need help finding track chains rayco T275

[australian pete]

i have a rayco 2000 year model T275 forestry mower i purchased at auction, it is in rough condition and i am slowly rebuilding, need a set of track chains and sprockets, rayco dealer in australia has quoted me $1750 each for sprockets and $15,000 each side for track chains, ( prices are australian dollars) i was shocked at the price, the chains have proTrac marked on them, i cant find proTrac any where on the net, can anyone tell me where to source these chains in australia or where proTrac are based and if any one has purchased new chains from rayco in the US how much were they ?

[Iron Horse]

Google Berco and send them an email . They will have something to fit , may need the measurements . Get a set of SALT chains , i bought a set for a 931 Cat with sprockets and a full set of rollers and a set of track plate bolts and spent under $4000 . I got mine through Komatsu in Brisbane .

[maputowhite]

might not be the right thread to ask this question on but....here goes.
what's you opinion of the savannah equipment made in oz?
we are going to do a 10000ha land prep operation & the client asked us to use savannah blade plough,bush rake & buck rakes.they presently run a savannah towed grader for fire breaks.any info much appreciated from you guys.

[australian pete]

Google Berco and send them an email . They will have something to fit , may need the measurements . Get a set of SALT chains , i bought a set for a 931 Cat with sprockets and a full set of rollers and a set of track plate bolts and spent under $4000 . I got mine through Komatsu in Brisbane .
thanks iron horse, komatsu in sydney are berco agents, westrac(cat dealer) sell a lot of aftermarket track gear, thay sent out a guy who measured the tracks and they are going to quote on chains and sprockets, the hard part is finding sprockets that will fit the rayco and chains to suit those sprockets, there are only 2 rayco T275 machines in australia so no one knows much about what tracks fit,if i dont have any luck with cat i will try berco..

[australian pete]

Google Berco and send them an email . They will have something to fit , may need the measurements . Get a set of SALT chains , i bought a set for a 931 Cat with sprockets and a full set of rollers and a set of track plate bolts and spent under $4000 . I got mine through Komatsu in Brisbane .
forgot to ask, what are SALT chains ??

[Iron Horse]

Sorry , SALT stands for "sealed and lubricated" they last much longer and are superior to non SALT . As for the sprockets , it will be an easy matter to find a pair of outer rings that suit the chains and are of the same diametre as yours . You simply cut off your outer tooth ring and weld on the new ones , if your sprockets are a spoke type you can do it on the machine with an oxy torch . D5 or D6 chains and sprockets will probably go close . Once Komatsu find a machine that has the same chains (with the correct plate bolt patterns) they will have no trouble finding sprockets to suit . Tilly's also sell BERCO .

On edit , can you not turn the pins and bushes or replace the pins and bushes on your chains ? Or are the links shot also ?

maputowhite , Savannah ploughs are the best you can buy here . They are built like tanks , and are well respected .

[John H]

We just orded chains for our c87L. We went aftermarket and told Rayco to stick it after Rayco quoated us some outrageous price. I'll try to get the name we went with.

[australian pete]

Sorry , SALT stands for "sealed and lubricated" they last much longer and are superior to non SALT . As for the sprockets , it will be an easy matter to find a pair of outer rings that suit the chains and are of the same diametre as yours . You simply cut off your outer tooth ring and weld on the new ones , if your sprockets are a spoke type you can do it on the machine with an oxy torch . D5 or D6 chains and sprockets will probably go close . Once Komatsu find a machine that has the same chains (with the correct plate bolt patterns) they will have no trouble finding sprockets to suit . Tilly's also sell BERCO .

On edit , can you not turn the pins and bushes or replace the pins and bushes on your chains ? Or are the links shot also ?

maputowhite , Savannah ploughs are the best you can buy here . They are built like tanks , and are well respected .
thanks iron horse, i spoke to the westrac guy again yesterday and they are going to have a price next week, i will wait and see what they come up with, if it sounds reasonable i will go with them.

