CLAAS AXION 900 TERRA TRAC 2021 Launch Review

When it comes to tractor undercarriages, there are usually only a couple of options on the market – tracked or wheeled. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Wheeled tractors offer maneouverability, which is important for when turning at headlands or navigating tighter paddocks and narrower gates. However, wheeled machines cause a whole lot of soil compaction which can be a huge headache for farmers in the long term.

Tracked tractors, on the other hand, help with distributing the weight of the machine evenly across the ground, therefore helping reduce soil compaction. Having said that, tracked machines can be harder to maintain and maneouvre.

At some point in the last decade or so, agricultural machinery manufacturers such as CLAAS questioned, why not both? From there, the half-tracked, half-wheeled tractor was born, offering farmers the best of both worlds.

CLAAS’s AXION 900 TERRA TRAC (TT) was certainly an eye-catching concept when it first surfaced in 2017 but there were other manufacturers already offering similar products, such as Case IH’s Magnum Rowtrac and New Holland’s GENESIS T8 SmartTrax.

But what sets the TERRA TRAC model apart, CLAAS claims, is the full suspension package across the entire machine that makes operators feel as if they’re gliding across the paddock.

We put the AXION 900 TERRA TRAC to the test alongside the conventional AXION 900 wheeled tractor to see for ourselves just how comfortable life can be behind the wheel of the half-tracked unit.

CLAAS has been producing tracked machines such as its LEXION and JAGUAR harvesters for some time now and to great success, so its track technology is well proven.

SEE ALSO: 2019 CLAAS LEXION combine series launch video

Using its existing CLAAS AXION 900 wheeled tractors as a base, CLAAS created the TERRA TRAC machines by adopting the harvesters’ track assembly at the rear axle of the AXION 900 tractor.

However, it was more than just a simple plug-and-play operation...

CLAAS had to reinforce the cab and design new ‘saxophone’ castings to replace the conventional trumpet housings on the wheeled tractors, in order to bridge the difference in height and length between the conventional wheel and the new track unit.

“CLAAS has also increased the diameter of the rear drive wheel because the TERRA TRAC unit is a friction drive unit as opposed to a positive drive unit,” says CLAAS Australia High Horsepower Tractor Product Manager, James Harrison.

“So they've increased that drive wheel for increased traction on the track and on the belt itself.”

There are two track widths available on the CLAAS AXION 900 TT – 635mm or 735mm. Regardless of the track widths, CLAAS says the tractor’s total width is still under 3m, which means farmers can drive the tractor on roads without an escort. That’s a big advantage for any farmer who needs to transport their machine from farm to farm.

Its suspension is one of the standout highlights of the CLAAS AXION 900 TERRA TRAC. An independent track suspension on the tractor gives it up to 120mm of ground clearance while a four-point cab suspension ensures the cab is fully isolated from the chassis, preventing vibrations from reaching the driver.

In the cab, an operator seat with suspension awaits the driver; this further absorbs any bumps and jolts that may occur when underway. Front and rear axle suspension then completes the package, leading CLAAS to claim that the AXION 900 TT is the world’s first half-tracked tractor with full suspension. 

What that means to operators is guaranteed comfort in the seat no matter the terrain or paddock, which is always a big plus.

The TERRA TRAC units are powered by an 8.7-litre Cursor 9 six-cylinder FPT engine. Two models are on offer in the AXION TT range: the AXION 930 TT with 355hp, and the range-topping AXION 960 TT with 445hp.

The new engine complies with European Stage V engine emissions standards, meaning it runs selective catalytic reduction and diesel particulate filter systems with AdBlue to reduce engine emissions. The result, CLAAS says, is exceptional fuel efficiency.

“Like with all AXIONs, we're using a low speed, high torque concept,” Harrison says. 

“The AXION 960 produces 1860Nm of torque at only 1400rpm, so it's a low revving, high torque engine, which is where we're getting the fuel economy from.

“That combined with the ZF CMATIC transmission is giving us great fuel efficiency figures.”

To really gauge the AXION 900 TT’s comfort, we first hopped into a conventional AXION wheeled tractor for comparison.

The ride comfort on the conventional AXION wasn’t too bad at all, but over some parts of the paddock with tricky terrain, it still felt a bit rough. This of course is amplified when zooming across the paddock at top speed – not something I’d recommend!

