WF trac

MB -Trac is a tractor series of the German automobile manufacturer Mercedes -Benz, which was produced from the 1970s to 2005. It has been developed on the basis of Unimog aggregates but had a rigid rear axle. With the MB -Trac, the concept of the Unimog in agriculture, for which this was originally thought should be brought closer again.

The MB -Trac was produced until 1993 by Mercedes -Benz from 1993 to 2005 under the name WF Trac by Werner Forst technology Trier built on and sold. The new ( second ) series WF Trac is a direct evolution of the MB Trac.

The brand is still protected for the Daimler AG.

History

With declining sales of the Unimog in agriculture lost Mercedes -Benz market share in the tractor segment. Even the Unimog was not recognized as a farm tractor in some exporting countries and taxed as a truck. With a new development based on Unimog aggregates wanted to counteract this negative trend and bring a fully recognized tractor on the market. In May 1967, work began on the new Mercedes -Benz tractor. A60 was the first prototype, which already had the essential characteristics of the MB -Trac: frame construction, Front axle suspension seat in the center and three growing rooms. Internal divisions and a shareholders' meeting prevented a productive development, until it was finally stopped. But the development team which was not discouraged and hid some prototypes in order to save them from the scrap press, and worked secretly on.

When it became known that KHD plans to launch a competition tractor on the market, the development of the MB -Trac was resumed. You could fall back on the past and hidden results. Successful tests in Holland and at the manufacturing Gaggenau motivated the development team, which has invested a lot of overtime and energy into the project. In the colors Pebble gray and fire red the MB -trac was presented at the DLG Exhibition 1972. The response was overwhelming and already at the exhibition, around 350 orders will be taken. The exact name was MB trac 65/70. "65" for DIN hp and " 70 " for SAE hp. This served to improve comparability.

When introduced in the MB -trac made ​​with four equal sized wheels and the cab between the two axes of a stir. With his equipment, he was superior to most other tractors far, so for example with the standard compressed air system and a very inexpensive front and rear hydraulics and PTO.

The MB -trac was used mainly in agriculture. Further, these tractors were to be found also in forestry, as well as municipalities ( for winter maintenance, road maintenance ) and construction companies ( with plate compactor or street cleaning). Furthermore, there was the MB-trac for specific purposes. Some of them found use in the military (eg, as an aircraft tug or location administrations ), in mining, a two-way vehicle or in other specific areas, often associated with some significant modifications.

Until 1991 41.365 MB Trac were sold. Today is about 30,000 such vehicles in use. The first JCB Fastrac came in 1991 to the market and filled the gap in the market left behind.

Continued existence of the concept

There was, primarily for agricultural issues, succession vehicles of other companies. These received a typical configuration which was very similar to the face of the recent, heavy series of the MB -trac. This was around the " LTS trac 160 " LTS ( agricultural engineering Beautiful Beck) and the " Doppstadt trac 160 " by the company Doppstadt. Since LTS failed to reach high sales figures with the LTS trac 160 (OM 366 A) and put the company in bankruptcy, Doppstadt took over the work done by LTS preliminary work and further developed the Trac concept. Following the model MB Doppstadt built small and large Tracs and delivered them up to the bankruptcy of its agricultural sector, with Mercedes- Benz engines up to 147 kW (200 bhp ), four-wheel steering and power shift from. Already at the same time with the MB -trac on the market was the conceptually similar tractor Eurotrac Schlüter. Since Schlüter sales fell the same way and they were trac informed of the impending end of the MB, the company saw (later LTS Schlüter → Agricultural Engineering Egelseer ) a chance with the Eurotrac to fill this gap in the market. With the dissolution of the company Anton Schlüter This vehicle has been for some time made ​​by other companies, but not ultimately continued production. After the tractor assembly at Mercedes- Benz, there were some years the Xylon and the study Evo AGCO / Fendt.

