Over-The-Tire Track questions.

[Bob Rooks]

I can't seem to find definitive answers anywhere (so far), but:

Will OTT's have a significant impact on axle bearing and/or tire life expectancy?

Thanks

 

[Digdeep]

Steel OTT or rubber? Steel shouldn't be too bad on your axles (don't use foam filled with steel tracks), but they can have a definite impact on tire life depending on your tire type. OTT Rubber tracks can have an effect on axles and require special tires. Your local dealer can help you match things up.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Sorry 'bout that omission sir. Rubber tracks (kinder to asphalt).

Your local dealer can help you match things up.

That raises a challenge - finding a knowledgeable dealer in my area, but you have confirmed my suspicion about the rubber tracks. :thumbsup:

 

[20 20]

I've also been looking at getting some OTT's for my skid steer. From everything I've read it seems as long as they are kept within the 1.5" to 3" sag{at top of track} they work fine. Are you looking at an all rubber track or something with replacable rubber shoes/pads?

 

[Bob Rooks]

I've been looking at all rubber (cable embedded) instead of links, thinking they'd be easier on the tires but it's hard to find a knowledge base. Local tire shops aren't much help, even the ones that handle construction equipment.

 

[brain55]

You can't use foam filled tires with rubber tracks either. My experience is that you don't need special tires with the rubber tracks. I did need spacers and center backspaced wheels to move the tires away from the chassis to make room for the tracks. This was on a 7-series Bobcat. I'm struggling to see how OTT tracks can accelerate bearing wear, maybe in long term high traction asphalt operation with a lot of single track pivoting, but then why would you need tracks. I think moving the tires out wider could cause more of an issue than the tracks themselves. I still don't think you'd be able to quantify the difference in wear. Is this a full time installation, or to get you through the winter? What brand of OTT tracks are you looking at?

Brian

 

[Bob Rooks]

Hi Brian,
Most of my operation is in glacial till (clay & hardpan with various sized rock) but I do have a ~1,000' paved "driveway" to maintain. I'm hoping that the tracks will be somewhat permanent. I avoid doing tight pivoting. I operate the SS like I operate the rubber tracked dozer - no turning on a dime unless absolutely necessary.
I'm looking at 10" Solideal tracks (have 10x16.5 tires), and yes, I will need the 2" spacers for frame clearance. My concern about bearing wear is that the lateral force loading of track tension will combine with the vertical (loaded machine weight) loading of the bearings, in effect exponentially loading them. The machine was not originally designed to accomodate OTT's. Maybe I'm just chasing a windmill though...

 

[brain55]

I'm not a big fan of Solideal. The OTT tracks I am familiar with were Solideal link type and I did not have a real issue with them. I did break one, but I was using them with foam filled tires, so I won't fault them for that. My issue with Solideal came with their replacement tracks for my other rubber track machines. Solideal's warranty is 6 months or 600 hours. I was buying 2 or more sets of tracks at a time to keep on hand because I was maintaining a fleet of Bobcat machines, I had 9 T180's, 1 T190, and 7 T300's. Because I was stocking my own tracks, at times I had them for months before they were installed, and they consider the date of purchase as the date of installation so they could be out of warranty before I installed them. Their other problem was they seemed to fail at about 600 hours of use. The factory rep would come out to do the warranty claim, admit that they failed, and in the same breath tell me I was out of luck because they were out of warranty. If they had worn out at 600 hours I could have dealt with that, but they were failing, and by they, I mean several. I think of the 6 tracks that I tried to get warranted they replaced one, and pro-rated another and gave me a $100 credit. I quit using Solideal and was much happier.

Brian

 

[Bob Rooks]

Okay Brian, that's a very compelling argument. What rubber tracks would you recommend?
I guess a better way to phrase that would be; what brand are you using now?

 

[DIRTROAD]

I had an 873 with tracks. It seemed to me that they caused more harm than good. Mine were steel though, but they were not worth the cost if purchased seperately. The machine that I had came with them.

Front tires were put under more strain when backing uphill with a full bucket. This would cause the tires to come loose from the rim. This happened more than once.

Tires had to be deflated to install tracks, then reinflated.

Rims had to be swapped side to side to provide more backspacing. This put the valve stem on the inside which was a headache.

