Launched at the end of 2018, Claas has announced that the 100th Jaguar with the Terra Trac crawler track system will roll off the production line at Harsewinkel, destined for the US market.
Optimised for the requirements of forage harvesting, the Terra Trac system was developed with special features such as headland protection, as well as reducing soil compaction and rut formation.
“Helmut Claas himself was behind the initiative to develop the Terra Trac crawler track units for a wide range of forage harvester applications”, recalls Dominik Grothe, senior vice president forage harvester. “The aim was to offer our customers a machine that was not only able to deliver high traction and reduced soil compaction for maize harvesting in difficult field conditions but could also be used for grassland harvesting as effectively as a traditional wheeled machine. It’s interesting to note that the positive side-effects, such as smooth running characteristics and resistance to drifting on side slopes, are regarded by many farmers and contractors as equally decisive factors.”
Claas offers the Terra Trac system on two models, the Jaguar 960 and 990, with outputs of 653hp and 925hp. The headland protection function extends the two central support rollers downwards hydraulically to reduce the length of the contact area. During harvesting, the large contact area reduces soil compaction. Equipped with 625mm wide tracks, the Jaguar retains an external width of less than 2.99m.
Compact road width is of lesser importance in the US. “For dairies in the eastern part of the US where approximately two-thirds of our imported Jaguar TT are sold, Terra Trac technology is a kind of insurance policy against mud in corn silage season. But also customers in the south and west harvesting in centre pivot irrigated fields appreciate the technology,” said Mr Grothe. “As a result of the length of the crawler tracks and the wheelbase which is longer than that of the wheeled machine, the Jaguar Terra Trac can’t be matched for the smoothness of its ride when crossing centre pivot ruts or flood irrigation ridges.”
The 100th Jaguar Terra Trac will initially be used for technical training during the Jaguar Expert Camp in April. “Our flagship model, the Jaguar 990 TT, accounts for over 90 per cent of the Terra Trac machines”, explained Matt Jaynes, product manager Jaguar at Claas of America. “When you’re harvesting small grain forage and silage maize in irrigated fields in the western states, you’re dealing with very high yields which require correspondingly high engine output if you’re going to harvest efficiently. This is why we need the 925 hp maximum output of the Jaguar 990 here.”