There are many ways you can extend the lifespan of the rubber tracks and undercarriage components on your machines. They will still wear out over time and you will eventually need replacement parts. Whenever this happens, one of the most important concerns on your mind is to keep the downtime of your equipment to the minimum, whether it is a compact track loader or a mini-excavator. Any time lost in business operation is money lost. Downtimes can be avoided in a number of ways. One is to have your tracked machines inspected daily and the other is to have spare parts. By having your operators look at the telltale signs of wear, you will know in time when the parts need to be replaced.

If you have ever been caught in a situation without a much-needed part on a weekend, you understand how important it can be to stock critical heavy equipment spare parts. Usually, you would expect to keep downtime under control by getting the required parts at a moment’s notice. However, that is not always possible. At Tornado Heavy Equipment Parts, we can share with you a few important reasons why you should keep spare rubber tracks.

Why Buy Spare Rubber Tracks?

There are a few situations when stoking spare rubber tracks can be a good idea.

• You may have a unique machine that doesn't take the normal, standard size. In that case, it is important that you maintain a stock of equipment spare parts.
• Your job sites can often be located remotely. Many times, rubber track machines are used in remote areas, such as supporting pipeline construction or for forestry purposes. Having spare tracks and components handy can help reduce downtime by a significant margin when you have projects in such isolated locations, which are often cut off from the road network.

In such situations, any unforeseen equipment failure could mean that the replacement parts can take a lot of time to access. Still, a rubber track failure is something that you should see coming in advance.

When you want to stock spare parts, it is important to take the warranty issue into account. This requires that you choose your machinery parts online from the right store that offers long warranties.

Things to Watch Our in Your Rubber Tracks

When the tracks and undercarriage components are regularly inspected, it provides you an indication of when they may need to be replaced. This will allow you to prevent unexpected and unnecessary downtime and ensure some significant cost savings.

At Tornado, we recommend replacing the tracks if you notice the following signs:

i. Consistent Loss of Tension

Tracks will eventually stretch out and lose their tension. Lesser tension means that the tracks can come off easily. We recommended the following:

• Check the tension on the tracks daily.
• Avoid over-tightening the tracks over the manufacturer recommended tension. Over-tightening often occurs when operators notice a constant loss of tension.
• Excess tension in the tracks can damage them and speed up the wear process.

ii. Slipping Rubber Tracks

Do the tracks keep slipping over the sprocket wheels? This can be caused by two reasons:

• The tracks are stretched out and have become excessively loose
• There is wear in the sprockets

Whenever you experience slipping tracks, it is time to replace the track with your equipment spare parts. You cannot afford to leave this problem unattended. If this persists, the tracks can consistently and easily de-track. The metal links can also be pushed out.

iii. Cracked Rubber Tracks

Your daily inspection routine should also look out for any signs of cracks in the rubber tracks. Cracks will eventually appear in all tracks. It is best to have spare tracks so that you can replace them immediately and prevent any costly downtime due to track failure. It is also important to know that cuts and cracks can cause corrosion of the steel belts and links, speeding up the process of failure. It is also worth knowing that track cracks can occur prematurely when your equipment is operated incorrectly or there is regular work on rougher terrain.

iv. Metal Links Become Visible

When the undercarriage becomes excessively dirty, there can be a build-up of dirt. This may cause the metal links to be pushed out of the rubber. If you notice this, your spare stock of rubber tracks and undercarriage components can allow quick replacement. It is recommended to clean and clear the dirt off the tracks and undercarriage on a daily basis to avoid this situation from happening in the first place.

So, when it comes to the question of rubber tracks, it is best to maintain a stock of spares. There are many other heavy equipment spares, including construction equipment keys, which can be kept in stock to handle unexpected situations. At Tornado Heavy Equipment Parts, we specialize in providing different types of heavy equipment components and consumables. For more information about our services, get in touch with us at 1.844.202.0123 or send us your inquiry using this Online Form.