White 8700 Combine Finally Goes To Work On Her New Steel Tracks

Not the best video of the machine running so far but we had some teething troubles on the first day. Was going really good by the end. Plenty more opportunity to get better video now though.

[@nezrom9864]

You and your dad did an amazing job making that track system work. I'm really happy that it all came together for you.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@nicklambing9268]

Very impresive how you and you're Dad pulled off that track conversion in a relatively short period of time! Now you should be in pretty good shape to complete the harvest in those excessively wet conditions and not tear up the fields with major ruts that would need to be dealt with in field preparation for next years crop. I am usually far more positively moved by accomplishments of small farmers with limited financial resources than large operators with money to burn in what they accomplish. This is a great example of resourcefullness, imagination, creativity and determination to succeed. Well done and another shout out to Dad! Nick, North West Farmer (Oregon)

[@poorassfrmboy]

Ethan and his father are very innovative in this whole thing. What a challenging harvest. However, what great content. Real problems with even better solutions and no drama. 😊

[@joescheller6680]

Most of them appear to have money to burn most are 1 payment away from foreclosure. Hoping bank rides things out with their operation.

[@stephenheyes4324]

Ethan great to see your track conversion finally out working it is a great credit to you and your dad

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@DonWelter]

Ethan, you and your Dad deserve a pat on the back for the resourcefulness in the project...keeping an older machine earning its keep under adverse conditions. A lot of equipment has been modified/redesigned over the years by farmers who have practical experience but no engineering degree. Mechanical/welding/fabrication talents are a priceless commodity!!!

[@joutdoorsmen23]

I’m glad the tracks are working out I know you have to make some more improvements but what I’ve seen so far you and your dad will get it all worked out good luck and God Bless

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

One of those things you have to improve as you use it.

[@johnkissack5295]

The White is like a Tank ! Love to hear it and see it with a little black haze coming out when you climb the hill. Congratulations you have a machine now that most people would want.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Well, the people that didn’t think I was stupid for buying them anyhow.

[@tomthompson489]

Everything looks good At least you’re in the field cutting and everybody else is waiting for it to dry out. Thank you Ethan and thanks to your dad

[@83countryboy]

Congratulations on the tracks! Glad you can get back to full throttle on harvest!

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@dennislamers986]

Congrats on the install. It looks and sounds pretty cool.

[@ethanhenley9347]

I always enjoy watching your projects come to fruition. 👍

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@tomnichols2717]

Glad you got it going. Been checking every day to see the progress.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@jonathancrissinger2301]

I can only imagine how nervous you must have been. Like you said, after you have a chance to get the feeder figured out, you'll be able to make some adjustments on the tracks. It sure looks good though. I hadn't said anything, though I was wondering how it would ride,lol. I got my answer when you first took off, lol. I didn't see any ruts as we were going through the field. I'm sure happy for you that you finally got to get it in the field. You and your dad sure did a great job. I will be looking forward to seeing more videos of this one in the future. Maybe, after you get more comfortable with it, we can get to see the tracks in action. That is if you can find some place to mount the camera without it shaking off, hahahaha. I'll keep praying you have no problems with it. See you soon.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

It’s definitely a load off my mind now that it has a few hours of run time.

[@BeckyMcDermott]

OMG look at what the cool kid got going, Awesome . Looks like hard work is finally paying off. Jeff

[@kennethbabcock4627]

It's great to see the tracks working out for you

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@19661650]

Awesome job getting her back on tracks n getting your corn out of the field. Thanks for shareing!

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@latondaspencer4955]

Whz up Ethan and Tetter great video again. Them tracks give that combine that tuff And mean look love it!

[@kennylee6510]

Put rear assist with it splits and slows speed. You guys did an awesome job hats off to you and your dad.

[@poorassfrmboy]

It’s hard not to like every comment about how Ethan’s dad is a huge help to his son. WOW 🤩 The dad really wants to see his son succeed.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Doesn’t solve the horsepower issue which is the root of the problem.

[@poorassfrmboy]

@@Oliver66FarmBoy Nevertheless, it wouldn’t surprise me if you found another power plant. I think your father would help you regardless. What do you manage to do in return? Your relationship is awe inspiring between you and your family. I hope my wife and I can do the same for our 2 boys.

[@Rumblestrip]

Congratulations... Looks like some fine tuning, but thats expected post harvest. Hopefully they're doing what you want in the field. Thanks for sharing.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Not getting stuck is all I wanted.

[@jamesmorrison1884]

Looks great but im thinking with the vibration your going to have other ptoblems coming up. Nice work sir.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

No I won’t.

