Since you spend so much on rubber tracks, it’s not uncommon for owners to be a little bit over protective about the tracks. Often tracks become entrenched in deep grooves and what usually happens is that a chunk might come off. The tracks can also become prone to wear and tear. However, there are ways in which you could make sure your tracks would stay in top shape.
Always care for the under carriage
Keep in mind that undercarriage can become damaged and it’s important to change it if that happens. When the socket teeth become worn they can pull of parts from the track chain thus damaging the tracks as well. Undercarriage should be given a through washing with the help of a pressure washer. Failure to clean the undercarriage would result in a buildup of dirt and debris. This makes the recoil mechanism fail and damage the rubber tracks.
Avoid building up the tension
Make sure you check out the guidelines for the tension in the manual. Different sized machines require different degrees of tension. The track tension should be checked on a weekly basis. It’s a common misconception that keeping the tension in the tracks would help them last longer. It’s necessary to maintain some flex in the track or it would start behaving the same way as an over inflated tire. Also avoid keeping the tracks too loose because that might eventually damage the planetary drive wheel.
Always stay on track
Failure to stay on the tracks can cause phenomenal damage to the rubber tracks. Also the amount of damaged directly depends upon the time limited the rubber tracks have been off track. A partially de tracked machine can still be salvaged by a professional. However, one which is completely de tracked can be permanently damaged.
Avoid driving over curbs
Driving over curbs can put excessive strain on the tracks. It can lead to de tracking. Even if de tracking doesn’t occur the extra stress would cause the rubber to become cracked. When chunks of rubber fall off it exposes the internal machinery to moisture. This could lead to corrosion.
Drive slowly and steadily
It’s necessary to drive slow and steady. Though rubber tracks do not puncture, sharp objects could become lodged in the tracks and result in track damage. Though there might be no immediate damage, the lodged pieces of debris could cause damage over a long period of time. If you have to drive over sharp terrain, steel tracks would be a better option.
Other things to keep in mind
- Oil and grease could drip from the machine. It is necessary to avoid these contaminants to get on the rubber tracks. If this happens, make sure to use a pressure washer to get rid of the debris.
- Rubber tracks should be rotated on a regular basis. When there is time to replace the tracks, make sure to change both the tracks at the same time.
Keeping all the above mentioned things in mind would help your rubber tracks stay in top shape.