Original equipment component and system manufacturer, Schaeffler, has further extended its range of INA Front End Auxiliary Drive system (FEAD) products, adding more belts, tensioners, idlers and complete kits to suit multiple manufacturers and model agricultural applications.

Although the belts, tensioners and idlers can be purchased separately, the most cost-effective solution is to purchase all parts as a kit in just one box, which is also in line with Schaeffler’s best practice principle of replacing all system elements at the same time to help avoid costly follow-on repairs.

The new components and kits cover many popular tractor applications and the range is continuously expanding. It offers an OE solution at a competitive price for agricultural vehicle technicians. The FEAD range covers manufacturers such as John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, Fendt, JCB and Same Deutz-Fahr.

As Schaeffler always emphasises, it is essential for those responsible for the upkeep of costly agricultural equipment to not only comply with the manufacturer’s service schedule, but to frequently check the condition of the belt and pulley system to try and identify any signs of wear. This will help ensure the ongoing reliability of the machinery and reduce the likelihood of unproductive downtime caused by a failure in the system.

To help engineers understand a few of the issues caused by a worn belt, Schaeffler has produced a short video that highlights some of the symptoms that can arise, such as overheating, battery failure and the illumination of engine warning lights on the dash. The video can be viewed here.

Schaeffler says INA belt drive components are manufactured to exacting OE specifications, which means that engineers can fit them with confidence in the knowledge that they will maintain the same performance and reliability as the original parts, as well as deliver a cost-effective and long-lasting repair solution.