[@Husker3435]

Proud of y’all, OFB, heck of a project and so far a successful one. I wondered if you’d have any molars left with the vibrations, but you seem to have it figured out on ground speed. Once again, heck of a job guys👍🏻keep em comin🇺🇸💪🏻🇺🇸

[@LLAHTI1]

That’s just real nice Clark! lol- What a great job you guys did in a short time, has to be such a good feeling to be going across that juicy field and not have to worry. Congrats on a good job well done!

[@jamiesmith143]

Congrats on your track project. I'm glad it will work out for you in the long run. Would you ever consider installing a powered rear axel (mud hog) on your combine ?

[@markflick1641]

Don’t let the mud freeze in the tracks . Shovel them out the best you can . 👍

[@mathiggins4264]

I have to feel pretty good back in the field. You're a calm Meyer, looks Mean now be safe out there your buddy from Nebraska

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@davidvogel2592]

When my dad had the tracks on his F2 Gleaner, we had to put 10.00-20 truck tires on the back, so it was steerable in the mud. Best of luck with your tracks

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Mine steers better with the smaller tires on it than it did with the 24s on it for some weird reason.

[@oliversorensen5178]

Very nice job

[@davidkimmel4216]

Thanks

[@SamElliott-wx1tu]

You guys do great work maybe an air seat to save you a little beating

[@keeseywelding]

Awesome job. Adapt and overcome!

[@KCIREDERF10]

Glad to see you in action. Runs good. Like you said, a few tweaks so the undercarriage fits your machine. And best part, no ruts. Thanks for the update Ethan. Take care. Fred.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

No ruts. No wasted time. Just point and go.

[@chrisduggins3435]

Sweet Success!

[@Taxpayeroftherepublic]

Good for you getting back in the field! All the best with the tracks!

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@LordMuck]

That's the neatest combine I've seen for a while !

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Everything is better on tracks right. Lol

[@d6joe]

If you have any decent rocks in the feild, it’s quite the experience driving over one with steel tracks!!!

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Oh I’m aware. Hit a big one a couple hours in and thought the world was ending.

[@TheMuskokaman]

Well, there ya go! When I saw the wetness in front of the camera I knew it would be a jackpot with tires & a full load on. Tendering out your service to those of similar ground, might recoup a fella some cash.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

The guy that has been bugging me about custom work told me yesterday he was sure he wanted me to run some of his stuff so that’s a plus.

[@michaelsheeder148]

Ethan, look like everything is working like it should. Sounds like with hopefully some future improvements it'll even be better. Thanks Michael

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Hopefully

[@snowboardz12]

Congratulations on the track install

[@sonjareer6003]

Great job on the refabercation of the tracks

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@burrridgefarms]

I hired trucking with the elevator, thats the only reason that I will be able to get done tommrow. They aren't open but sense I set it up Tuesday they are sending me a truck anyhow👍Good luck with the rest of your harvest😎👍

[@daveblodgett9371]

Tracks are working great and the other goid thing the tracks are for n cutting up the corn stalks to help em break down

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Yep

[@Mike-rf3kl]

Excellent

[@DarkTiran]

Great to see the success. The shaking looks bad on camera, hopefully it is more bearable in the seat.

[@jamespittman3365]

Still some issues to work out but it looks to me like you are getting the job done.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Yep

[@joescheller6680]

We went I'm road gear on our 9500 jd slow reading between fields.

[@bladewiper]

Seems like you guys have a solid grasp on what needs to be done to improve the track system. That's pretty bad about the scales.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Just par for the course with how this year is going.

[@ChrisHampson-x3u]

Perhaps (if you can) widen the stance of the rear steering axle so they follow the tracks

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

You can’t.

[@venom83xxx]

A lot of the track vibration could be also from where the tracks sat for God knows how long and there might be a flat spot on one of the rollers or hasn't been loosened up again. I remember when I was a kid my uncle had to set up like that on a John Deere and he could do two or three mile an hour and it never vibrated from the tracks

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

It has gotten a little better with some acres on it.

[@GenDiesel]

Glad everything worked out for ya,

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@realmongo7565]

Great job moving forward with harvest!

[@alkennedy1124]

Rubber pads in the growlsrs will help take the shacking out of it, you better keep a ton on tools , so you can tighten up😮all of the lose bolts, lol thanks BigAl California

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Nothing is loose so far.

[@Kronkus36Outdoors]

Combine looks mean as hell though !

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Yes it does.