These are today, as well as the system tractor Fendt tool carrier, no longer on the market. But they have, as well as the MB -trac, on the used market for some time a meaning. The concept of " Trac " system and tractor will be pursued to date by JCB with the " Fastrac " and by Claas Xerion with the series. From 1993, the company Werner MB- Trac developed forestry and industrial technology in Trier on to a forestry vehicle for universal use, the WF Trac.

More recently, new tractors were introduced by various manufacturers, such as the " Trisix " of ACGO / Fendt or the " Agro XXL" of Deutz-Fahr. These have the basic features of a resemblance to the MB -trac on, through equally large tires, an approximately central cabin and partly with construction opportunities in the area of the rear part of the vehicle. Due to the time lag and the other performance category compared with the MB -trac, these vehicles do not understand as a direct successor. It is more of an evolution of the standard tractor. Because of their higher motor powers that until then were subjected to structural conditions new considerations. Some, because of not sufficient two axes for the transmission of force and weight, which would itself be pushed by twin or triple tires to the limits of actionable and a difficult access to public roads.

Landing gear

The chassis of the MB -Trac consists of a sturdy ladder frame, the front, in conjunction with a solid live axle rear suspension with coil springs and a live axle high payload at the front and at the rear hydraulics. The use of the derived from the Unimog components requires four equal sized wheels. Front and rear, the chassis is provided with connections for the hydraulic and the images of different attachments. The driver's cabin is constructed between the axles. On the rear axle is square, eg for tools such as spraying, dump bodies or a loading area. The engine is very accessible and easy to dismantle.

Motor

The small series ( 65/70, 700, 800, [ turbo ] 900) possessed by the year 1987 the Mercedes -Benz OM 314 four-cylinder engine, which was supplemented by an exhaust gas turbocharger when MB trac turbo 900 (OM 314 A) and thus 85 bhp. The mean (1000, 1100) and large (1100, 1300, 1500) series had from the beginning the proven from the Unimog and other commercial vehicles, six-cylinder direct-injection engine, the OM 352 (A). This has about 5.7 liters of displacement and reached the MB trac 1500 with the help of turbocharger and piston cooling 150 hp. 1987 all series have been revised. The small series (700, 800, 900 turbo ) got the new engine OM 364 (A) installed; this had more displacement and reached in conjunction with a turbocharger in the MB trac 900 turbo ( type designation has been changed) 90 hp. In the middle (1000, 1100) and large (1300 turbo, 1400 turbo, 1600 turbo, 1800 intercooler ) series from then on came the OM 366 (A ) is used, this had 200 cc more displacement, to achieve higher performance and gave a better response than its predecessor. In the MB trac ( 1800 ) the performance of the OM 366 with the addition abbreviation LA was (L = intercooler, A = turbocharger ) increased to a maximum of 180 hp, this engine in the Unimog with up to 240 hp and other construction and commercial vehicles up was delivered to 300 hp from the factory.

Models

The following types were built:

The type MBtrac 700 appeared also as a local version, recognizable by the addition of K, with an increased capacity of 72/75/78 PS, as well as an industrial version with the addition of I and as grassland version with a lower cabin ( Mauser ) and grassland tires with the additional G. the types 800, 900, 900 turbo, 900 turbo, 1000 and 1100, there were as local versions.

The flagship of the MB -trac models was intercooler from 1990, the MB -trac 1800, a development / modification of the MB trac 1600 turbo. He had further charged with an exhaust gas turbocharger the Mercedes Benz OM - 366 engine, however, a transmission oil cooler and an intercooler is additionally installed in order to achieve the desired power output of 180 hp. A total of 190 pieces of the flagship were manufactured. This is characterized by the bulge at the front of the hood, under the intercooler sits. In the Unimog Museum in Gaggenau is the last officially built Trac, a 1800 intercooler issued. In addition to a special finish in a dark anthracite some parts are chrome plated. This earned him the nickname "Black Beauty". De-oiled and preserved reminds the Trac at almost 25 years of Mercedes -Benz tractor design. Nevertheless, the official letzgebaute MB -Trac from the band a 1600 turbo.