Swapping over to the AXION 900 TT, I felt an immediate difference the moment it took off.

The suspension seat in the cab can be adjusted to suit the driver’s height and weight, so it’s comfortable from the get-go. As the tractor accelerates, it starts to absorb any jerks and jolts that may have found their way past the four-point cab suspension.

The AXION 900 TT certainly has less vibration; it almost feels like you’re floating and gliding along, rather than actually driving on the ground.

It’s safe to say CLAAS’ full suspension concept has well and truly paid off on this tractor.

CLAAS’s AXION 900 TT tractors come standard with its range-topping CEBIS operating station, which features all the bells and whistles including a 12-inch touch screen terminal, CMOTION multifunction control lever with 10 programmable function buttons, ISOBUS implement control and multifunction arm rest.

If they wish, customers can opt to install CLAAS’ CEMOS on the machine, which is the company’s award-winning operator assistance system. The system is based on ‘dialogue’ with the operator designed to help them achieve maximum fuel efficiency and productivity.

For example, drivers will input data spanning aspects such as the implements they wish to use and what tasks they wish to accomplish. CEMOS will then offer a number of suggestions such as the right tyre pressures to set and ballasting options to suit the task.

As the driver carries out the job, CEMOS will continually monitor the conditions and settings and offer suggestions that operators can either accept or reject. If operators accept the new settings, CEMOS will recalculate to show whether the work rate and fuel consumption have improved and by how much.

Having this system in the cab is certainly useful for less-experienced operators, and will make the good operators better, CLAAS says.

The CMATIC CVT transmission means there are no manual gear changes involved, as the tractor does it automatically for you. A REVERSHIFT lever affords quick and easy changes of direction, and a park-lock function on the lever keeps the tractor stationary in addition to the conventional park brake handle, giving an added layer of safety.

The CLAAS AXION 900 TT gives farmers several driving options based on the task at hand or personal preferences. They can either have their foot on the accelerator pedal and drive the tractor like a car and use the REVERSHIFT level for direction changes, or they can have their foot off the pedals completely and operate the tractor using the CMOTION lever, which allows speed, gear and direction changes. Switching between driving modes is as simple as pushing a button on the CMOTION lever.

CLAAS’s CMATIC CVT transmission gives the smoothest gear changes, so as drivers speed up or slow down they don’t notice, feel or hear anything as the components and clutches work automatically and seamlessly to change gears. This is particularly useful for farmers carrying out a diverse range of work involving different speeds, such as transporting hay or grain, heavy cultivation and spraying.

A common question regarding the CLAAS AXION 900 TT is, how does the turning circle and manoeuvrability compare with a conventional tractor?

According to CLAAS, the AXION 900 TT fares better compared to four-tracked tractors and does just as well as a wheeled tractor in terms of manoeuvrability, with a turning circle as tight as 5m.

“The way we can achieve that is via a steering assist setting within the CEBIS screen so we can adjust the level of braking we get from the track unit to assist in that turning circle,” Harrison explains.

Having had a go in the tractor myself, I can testify that it is certainly capable of performing very tight turns.

More importantly, the tracks do not leave any unsightly drift marks or mounds of dirt after completing turns, leaving the soil relatively untouched.

Due to constraints at the testing location, we weren’t able to attach any implements on the day to test the tractor’s pulling power, or its ride comfort with an implement in tow.

However, CLAAS says the AXION 900 TT runs a load-sensing hydraulic system with 220l/min of flow via up to six remotes at the rear and two at the front.

Its lifting capacities of 6.5 tonnes at the front linkage and 11 tonnes at the rear allow it to carry the heaviest and most demanding of implements.

Three PTO speeds with ECO options let farmers operate a wide range of implements while maintaining low engine speeds, which helps reduce fuel consumption and prolong engine life.

CLAAS has advised that more AXION 900 TT stock will be arriving at dealerships by the end of 2021. In the meantime, the two demonstration units currently in the country will make their way around the country over a series of demos, road shows and field days.

In 2022, CLAAS hopes to introduce a row crop version of the AXION 900 TT with 18in-wide tracks to the Australian market.

Pricing information for the AXION 900 TT range is yet to be determined, but customers are encouraged to contact their local dealerships for more information.

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