Despite its corporate cousin Case IH offering rubber tracks on its Quadtrac four-wheel drive tractors for decades, New Holland initially went its own way with tracks on its four-wheel drive T9s.
NH had started off with bell-shaped tracks sourced from another manufacturer, API, on its largest models. Then, for its 2012 model year, it introduced its own SmartTrax modules for just the two largest T9 models.
For their 2025 model year, the T9s with PLM Intelligence will get the latest upgrade to the SmartTrax system, which will be available on the five largest models.
Read Also
Swather-sprayer retrofit a clever solution to winter wheat’s tight planting window
A system to spray pre-seed herbicide at the same time as swathing isn’t just a clever labour-saver, but could help overcome one of the biggest obstacles keeping Prairie farmers out of winter wheat: the timing.
Along with that update, the tractors get more horsepower to turn those tracks. Newly upgraded axles, designed specifically for tracks, will also allow for significantly higher road speed.
SEE MORE: New Holland’s T9 tractor picks up speed, and more
“On our tracked tractor we’ve improved the situation in four areas,” Sean Dorosz, T8 and T9 product manager, said at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky in February, where the updated T9 SmartTrax with PLM Intelligence tractors made their debut.
“With the track modules themselves, we now have the proper axle, so we can go with a ground speed of 25 m.p.h. (40 km-h) instead of 19. So we’ve picked up our ground speed just over 35 per cent.”
The new SmartTrax track modules get a number of improvements. New oscillating roller wheels and vibration dampening mount suspension provide for a smoother ride and should help prevent uneven track wear during roading.
Maintenance is simplified as well. The modules incorporate clear hubcaps to see oil levels, and will also have an automatic track tensioning system, which should help extend the life of the track and eliminate the need for manual adjustments.
Track widths of 30 and 36 inches are available from three different brands.
With boosted horsepower ratings, the five T9 with PLM Intelligence tractors now range from 475 to 645 horsepower.
For example, with its new rated engine horsepower of 645, the flagship T9.700 model gets a peak horsepower rating of 699 at 1,900 r.p.m.
RELATED: Check out the New Holland T9 Series Tractor Specs
“This is still a 13-litre engine,” Dorosz says. “We’ve just been able to turn up the horsepower. Our top model went from 620 rated horsepower to 645.”
Furthermore, he says, “our fuel economy only went up a half a per cent. So depending on the job you’re doing, it’s going to be pretty much the same. We’re using the same engine technology. We’ve improved our exhaust after-treatment system. We used to have a big pipe right in the front corner of the cab. That’s now streamlined, so the exhaust can flow better. If you think of a diesel engine, having better flow with less back pressure you get better fuel economy. So we gained horsepower without really sacrificing fuel economy.”
To keep that engine fed, the new T9s get much bigger fuel tanks as well.
“We’ve added fuel capacity by being able to fit our saddle tanks onto the machine,” he said. “That gives us another 45 per cent more fuel capacity and longer runs in the day. On the prior tracked unit, the tracks got in the way. They (tanks) were a different design.”
To improve cab access, the tractors use a pivoting ladder, which moves as the tractor articulates for easier entry, even when the tractor is steered to the left. And to make it easier to clean the windows, there are now grab rails all the way around the perimeter of the roof, providing something to hold on to, to keep from falling.
“The other big thing we’ve done is we also increased the number of work lights on the roof for added visibility,” said Dorosz. “We added four in the front of the cab. It used to be zero. The work lights on the back of the tractor pointing toward the implement also have stronger lumens. So they’re much more powerful. You can see out to the end of those 100-foot air drills.”
The order book for 2025 T9 SmartTrax with PLM Intelligence tractors opens this summer.
