KUBOTA 161 if it has rubber can you put steal on

[millpond]

Somebody, saleman, said he can take old rubber off and put steal on for just the cost of labor plus a little..? But another guy told me he would need to change the whole undercarriage..? If you are replacing worn out rubber can you just change to steal on 2008 161 angle blade models..?

 

[nobull1]

I don't know on the 161, but on my 04, 91-3 you can. When I purchased my 91-3 it had rubber tracks and the deal was to give me the rubber tracks and install new steel tracks. I was there when they installed the steel tracks and from memory you had to re-adjust the spring behind the idler for less tension and had to add a couple of wear plates. When the steel tracks came in they had the instructions as well as the wear plates included. It was pretty simple and within a couple of hours you could switch back to rubber. I never did put the rubber back on and have a new set of Bridgestone rubber tracks that I will sell one day.

 

[mike69440]

Somebody, saleman, said he can take old rubber off and put steal on for just the cost of labor plus a little..? But another guy told me he would need to change the whole undercarriage..? If you are replacing worn out rubber can you just change to steal on 2008 161 angle blade models..?

MillPond

"Steal" is the deal on a KX161 if the 600 hrs are well maintained, not abused hours.

"Steel" is that metal they make the tracks out of and most of the rest of the excavator.

I'm not sure if the idlers and sprockets differ Steel vs. Rubber.

 

[millpond]

Nobull1/ and all others: If the cost to put steal on a orginal rubber 161 was 2k more than replacement rubber would you still do it. Also where should new steal tracks be priced on 161. I've read all the treads plus/minus and this issue really has some strong points on both sides of the fence, but it may come down to cost in the after market for the steal tracks plus the dealer labor. My salesmen keeps telling me there is a list of parts and I keep telling him it's not that hard to convert. So if rubber is at 2500k or steal at 4500k who would still make the shift up into steal. I will never put more than 75 hours a YEAR on this machine, that said it is for woods clearing in northern Vermont. I rented the 161 non-angle with steal and it did everything I wanted. If I go rubber to save 2k will I be disappointed with the performance ? I was thinking the softer ride would be nice as I do need to travel back and forth on 3/4 mile entry drive, gravel, to access different logging roads. I think I'm a hybrid here and I know steal is the easy "safe" way to go but I'm thinking I'm such a low hour guy that rubber works...

 

[millpond]

Sorry about the steal vs steel. I've been so focused on steel vs rubber I haven't been watching the sp very closely. My guy says he gave the serial number to Kubota and 161-3 2007 model year takes more than a penny to convert it to steel track machine.

 

[nobull1]

When I bought my 91-3 I made the deal for a little over $2000.00 I would get steel tracks in place of rubber and get to keep the rubber. If I was doing it again I would do the same thing without thinking. If it cost me $5000.00 extra I would "probably" still do it. My opinion is rubber for light duty residential and commercial, steel used for forestry, demolition and rock, or face pre-mature rubber track replacement.

 

[millpond]

Well the answer on the kX-161-3 switcheroo is 10k to change from the rubber track to steel. Looks like I'll be a rubber guy on this equipment. Still would like to hear from all on after market tracks that have shown quality vs OEM/Kubota at twice the costs.

 

[nobull1]

I would have to say rubber if it was to cost $10,000 . That is just a crazy amount of money

 

[Tags]

I have a 161-3, it's the model just before they added the angle blade. Mine came with the steel on it and I have been told that I could go to rubber with no modification. So it sounds like they are telling you that the whole undercarriage needs to be replaced to run steel. I would do some research through an aftermarket track supplier or a different Kubota dealer and see if they tell you different, I have trouble believing that they have an entirely different undercarriage to run steel or rubber tracks, it may be true, but I find it hard to believe.

 

[millpond]

Tags my guy gave the serial number to Kubota rep who said that the rollers,idler, and I think the sprocket gets changed which is maybe ok (just a few parts) ,but add the steal track plus labor you creep up to 8/9/10k area. Give your serial number to your dealer and tell me what he says. I'm still not convinced either.