VTS report

[S205Sam]

Now that I have several jobs completed with this new track system I'd like to present a breif report on what it has done for me.

My VTS is installed on a Bobcat S205. The machine has great power well beyond its rubber tire limitations until now.

I am primarily in the tree removal market but also do landscaping work and concrete repairs.

On my last tree job I had over 70 trees to drop and stack for a timber company to pick up. Many of these were in excess of 36 inches in diameter at the base which makes for some very heavy logs. With rubber tires my machine would have tipped forward when trying to lift these logs. The extended track has made my machine stable enough that I could lift these monsters to full boom hieght if necessary.

This extra lifting stability reduces the time I spend moving logs since I can now cut them longer. Almost twice as long to be exact. I cleared, stacked and did all the site cleanup in less than 60 hours. This included having time to chip up all the limbs and small trees under 12 inches in diameter. I had to spend such little time in the skid steer to gather debris and stack logs that the job took about half the time I'd quoted. I can now be more competitive with my prices and get more larger scale jobs I would have turned away from before.

I have also gotten considerable more pushing power. This enables me to push in single passes a pile that would have taken several passes before. Digging is greatly improved which enabled me to do grading at a level I'd not thought possible with this machine.

All in all this system is the best thing that has happened to my business period. I spent almost 10k less than if I'd purchased an equivalent CTL. I have a well designed true track system and not an over the tire bandaid. I have too few hours to comment on track life but with time I will report these findings also.

I am also happy to be able to work in wet conditions. I just completed a concrete driveway where I ended up digging out the forms in wet red clay. Really slippery stuff. The tracks enabled me to get the work done without having to pump water or wait for conditions to dry.

The value in time saving with more useable power and great traction make this the best option for me.

I'd highly reccomend the VTS to anyone who has found they just do not have what they need in a rubber tire machine.

Best regards and thanks to Loegering for building such a fine product.

 

[Tigerotor77W]

Great review.

Does the VTS seem to make it easier to stall the machine? (Kill the engine)

 

[S205Sam]

Great review.

Does the VTS seem to make it easier to stall the machine? (Kill the engine)

I have not stalled the machine yet from pushing debris.

I am still trying to find the reasonable limits of the unit with these tracks.

I feel like the machine has improved torque with this system over the tires.

I will be doing a demolition job in a couple of weeks where I will be able to test the pushing limits to full capacity against piles of broken concrete. I will check back in and keep everyone updated.

 

[tractorbob]

My VTS system is on a Bobcat S250 and I find that I can push right through a pile of dirt with the tracks where I would stop and spin when using tires. No problem at all with stalling out the motor. I usually run my machine at about 2/3 throttle - it seems like that is where max torque is located. Running any higher doesn't do much more except waste fuel.

 

[dug1016]

These are a very ingenious invention. I remember when they first came out, I believe Loegering was trumpting a long-term warranty on these. One thing I've heard is that many of the skid manufacturers are not honoring warrany claims on machines with this system because the drive system has been adapted and exceeds the design capabilities of their tractors.

 

[S205Sam]

These are a very ingenious invention. I remember when they first came out, I believe Loegering was trumpting a long-term warranty on these. One thing I've heard is that many of the skid manufacturers are not honoring warrany claims on machines with this system because the drive system has been adapted and exceeds the design capabilities of their tractors.

I'd wager this is a marketing response more than an engineering response.
It affects the sale of CTL's.

I thought about the following when making my decision.

Does the VTS change the lift rating of the machine? I doubt very seriously if this is so. This should be limited by the releif settings within the hydraulics.

Does the VTS change the load on the driveline? If improved traction increases stresses realized by the driveline which will exceed its capacity then over the tire track systems would do the same. VTS is simply a more permamnent solution. I know of no OEM negating warranties based on the use of over the tire tracks.

Does VTS change the load realized at the hubs? The weight of the machine does not change. Lift capacity is improved but again the hydraulic releifs should be set to protect against exceeding lift limits. Design of a hydraulic system which will overload a mechanical capacity would be irresponsible as it would equate to a built in safety hazard.

Correct me if I am in error on any of these items.

 

[tractorbob]

With the Loegering VTS the total drive load is on the rear drive tracks and not shared with the front as when using over the tire tracks. Of course debris jambed in between one tire and the track (on over the tire tracks) could make it so there are chain stresses because the front and the rear wouldn't want to turn together. Skid steers are one of the most abused pieces of construction equipment, if not the most abused. I believe you could damage the rear chain if abusing the machine, but with normal operating I don't see it as a problem. I have heard of a few chain problems using VTS, but who knows what condition the chain was in before the VTS was attached and the conditions of the use.
As for skidsteer manufacturers not honoring warranties when using the VTS, I believe it is a marketing position. VTS competes with sales of dedicated track machines and almost all of the skidsteer manufacturers offer track machines now. I know that there are some dealers that readily promote and sell VTS and these are the ones that realize that this option offers much more versatility to a standard skidsteer for a lot of customers.

 

[rmdane@verizon.net]

the vts is a good system but it takes more power,makes the machine wider, machine goes slower, rides rough. but preformance is worth it. if you have a set i would put a grease fitting and vent fitting in the hub covers, because they tend to get water in them. i dont know about the rollers yet. i just lost both front idlers, they dont list parts for them, but i took them apart looks like regular bearings and seal to me. so i will try to get them on line.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

The reason for slower is they reduce the overall gear ratio. Which uses less motor hyd to drive. Which makes a good mulcher. The one problem with them is they raise the height of the machine. Higher center of gravity.
I have heard the stress on one hub, but not alot. I haven't seen that they are that much wider than tires either. Plus they do have alittle suspension in the front right?

 

[WestshoreConstruction]

The reason for slower is they reduce the overall gear ratio. Which uses less motor hyd to drive. Which makes a good mulcher. The one problem with them is they raise the height of the machine. Higher center of gravity.
I have heard the stress on one hub, but not alot. I haven't seen that they are that much wider than tires either. Plus they do have alittle suspension in the front right?

Yep they have suspension built in to them, they are smoother than a conventional ctl I have both, Less the Cat/ASV suspension. They do increase the wear on the chains quite a bit especially if you use the machine in 2 speed. My NH that I had wore out two sets of chains in 650 hrs, my S330 has had the VTS tracks on it since I got it, I drove it onto my trailer with tires and off into the shop to install the VTS. Other than the tracks being junk the rest is pretty good. I've checked the chains on the S330 and they look like new still.