[australian pete]

Sorry , SALT stands for "sealed and lubricated" they last much longer and are superior to non SALT . As for the sprockets , it will be an easy matter to find a pair of outer rings that suit the chains and are of the same diametre as yours . You simply cut off your outer tooth ring and weld on the new ones , if your sprockets are a spoke type you can do it on the machine with an oxy torch . D5 or D6 chains and sprockets will probably go close . Once Komatsu find a machine that has the same chains (with the correct plate bolt patterns) they will have no trouble finding sprockets to suit . Tilly's also sell BERCO .

On edit , can you not turn the pins and bushes or replace the pins and bushes on your chains ? Or are the links shot also ?

maputowhite , Savannah ploughs are the best you can buy here . They are built like tanks , and are well respected .
chains completely shot,

[australian pete]

We just orded chains for our c87L. We went aftermarket and told Rayco to stick it after Rayco quoated us some outrageous price. I'll try to get the name we went with.
thanks john, rayco seem very greedy with spares prices, i got a price for a new rotor/mill for my T275, the price was $25,000 australian dollars,plus tax, after i got over the shock i decided to have mine repaired, then a few days later the rayco dealer called me back and said rayco USA had contaced him to say the price would be an extra $8,000 because steel prices had gone up. this bought the price to $33,000 australian dollars plus tax, this is about $24,000 US dollars.

[John H]

we havent had good luck with rayco's prices. So we go around them as much as possiable.

[australian pete]

we havent had good luck with rayco's prices. So we go around them as much as possiable.

im not surprised mate, their parts prices are way over the top, i have never seen anything like them, they really know how to charge, in australia we have a saying that suits rayco, they charge like a wounded bull!!!!!!

[GRUZ PLT]

We are going to be redoing the tracks on our 275. RDO equipment "John Deere dealer" came out
and measured it up, when they get back to us with a quote, I will post it.

[Willis Bushogin]

i have a rayco 2000 year model T275 forestry mower i purchased at auction, it is in rough condition and i am slowly rebuilding, need a set of track chains and sprockets, rayco dealer in australia has quoted me $1750 each for sprockets and $15,000 each side for track chains, ( prices are australian dollars) i was shocked at the price, the chains have proTrac marked on them, i cant find proTrac any where on the net, can anyone tell me where to source these chains in australia or where proTrac are based and if any one has purchased new chains from rayco in the US how much were they ?

I just replaced my sprockets on my Fecon FTX90L (Rayco C87L) I got them from Berco,I really forgot the price, but I think Rayco wanted $1200 and I got them from Berco for about $600. I did ask them about the chains/rails, but they couldnt find any to match mine. I contacted Fecon themselves (not dealer) and they said they made their own chains/rails for my machine.
As stated before, most any heavy equipment dealer, should be able to help you, it doesnt have to be Rayco.
Good Luck

[Iron Horse]

Steel prices , everyones using that excuse to put up their prices . It's just a scam . I looked at a flail mower for my excavator in June , it was $14,500 . I went to order it last week and they said it was now $19,500 because of the cost of steel . I said your a pack of crooks , the mower weighs 1200 kilograms . Steel was $1 per kilogram and even if it had doubled (which it has'nt) it would only be $1,200 more not $5,000 more , you can keep it now .

Back to the chains , even if you can't get a set with the correct holes to accept the plates . Some of these manufacturers have things changed slightly so you have no choice but to buy from them . It would still be cheaper to buy a pair of complete tracks with plates attached rather than the rediculous amount Rayco wanted for your chains alone .

My Volvo truck needed new front wheel bearings . They were $440 each because they were half a millimetre different to the $40 ones i could buy . They said you have no choice .....wrong thing to say to me . After a skim on the lathe , the hubs now take the cheaper bearings .

[OCR]

My Volvo truck needed new front wheel bearings . They were $440 each because they were half a millimetre different to the $40 ones i could buy . They said you have no choice .....wrong thing to say to me . After a skim on the lathe , the hubs now take the cheaper bearings .

Way to go!! ... Iron Horse. :thumbsup


OCR

[australian pete]

We are going to be redoing the tracks on our 275. RDO equipment "John Deere dealer" came out
and measured it up, when they get back to us with a quote, I will post it.

thanks for that, did you get a price off rayco ? i am curious what they are charging in the US. how many hours do you get from a set of chains ?

