When to replace rubber tracks?

[Boondox]

My mini-ex is five years old now, has never been on pavement and only occasionally clawed its way over sharp stone ledges. As excavators go, this one has had a pretty easy life. But I have one deep gash in the righthand tread maybe 4 inches long, and the inside of the treads are showing a bit of cracking. Having one fail while I'm up in the woods would be an utter PITA.

At what point do others swap out their treads?

 

[art]

You didn't say how many hours you have on the tracks, a four inch cut is nothing if in the right place and if in the right place it would be something to watch.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Most probably only get replaced when they break, or when they won't stay on the track frame.

I would suggest, if it's that important to you and you plan on keeping the machine for the foreseeable future, just buying an extra set but waiting until you really need them.

 

[Boondox]

Good advice. It's not the gash I'm worried about so much as the cracking on the non-tread surface. It looks like an old tire that has been out in the sun too long. My fear is having one fail when I'm up in the woods. Thanks.

 

[20 20]

I quess it depends on the bank book and your opinion. Tracks breaking in the woods or in a deep mud holes are not much fun. Excavators are easier to work on then dozers, but on the job fixes are still a PITA. Fixng a track on your terms would be much easier then fixing it on it's terms, carrying all the tools out not to mention lugging the track then fighting the elements, simple answer is that it is your call.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I have not heard of any tracks actually breaking. Usually the tracks get worn out so that they pop off when you turn. So it isn't like you will be stranded and need to haul a new track in. I had a track come off on my grandfathers machine twice before he fixed it. The first time I just lifted the side up and used a couple long bars to get the track back on enough that it would track back on and the second time I was able to just reverse direction and the track walked back on itself as it was just starting to come off. If your track has no traction or starts wanting to pop off for no real reason and your out of adjustment then look at replacing. Well, at least that is how I feel about it.

 

[Bob Rooks]

I have rubber tracks on my little dozer. There are wire cables and steel links embedded in rubber tracks, and these components stretch over time. The time to replace depends on three qualifiers, except for personal preference of course. 1) No further adjustment can be made to remove excess slack. 2) Gashes and slits that expose cables, or broken cables. 3) Loss of tractive effort, grousers are badly worn.
UV is one of rubbers worst enemies. Keeping direct sunlight off the tracks will help, like parking under cover when not used for extended periods.

 

[Dirthog]

They will break have broken a two different one myself on a 35 Kobelco.

 

[amazincaucasian]

Yes I seen me break on a T300 and my mini ex too. Run over a gnarly piece of steel and those cables break, those tracks drop right to the ground. Also when the steel cleats that the sprocket grabs start falling off its time to go shopping and them tracks ain't cheap

 

[brain55]

I have not heard of any tracks actually breaking. Usually the tracks get worn out so that they pop off when you turn. So it isn't like you will be stranded and need to haul a new track in. I had a track come off on my grandfathers machine twice before he fixed it. The first time I just lifted the side up and used a couple long bars to get the track back on enough that it would track back on and the second time I was able to just reverse direction and the track walked back on itself as it was just starting to come off. If your track has no traction or starts wanting to pop off for no real reason and your out of adjustment then look at replacing. Well, at least that is how I feel about it.

Don't ever buy Solideal tracks, I never had one that didn't break. I'd get about 600 hrs out of them before they'd break, long before they had worn out the tread. I used them on a fleet of Bobcats (16 machines) I worked on, Solideal did not think it was an issue at all, their warranty was 6 months from the day you buy them (regardless of when you installed them) or 600 hours pro-rated of course. I was buying them 3 sets at a time to save freight too. Oh, and a track would never break where you have easy access to the machine. It always seemed like it would break next to a house, in the mud, or someplace difficult.

Brian

 

[excav8ter]

Don't ever buy Solideal tracks, I never had one that didn't break. I'd get about 600 hrs out of them before they'd break, long before they had worn out the tread. I used them on a fleet of Bobcats (16 machines) I worked on, Solideal did not think it was an issue at all, their warranty was 6 months from the day you buy them (regardless of when you installed them) or 600 hours pro-rated of course. I was buying them 3 sets at a time to save freight too. Oh, and a track would never break where you have easy access to the machine. It always seemed like it would break next to a house, in the mud, or someplace difficult.

Brian

On the flip side.....I have Solideal v- pattern tracks on my Takeuchi TL130, over 1,000 hours and still a lot of life left, might get to 2,000 total hours. These may well be the best tracks I've ever had. No light duty work either.....I bought this machine to replace my D4C on residential excavating sites, as well as running on asphalt and concrete, and doing concrete and asphalt tear-outs.

I just put Camoplast tracks on my Kobelco SR35......2400 hours or so is all I got out of the OE tracks.....premature failure due to the fact that I leased it to a friends excavating business, and his guys treated it like a rental.

New Camoplast tracks, from Midwest Equipment ran around $1800.00 delivered.

 

[brain55]

On the flip side.....I have Solideal v- pattern tracks on my Takeuchi TL130, over 1,000 hours and still a lot of life left, might get to 2,000 total hours. These may well be the best tracks I've ever had. No light duty work either.....I bought this machine to replace my D4C on residential excavating sites, as well as running on asphalt and concrete, and doing concrete and asphalt tear-outs.

I just put Camoplast tracks on my Kobelco SR35......2400 hours or so is all I got out of the OE tracks.....premature failure due to the fact that I leased it to a friends excavating business, and his guys treated it like a rental.

New Camoplast tracks, from Midwest Equipment ran around $1800.00 delivered.

You are certainly having better luck than what I experienced. Maybe they addressed their problems and are making a better track now. I will say my guys in the field did like their traction.

Brian

 

[TrackGirl]

Camoplast bought Solideal back in 2010, so any Solideal tracks out there are old stock. The new Camoplast tracks are great and come with a much better warranty. If you want any more information, please don't hesitate to contact me. Our website is Replacement Rubber Tracks | Skid Steer, Bobcat, Solideal, Camoplast - 1-877-600-TRAK

 

[brain55]

Thank you for the info, my experience with Solideal was prior to 2008.

Brian

 

[excav8ter]

You are certainly having better luck than what I experienced. Maybe they addressed their problems and are making a better track now. I will say my guys in the field did like their traction.

Brian

They definitely have good traction.