They just didn't provide enough extra good to out weigh the bad in my opinion.

 

[brain55]

After that one OTT track failed, we never got back around to using them again and ended up selling them at auction. After the experiment with Solideal's regular tracks I started using Bobcat tracks. The factory tracks were Bridgestones and they are great, but cost $2500 a side. Bobcat started having aftermarket tracks built for them at about half the cost. I never had one of those tracks fail, but wasn't racking up the hours on the machines like I was when we were using the Solideals.

Brian

 

[Bob Rooks]

Thanks guys, you've both been very very helpful. I think I'll check out out the Bobcat tracks. $1,250/side doesn't sound too bad.

 

[20 20]

I had an 873 with tracks. It seemed to me that they caused more harm than good. Mine were steel though, but they were not worth the cost if purchased seperately. The machine that I had came with them.

Front tires were put under more strain when backing uphill with a full bucket. This would cause the tires to come loose from the rim. This happened more than once.

Tires had to be deflated to install tracks, then reinflated.

Rims had to be swapped side to side to provide more backspacing. This put the valve stem on the inside which was a headache.

They just didn't provide enough extra good to out weigh the bad in my opinion.

Why would you have to deflate the tires, they are suppose to fit somewhat lose? Instead of turning the valve stems to the inside you could have bought spacers, I believe the cost is around $400.00 for all four.

 

[20 20]

Bob Rocks: my only concern with full rubber tracks would be getting something{rock, wood, etc} pinched inbetween the tire and track causing strain on the drive system. From what I have researched folks seem to like the links for this reason more then the full rubber, plus you can replace just the pad instead of the whole track. You may want to try over at the skidsteerforum for some more input?

 

[20 20]

I'm not a big fan of Solideal. Brian

:thumbsup: Thanks for the heads up on their track

 

[Duffster]

I run steel OTT on mine 95% of the time. I love them. I wouldn't even consider a SS without them. I considered rubber but they where alot more money at the time and I thought the steel would fit the bill better anyway, and they have. Most of the concrete guys around here run rubber and have not heard any real negatives to them either. I have not experienced any bearing failure and I run my tracks TIGHT, that is kind of the point of having tracks. Technically you are not supposed to run filled tires but I know several guys that do.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

I had an 873 with tracks. It seemed to me that they caused more harm than good. Mine were steel though, but they were not worth the cost if purchased seperately. The machine that I had came with them.

Front tires were put under more strain when backing uphill with a full bucket. This would cause the tires to come loose from the rim. This happened more than once.

Tires had to be deflated to install tracks, then reinflated.

Rims had to be swapped side to side to provide more backspacing. This put the valve stem on the inside which was a headache.

They just didn't provide enough extra good to out weigh the bad in my opinion.

1 you should have bought spacers or at least drilled your rims on the other side and installed dual valve stems.
2 tires come off the bead if they are under inflated with or without tracks...
3 if you work in dirt, mud or gravel, tracks double your traction and are a plus for most tasks.

Ken

 

[Bob Rooks]

Rims (wheels) usually have an offset to get the tire closer to the frame. The bolt circle in the center of the wheel has tapered holes that the tapered lug nuts fit into. This is done for a reason. Without going into detail, I will say that it is dangerous do defeat this by swapping wheel assemblies. That is what spacers are for (lost some credibility there). Consequently, additional holes for Schrader valves are unnecessary and uncalled for. Ken, I agree with your #2, plus, running tires underinflated will kill the carcass, sidewalls first.

 

[Duffster]

Rims (wheels) usually have an offset to get the tire closer to the frame. The bolt circle in the center of the wheel has tapered holes that the tapered lug nuts fit into. This is done for a reason. Without going into detail, I will say that it is dangerous do defeat this by swapping wheel assemblies. That is what spacers are for (lost some credibility there). Consequently, additional holes for Schrader valves are unnecessary and uncalled for. Ken, I agree with your #2, plus, running tires underinflated will kill the carcass, sidewalls first.

My skidloader as well as any other I have seen have reversible rims.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Offset reversible wheels are a fairly new development for skid steers and came after the development of OTT's to accommodate them without using spacers. My Mustang is model year 2000, and even though the wheels are offset, they are not reversible - so I would need spacers.