[australian pete]

Steel prices , everyones using that excuse to put up their prices . It's just a scam . I looked at a flail mower for my excavator in June , it was $14,500 . I went to order it last week and they said it was now $19,500 because of the cost of steel . I said your a pack of crooks , the mower weighs 1200 kilograms . Steel was $1 per kilogram and even if it had doubled (which it has'nt) it would only be $1,200 more not $5,000 more , you can keep it now .

Back to the chains , even if you can't get a set with the correct holes to accept the plates . Some of these manufacturers have things changed slightly so you have no choice but to buy from them . It would still be cheaper to buy a pair of complete tracks with plates attached rather than the rediculous amount Rayco wanted for your chains alone .

My Volvo truck needed new front wheel bearings . They were $440 each because they were half a millimetre different to the $40 ones i could buy . They said you have no choice .....wrong thing to say to me . After a skim on the lathe , the hubs now take the cheaper bearings .

oh yeah, blaming the steel price is a joke, rayco wanted an extra $8,000 for the rotor because steel had gone up, $8000 would be heaps more than all the steel is worth for the whole mower head, including the rotor,dunno how they can say that with a straight face. if i had to pay rayco $30,000 for a set of chains i would leave it to rot, from what i have found so far a new set of non genuine chains will have a different bolt pattern to my plates, however a new set of non genuine chains and plates will be far cheaper than just chains from rayco, a mate of mine has a plasma cutter and he said it would not cost much to cut new holes in the plates. hopefully will have it all sorted by the end of next week.

[australian pete]

Steel prices , everyones using that excuse to put up their prices . It's just a scam . I looked at a flail mower for my excavator in June , it was $14,500 . I went to order it last week and they said it was now $19,500 because of the cost of steel . I said your a pack of crooks , the mower weighs 1200 kilograms . Steel was $1 per kilogram and even if it had doubled (which it has'nt) it would only be $1,200 more not $5,000 more , you can keep it now .

Back to the chains , even if you can't get a set with the correct holes to accept the plates . Some of these manufacturers have things changed slightly so you have no choice but to buy from them . It would still be cheaper to buy a pair of complete tracks with plates attached rather than the rediculous amount Rayco wanted for your chains alone .

My Volvo truck needed new front wheel bearings . They were $440 each because they were half a millimetre different to the $40 ones i could buy . They said you have no choice .....wrong thing to say to me . After a skim on the lathe , the hubs now take the cheaper bearings .
what brand of flail mower were you looking at ? i priced a new fae for my 21 tonne hyundai, it was $60,000, i have a used fae i purchased at auction,
it owes me about $20,000 ..

[Iron Horse]

Thank's OCR .

At a 100% increase in steel cost that $8000 would pay for 8 tonnes extra steel .

Ive been looking at Arwi (Fecon) , FAE and Seppi . Although , watching them working they are far from fast and economical . Sure they can do the work but a big tree will take an hour to mulch . I don't think i'd like to be the one paying a couple of hundred dollars to get rid of one tree . I'm starting to think along a different line for scrub clearing . If i bought another tractor like the one i have . I can reverse the steering consul and put a mulcher on the 3pl and a log skidder grapple on the other end . I could then cut the trees off at ground level and then skid them into a clearing for piling with my other tractor with it's tree and rock grapple for burning .

[Iron Horse]

a mate of mine has a plasma cutter and he said it would not cost much to cut new holes in the plates. hopefully will have it all sorted by the end of next week.

Have a good look at the bottom of the plates for fret marks caused by the chain links . If they are present the new links will not match up the marks and you will never keep the plates tight .

[australian pete]

Thank's OCR .

At a 100% increase in steel cost that $8000 would pay for 8 tonnes extra steel .

Ive been looking at Arwi (Fecon) , FAE and Seppi . Although , watching them working they are far from fast and economical . Sure they can do the work but a big tree will take an hour to mulch . I don't think i'd like to be the one paying a couple of hundred dollars to get rid of one tree . I'm starting to think along a different line for scrub clearing . If i bought another tractor like the one i have . I can reverse the steering consul and put a mulcher on the 3pl and a log skidder grapple on the other end . I could then cut the trees off at ground level and then skid them into a clearing for piling with my other tractor with it's tree and rock grapple for burning .
the steel excuse is a joke although not a funny joke.
flail mowers are only good at mowing scrub and small trees, no good for general clearing, that slasher you looked at would be good for clearing, as for burning, they lock you up for that in nsw, definately not an option here.

