Know anything about these? Mini skid smooth tracks

climbhightree

climbhightree

Branched out member
Location
Lebanon, Pa USA
My tracks on my Vermeer 650tx are about to break...has one large crack, and just lost a metal link. Plus the tread is about gone, after a year and a half.

I've been planning on getting Prowler diamond tracks
180x72DB-Turf-Tread-Rubber-Track.jpg


But today while searching the web I cam across these by Vermeer
alive_tree_smooth_track_demo_10_copy.jpg


here is full site
Vermeer smooth

Has any one heard about, or tried these?
 
My thought is you are still going to tear up yards with the smooth tracks. You can do fine with the normal tracks if you are a good operator. If you go with smooth tracks you will now limit your machine capability when you actually need the traction.
I've found that the tracks from vermeer are way overpriced. I buy the ones for a bobcat with horizontal tread. They are by far the cheapest option. They do well on yards. Since we feed our chipper every day (concrete skidding) the tracks wear out every season. We pick these up for $400 a set. http://www.bobcatofatlanta.com/eshopprod...Mini_Track_.htm
 
Yeah, I am worried about traction when wet or muddy. And we do use the mini to load, and move, the chipper on pavement everyday (hence why current tracks are wore out).

We are careful when turning, and we put down plywood when soft. I've have a couple customers comment on the wash board effect from the lugs on the OEM tracks (though I think after rain and freezing they probably disappear). So, I am loking to see what other options I have.

The prowlers are around 250 for one side, and have a 12 month warranty

So you custom order your tracks from Bobcat? 400 is a really good price for getting some not made for their machines.
 
they are the same track size as vermeer. its not a custom thing. they fit my s600tx. same tracks as go on the mt52 and mt55. quite sure they fit the s650tx also. Vermeer quoted me once $800 for a set of tracks. the link was just an example of the tread pattern. bobcat has 3 styles to choose from and these are by far the cheapest.
the prowlers may carry a 12month warranty but i am sure they will not cover them wearing out.
if you had 2 machines, sure put smooth tracks on one of them, but why limit your machine?
 
Actually, I don't think the 600tx and the 650tx have the same track. From what I can tell, the 600 has 39 metal plates (links or drive lugs) in it. I counted 41 on my 650tx...probably something Vermeer did to make it harder to get aftermarket :rolling eyes:

On a side note- Has anyone switched there machine from narrow tracks to wide?
 
looks like the 600 and 650 do have different tracks. After a quick search, I think the bobcat mt55 is different than the ones i use. Maybe those will be the same size.
 
Tell me how the smooth tracks work in snow, or on any slope that is wet, or sidehilling with morning dew on the grass. I watched some YOYO run around in his new ASV with slick tracks. Between him sliding all over and lack of skill with the hydraulics, I almost wanted to charge admission.
 
in rain the green tracks have no problem. Ive driven into the bank edges of lakes to skid trees out. without a problem. A tired skid loader would of gotten stuck and sank to china. the surface area of a track loader is much greate,r smooth or rugged, has never been an issue for us except in the snow.

On a hill in the snow, yes it can be a problem, flat no problem. Here is a couple pics of a lot clearing job we did with an asv rc50 with green tracks in the SNOW a few weeks ago
 

Attachments

  • 386099-lotclear22014.webp
    386099-lotclear22014.webp
    45.7 KB · Views: 155
I have looked extensively for a mini with smooth tracks besides vermeer and cant find a company that makes them. I will never buy a vermeer again so vermeer not an option for me. Instead i am leaning towards a mini articulating loader until I can pick up a boxer or ditch witch with smooth tracks.
 
Maybe just keep a worn out pair of tracks around if you have that picky customer. This is how worn out we let them go before we replace them. First job with the new tracks actually made me miss the worn out ones a bit. The worn tracks are a little more forgiving.
 
AmericanArborist said:
Maybe just keep a worn out pair of tracks around if you have that picky customer. This is how worn out we let them go before we replace them. First job with the new tracks actually made me miss the worn out ones a bit. The worn tracks are a little more forgiving.
Click to expand...
Just put a set on a boxer and they are very unforgiving compared to the old ones. Had a belt break and stretched out. Summit Supply on ebay has a good selection
 
Old thread...but new update.

I had to replace my tracks again on my 650tx (I'm getting about 500 hours on a Vermeer track...4 yrs old and 1,100 hours. So I bought a set of the Prowler Diamondbacks.
9e5e3e81bd07bf94f115a87b2396d535.jpg

So far I'm not impressed.
Two positives so far. They will definitely cause less washboard effect on soft ground, but I haven't used it on that yet. They are half the price of Vermeer tracks.

Negatives: The amount of rubber is substantially less, both in the tread and in the belt. It also seems that pavement rips them up faster then my old tracks, also more jerky when turning on pavement. On hard dry grass it actually rips the grass worse...shreds the grass blades off when turning (same degree turn I could easily do on the Vermeer's).

I feel the Vermeer wide flat lugs, that go completely across the width, allows the tracks to slide sideways a bit without doing much damage. But the diamond pattern won't allow any sideways sliding, without grass damage.

I have not tried plywood 360s yet, or soft ground.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Kask Stihl NORTHEASTERN Arborists Wesspur TreeStuff.com Teufelberger Westminster X-Rigging Teufelberger
Back
Top Bottom