If the rubber tracks must be used in such conditions, avoid making sharp turns, and drive
slowly and carefully because detracking could occur.
If rubber tracks are run up against mounds, rocks or concrete walls, a crack may occur at
the edges of the rubber tracks. Avoid these circumstances whenever possible.
High abrasion soils like coarse sand and clay will unavoidably reduce track life. High
moisture soil will aid mud packing inside the track drive and support rollers. Mud buildup on
rollers increases track tension, therefore very regular cleanup is required under this
condition.
Operating Tips
Operate with tracks fully supported by the ground. "Hanging" tracks
compromise stability.
Ideal operation is to keep both tracks equally loaded and both tracks fully and evenly
supported by the ground. Since this is not always practical, manage the deviations wisely to
conform as closely as possible to ideal conditions. Following are some tips to deal with
common deviations, as well as deviations that must be avoided.
Tight turns put torsional loads on the under carriage. If unavoidable, alternate between left
and right turns to equalize wear.
Avoid counter rotation maneuvers. This create a very high stress on the tracks and under
carriage.
Do not make sharp turns on slopes. Always stop before carefully beginning any turns.
Avoid making quick turns on concrete roads. The high friction between the track and surface
may result in detracking or abrasion.
Equalize track wear by making the same amount of right and left turns, the same amount of
front to rear wear loading, etc.
Carry only light loads on slopes when required.
If the operation is dozing or similar, alternate the work cycle in both directions to equalize the
wear and terrain conditions.
Dig over the idler end of the machine. Digging over the sprocket end applies stress to the
track and track drive system. Do not dig over the side of the machine. This places high
bending moments perpendicular on the track and is less stable than digging over the end.
Technical Information
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