[@brettlamont4965]

Congrats.

[@hillbillyhicks8102]

Them tracks are going to shake that thing apart or at least it looks like that on the video.

[@natevanlandingham1945]

I was noticing that shaking was crazy at times. Better check the bolts and welds periodically 😂.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

I see you didn’t watch the whole video…..

[@natevanlandingham1945]

I at least watched if you ran in third and the speedometer in the combine said 7 you would smooth out. Your phone goes said about 4 but it doesn't do decimals so it could be slightly under 4 you said. You also said cause it had the smaller engine that going up the incline especially with a full hopper she runs out of ass. I was simply commenting that if you can't always run in third that's a lot of vibration. I can't speak for that guy?

[@darrendaucsavage7632]

Some kinda hard rubber bushing maybe

[@Doobie2100]

That is one badass White combine!!! Excellent work!!!

[@FollowingKeenan]

I definitely have a sickness. Get done bust my butt to get harvest done and trucking grain. Come home start watching videos of farming.

[@nikphoenix]

I know its not ideal, but you should look at getting a small dryer and gravity wagon for dump into. Just to give you more running time.

[@mikekenyon3322]

Well done!

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@scarletngrey]

I'm glad to see you running. Unfortunately, you are running into what I did this fall. The elevators are full and are only open part of the time.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Exports are slow. Grain isn’t moving. Just a whole shit show.

[@SODAK2276]

Looks like it worked pretty good!

[@nateolmsted899]

Love it

[@nickpersenaire4443]

Looks like you have it dialed in and off to the races. Nice work Ethan,now to get done before the snow flies weather permitting.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

That’s a tall order.

[@dehavenfamilyfarm]

Great work- nice to see her out in the field! I wonder when you are able to move the location of the tracks a bit if it will help with the chatter.. At least it went away when you got moving. The most important thing is you got them on and can finish harvest.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

I wonder that myself

[@erikklein-x6u]

You guys did a very professional job on the tracks! The track,and trailer system from Canada may have been in better shape? Maybe you could by that one,and go into business putting them on another Combine?

[@shelbybrant77]

Those are the tracks from Canada

[@LukeLong-oi4uc]

Well done! Great footage.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@loganbeedy5950]

It’d be cool to pull the combine with the grain truck but the truck probably has no where near enough ass to pull that heavy combine down the road, especially trying to get it stopped

[@tca375]

Awesome!

[@jeffstevens3420]

Man, that is bad ass. Way to make it happen

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@perrysmith6872]

Maybe u can change da size of the drive spocket to speed u up and get da clearance u need ??? Smaller sprocket ?

[@budredeford7293]

😮

[@7viewerlogic670]

Good job.

[@johnnyholland8765]

When you made that first pass and didn't sink in your investment started paying off. Don't think this frame will crack and fail. When the neighbors see it you may have all the custom work you can handle...

[@jamesbreault5762]

Seems like alot of vibration in cab ,is that from the tracks??

[@joescheller6680]

Most places would have scale fixed overnight or couple days especially during harvest.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

I see you’re still stuck in the pre covid world. Post Covid lead time on parts is 3-6 months…

[@nmccw3245]

Good job tank commander 😁👍🏻

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@johndavidstutts]

How much extra load is on the final drives?

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

None.

[@brysonhaggard]

I've got a crazy idea maybe and it's stupid but would it be possible someway to get the tracks worked to have rubber tracks so you don't need the mover and it's not as rough

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

No

[@anthonybarton2103]

Nice shack down hopefully it doesn't shack everything out of it before you unload it 😢

[@jasonclark3127]

Would a small grain bin work to hold enough to not wait at scales

[@user-qh1dk3fh5q]

That’s a good looking machine!

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Thanks.

[@Stevestractoradventures]

Got to get the corny joke in . Looks like your on track to me. Seems like its working good. I know down in my neck of the woods same deal alot of guys are still trying to get the corn off

[@darrendaucsavage7632]

Not only that once he modifys it and such. That will more likely take some of the vibe out of it. He has to get the corn out. I understand him

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

That’s what I’m thinking.

[@johngerber3891]

Jittery cab ride now hang on

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Yea

[@danareynolds1976]

It looks like are work for you buddy

[@joescheller6680]

Looking to buy another I know of a 8700 in south Dakota guy rented out his land basically retired.

[@markpigman209]

What keeps the back rollers from spreading apart or pushing in ward when turning sharp corners

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

The frame?

[@roadhogg1418]

Got er goin yo9ur way now Farm Boy!!

