My grandson was running this yesterday. It had 5 hours on it when he got in it. He parked it to take the photo. Made by Mobile Track Solutions. Sadly it is parked today. The engine has a bent rod along with two lifters and 2 stuck injectors. He said it just died.
Steel tracks look interesting.We have a rubber track one on site now.I really like the pan,the tractor could use some improvements.We don't have a gooseneck version though.
MTS are the guys that built a metal tracked scraper puller out of a Cat 740.
Kind of neat. Do you know what engine is in it? Also do they make the tractor or is it a converted Ag tractor?
Looks like the tractor is a converted Versatile track machine. Ed
Caterpillar C18 engine 630HP. https://www.cat.com/en_US/by-indust...bile-track-solutions-mts-3630t-and-3630w.html
Is the point of them to be used in areas too soft for conventional scrapers?
I'm going to guess that the point is this might be less than $1.1 million for a 641.
The one in the photo will haul about 35 yards give or take.
Why does it look to me like those tracks are on backwards?
It is a converted Versatile,a really good work horse.It just needs some operator comfort improvements.
i agree, on the versatile it sure looks like the tracks are backward or maybe the pads are bolted on the rails backward unless they are installed that way for the bogies to roll on. either way, the bogies would not roll well on the inside of regular crawler pads
The front tracks are installed in the proper direction. I haven't been able to blow up the photo for be able to see the rear set of tracks well enough to tell the directions on the pads. The leading edge of the following pads are supposed to ride on top of the lead pads which from my view in the photos they do.
The first version had single grouser tracks like a dozer.The machine was getting too much traction while loading that it would lift the front tracks off the ground. I believe they are looking for a track configuration that break traction rather than causing the nose to lift.
The plates are fitted correctly, double grousers front and rear
It does look like a Versatile.
Go Canada. Versatile was always well respected and had a lot of innovations like the Bi-directional tractors.
I owned a 276, the best money making tractor. Did a lot of hill country work with it, clients couldn't believe you slide a tractor pushing a mower down a hill.
The power units are modified Steiger's in which 60% of the machine's are modified by MTS. Watch and see what appears soon. I'm not at liberty to speak about it but its pretty cool. Next year the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club National Show will be held on the MTS grounds and construction headquarters in Elkader, Iowa. Around the 19th of September, 2021. The Moyna's new antique construction equipment museum will be complete by then also. They have a splendid Cat collection in addition to other antique earth moving equipment .A good will donation of your choice is the only gate fee. The show plans are staggering. It's is also the 85th anniversary of CJ Moyna/MTS. Hope to see you there.
They make their own high speed steel track's. They are quite different when you look close at the component's and how they run.
Steiger is now part of Case IH and looking at the comparison the MTS converted unit shown looks very similar to the Versatile and has the same HP as a Versatile. Hood looks identical for one thing. Maybe production models will be Steigers but prototype says Versatile. https://www.caseih.com/northamerica/en-us/products/tractors/steiger-series
That sounds like a fun weekend.Ill have to try to remember the date and hopefully work can be a little less demanding at that time frame.
My HS senior class photo was taken on a brand new at the time Versatile 1156. That's what happens when all 21 graduates of your senior class grew up on a farm in the middle of ND.