓ | Narrow bogie wheel spacing and elevated pivot locations cause rougher pivoting motion |
 V4 MT Tracks |
V4 Tracks |
 36" Wide Stabilizer Trax |
42" Wide Stabilizer Trax |
46" Wide Stabilizer Trax |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belt Width | 36" | 36" | 36" | 42" | 46" |
| Overall Length | 119" | 139" | 150" | 150" | 154.9" |
| Footprint: Size Area |
36"×87.7"/track 6,314 in2 |
36"×107.1"/track 7,710 in2 |
36"×117.8"/track 8,480 in2 |
42"×117.8"/track 9,900 in2 |
46"×117.8"/track 11,170 in2 |
| Overall Weight | 3,950 lbs/track | 4,700 lbs/track | 5,430 lbs/track | 6,000 lbs/track | 7,400 lbs/track |
| Average Ground Pressure | 13.2 psi1 | 13.0 psi2 | 12.3 psi2 | 10.7 psi2 | 9.7 psi2 |
| Oil Bath Hubs | |||||
| Optimized Geometry | |||||
| Rubber Spring Suspension | |||||
| Independently Suspended, Oscillating Bogie Wheels | |||||
| 1 Average ground pressure measured using 1,175 bushel grain cart. | |||||
| 2 Average ground pressure measured using 1,500 bushel grain cart. | |||||
V4 Track System
J&M’s V4 track design features optimized geometry that utilizes a larger footprint for minimal compaction. Uniform spacing of the bogie wheels also helps reduce compaction. The improved spring tensioner requires less maintenance and creates a more uniform footprint that reduces rolling resistance. Unlike bronze bushings that require periodic greasing throughout the harvest season, V4 tracks utilize composite sleeve bushings. A single greasing before harvest can last the entire season and maximize the life and performance of the track.
The convenient alignment mechanism uses two bolts for adjustment and is accessible from each side of the cart. Two steel keepers prevents loosening during operation.
The upper tensioning roller keeps tension on the belt, limiting unsightly belt flop.
V4 tracks feature a maintenance-free "Set it and forget it" spring tensioner, which eliminates the need for adjustment once set.
| V4 MT Track System |
V4 Track System |
|
|---|---|---|
| Belt Width | 36" | 36" |
| Overall Length | 119" | 139" |
| Footprint: Size Area |
36"x87.7"/track 6,310 in² |
36"x107.1"/track 7,710 in² |
| Overall Weight (Single Track) |
3,950 lbs/track | 4,700 lbs/track |
| Average Ground Pressure | 13.0 psi* | 13.0 psi* | *Measured using 1,175 bushel grain cart for V4 MT and 1,500 bushel grain cart for V4. |
Stabilizer Trax2 System
The industry’s premier track offering, J&M’s Stabilizer tracks include all the great features found on J&M’s standard tracks plus J&M’s patented track suspension system.
A single, large‑diameter compression spring provides active tension for the track belt. The spring tensioner requires no daily adjustment, eliminating the hassle of hydraulic or other tension systems.
Oil bath hubs utilize synthetic oil for superior bearing protection and excellent lubricant flow, even in the coldest weather. There is no need for constant greasing of hubs. Multi-lip cassette seals with separate seal guards provide better sealing under the harshest conditions. Large sight windows make checking the oil level a breeze, even from a distance.
All pivots and bogie rollers utilize self-lubricated sleeve bearings, requiring no daily greasing.
Rubber springs and pivoting bogies significantly reduce tank shock loads and vibration while providing more uniform ground contact over uneven terrain. Each bogie pair can pivot 14° front‑to‑back and 7° side‑to‑side, reducing stress on the belt, wheels and hubs.
The convenient alignment mechanism uses two bolts for adjustment and is accessible from each side of the cart. Two steel keepers prevent loosening during operation.
Constructed from high‑strength plate steel, the undercarriage beam provides superior strength at a reduced weight. The sleek design stays cleaner with minimized locations for mud buildup.
Upper roller keeps tension on the belt and reduces belt flop.
| 36" Stabilizer Trax |
42" Stabilizer Trax | 46" Stabilizer Trax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belt Width | 36" | 42" | 46" |
| Overall Length | 150" | 150" | 154.9" |
| Footprint: Size Area |
36"×117.8"/track 8,482 in2 |
42"×117.8"/track 9,900 in2 |
46"×121.4"/track 11,170 in2 |
| Overall Weight (Single Track) |
5,450 lbs | 6,000 lbs | 7,400 lbs |
| Average Ground Pressure | 12.2 psi | 10.7 psi | 9.7 psi | *Average ground pressure measured using 1,500 bushel grain cart. |
Ground Pressure Target
Since soil compaction can reduce yields, researchers have recently been able to pinpoint the optimal ground pressure to keep soil compaction to a minimum. Several studies conclude ground pressure of 15 psi or greater can lead to yield loss of up to 20%. J&M engineers designed the Stabilizer Trax2 and V4 Tracks so that ground pressure remains under 15 psi for grain carts on tracks up to 2,000 bushel capacity.
Even Wheel Spacing
Even Wheel Spacing Results In Less Compaction
Grain Cart Tracks with a Two Year Payback
We all realize that equipping your grain cart with tracks helps reduce compaction, which will result in greater yields. But it has been somewhat difficult to quantify the added benefit grain cart tracks can offer and determine if the increased price for tracks makes economic sense. A recent study conducted by a prominent U.S. agricultural college* may help quantify the return on investment grain cart tracks can provide. From their research, we’ve determined that a grain cart equipped with large tracks increased corn yield by approximately 17 bushels per acre over the trafficked area compared to flotation tires.
Therefore, if we assume the trafficked area of the grain cart when harvesting is approximately ⅓ of the overall area, then a net increase in bushels would be realized for 333 acres of every 1,000 acres of corn harvested. And if we assume an average price of corn at $3.50 per bushel, the net increase in revenue for every 1,000 acres of corn harvested with a large track undercarriage would equate to $19,813.50 (333 acres × 17 bushels/acre increase × $3.50 bushels).
*Klopfenstein, A.A. (2016). "Soil Compaction: Tracks vs. Tires 1000+ Grain Carts" Research Presentation: The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Oil Bath Hubs
Spring Tensioner
Self-lubricated sleeve bearings