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Yep

[@perrysmith6872]

Bravo 👏👏👏

[@harvestingharrolds1086]

Long lines, wet corn, and closed elevators. The story of 2023 harvest. I still have some acres to run.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Good times had by all.

[@ericbeacom1141]

Why does the combine shake so bad when your going forward

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Because it’s on tracks…

[@dennisfowler2138]

I know it sounds crazy but might want to mill, or cut the track bars A bit. Looks a little to aggressive!

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

That’s kinda the point.

[@kronefarmservices]

Now to find a mud hog

[@erikklein-x6u]

I thought he said there was a local guy that had some

[@ChristinaStachura-jn9pl]

What year is the Chevy truck

[@glennschlorf1285]

Gittin r dun...

[@thuggoe]

Might need a camera man for outside shots

[@peterjames2004]

is this field the muck

[@Aaronenginepower]

I can't believe you are ignoring the basic physics of why those tracks won't ever be correct in that application. For starters, the pivot has to be in the center of the track frame, otherwise every time the frame pivots, the track adjuster is compensating for the change in length. Also related to the track adjuster, the track frames are on backwards, so the adjuster/tensioner is on the rear, which is the drive side of the chain. Look at any dozer, or for that matter, any roller chain. The tensioner has to be on the slack side, otherwise the higher the load, the more the tensioner will retract, while making the actual slack on the front idler so much that it is just a matter of time before it pops the chain off. You did such a nice professional job of engineering the sub frame, but ultimately the lack of knowledge regarding steel tracks is going to catch up to you.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Several things you are completely ignoring here skippy. Firstly this is a combine not a bulldozer so you aren’t even comparing similar machines. Secondly by the nature of the beast damn near every brand of steel combine track ever built is and offset triangle with the tail towards the back of the machine. You know why? Because you have no room up front because of the length of the feeder house. Third the track tensioner on damn near every brand of steel combine tracks has to be on the rear for the same exact reason. You can’t push forward on the track to tension it because that kills your feeder house clearance. Fourth it is not a hydraulic track tensioner it’s a piece of threaded rod and a nut that pushes the rear idler out. It’s fixed in position. There is nothing to retract. I can’t believe you left this comment without understanding the basic nature of combine tracks.

[@Aaronenginepower]

Lol, it's amazing how you can never respond to any constructive comment with out making immature petty condescending remarks. Just spend 1 minute searching "Steel Combine tracks" on google image search, and you'll see I'm 100% right. Every moveable track frame, regardless of off make, model, application will pivot in the center. It's simple basic geometry. Unless the drive sprocket is solid mounted to the track frame with strut bars, or the entire track assembly pivots on the sprocket drive, it has to be this way to maintain track tension. I've been an Ag/Heavy equipment mechanic for more than 20 years, and every combine/dozer/ loader I've ever seen, that has a non-solid mount track frame is this way. As for the tensioner, it makes no difference whatsoever that it's not an active(Spring or Hydraulic) tensioner. Either way, it should be on the slack side of the chain because it's the weakest point. Combine, dozer, skid steer excavator, doesn't matter. The highest load is at the rear when the track is pushing forward, whether it's pushing a blade with dirt, or a combine full of corn up a hill. The rear idler is solid mounted, so all the load goes against the roller bearing which is designed for such a load. Tensioner idlers are designed for the least load, otherwise they'll wear and brake the sliding frame and the tensioner, whether its threaded tensioner, or an active spring/hydraulic tensioner.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

I’m guessing since these tracks were built for a gleaner. And have spent the last 40 years on at least 2 other combines exactly the way they are without breaking the tensioner or throwing a track they are probably built just fine. As for the pivot. Doesn’t matter if it’s a grip low style with the sprocket mounted to the frame as your pivot point or a sub frame style like mine. There is nothing wrong with the pivot location. You started off being condescending saying dad and I didn’t understand what we were doing. I just responded accordingly. A constructive comment doesn’t start off with hey you don’t know what you’re doing. You get what you give.

[@Aaronenginepower]

​@Oliver66FarmBoy Now that's preposterous.. I complimented your work. It's the cobbled up purchased part of the track system that are all wrong. Also, not sure why you threw your dad under the bus. I definitely never mentioned him.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

You did bc dad engineered it not me…. Literally the whole time we were building it I said it was his idea. Read your first sentence and the last one. Explain how that isn’t condescending?

[@Dick_Shinn]

Balancing act……!!

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Yep

[@canvids1]

same actors that are in many of these advertisements on the internet.

[@Oliver66FarmBoy]

Do what?