[australian pete]

Have a good look at the bottom of the plates for fret marks caused by the chain links . If they are present the new links will not match up the marks and you will never keep the plates tight .
thanks iron horse,will have a look for that..

[australian pete]

Have a good look at the bottom of the plates for fret marks caused by the chain links . If they are present the new links will not match up the marks and you will never keep the plates tight .
got the price from CAT today for tracks for my T275 rayco. rayco wanted $30,000 for a set of chains, price from CAT dealer for D5 track chains which are the same $11,000, yep CAT are $19,000 cheaper..
the price from CAT for new chains,top and bottom rollers, new plates and sprockets was $20,246....
i bet rayco dont sell many track chains..

[Iron Horse]

That's great , quite a saving . I thought D5 would be close . I don't get their logic , if they put a reasonable mark up on their chains everyone would buy them . As it is , everyone goes looking for an alternative .

[australian pete]

i dont understand thier logic either, all of the spares i have priced off them seem incredibly expensive, i would never buy a new rayco machine, i hope this machine works well when i get it going, hopefully it will be ready for work by christmas.(this year)

[Iron Horse]

How did those chains go Pete ? Have you tried it out yet ?

[australian pete]

How did those chains go Pete ? Have you tried it out yet ? bit of a marathon Reg,
CAT can supply D5 chains that fit, mower head was in very poor condition, it is away being rebuilt, all tips and holder were stuffed, some of the tips were welded to the holders, all the bolts holding the tips in were welded, the previous owner had a passion for welding everything, i am a poor welder however his efforts make me look like a tradesman,balance was real bad,,the whole mower head was in poor condition, full of cracks with crap weld on top of crap weld on top of crap weld etc, have been fairly busy the last couple of months so have not started on tracks rollers etc, soon as we have a few quiet days will jack it up and start pulling off tracks rollers, sprockets.circuit board that controls all fuctions needs replacing, previous owner bypassed circuit board when elecrical problems arose, new circuit board was $12,000 , bought a reconditioned one for $4,500 from rayco, auto elec has to fit that and return wiring to standard, guards on bottom of track frame have been welded on, will have to grind them off and no doubt original studs will be broken off so they will have to be removed, should be fun working upside down removing broken, rusted studs, belly plates bent and held on with a couple of bolts, there is plenty to do on it, i was hoping to have it finished by xmas, (now past) my new goal is end of h
june THIS YEAR.when i get it chocked up i will post some pics.

[Iron Horse]

Here you go Pete , provided they are long enough they would get your Rayco back on it's feet . Even if you have to have the bushes turned .

[australian pete]

thanks reg they sound ok, price is right, i will give them a call.

[Bigfella1]

Hi guys, been following the chatter on these Rayco mulchers and everyone seems to be having the same probs with the tracks, chains in particular. Has anyone successfully mounted a different set of chains on a T275 and if so, how are they holding up. We have 2 275s and 2 140s. The 140s are pretty good maintenance wise but the 275s are a mechanical headache with a thousand different problems and track chains being the biggest yet. We are at about 1250hrs on both 275s and the Berco chains are completely shot, links broken completely through but the bushes and sprockets are fine, maybe a bad batch of steel and poor casting as some of the links have holes 12mm deep in them.
Anyone seen this before?.

[australian pete]

Hi guys, been following the chatter on these Rayco mulchers and everyone seems to be having the same probs with the tracks, chains in particular. Has anyone successfully mounted a different set of chains on a T275 and if so, how are they holding up. We have 2 275s and 2 140s. The 140s are pretty good maintenance wise but the 275s are a mechanical headache with a thousand different problems and track chains being the biggest yet. We are at about 1250hrs on both 275s and the Berco chains are completely shot, links broken completely through but the bushes and sprockets are fine, maybe a bad batch of steel and poor casting as some of the links have holes 12mm deep in them.
Anyone seen this before?.


hi begfella, have a look at the post <"rayco track wear" lot of info there and a guy from texas who knows a lot about tracks on raycos and other mulchers.