Rubber tracks: a few habits that made mine last basically twice as long

[Ryan Calloway]

Stop hard counter-rotating on abrasive surfaces. Spinning in place to turn on concrete, gravel, or asphalt grinds the rubber right off. Make wider, gentler turns and do any hard pivoting on dirt instead. This one habit alone makes a huge difference in track life.

Keep tension set correctly. Too loose and the track can slip or throw, which damages it fast. Too tight and you put constant strain on the whole undercarriage and wear everything quicker. Your manual has the correct spec and how to measure it. Check it regularly, especially on a newer machine as things settle in.

Clear out mud and rocks. Packed debris in the undercarriage grinds and stresses the track from the inside out. A few minutes cleaning it at the end of a muddy day pays off in wear you’ll never see.

Mind what you drive over. Sharp rebar, jagged rock, metal edges, and curbs are hard on rubber. Being a little more deliberate about your path saves a surprising amount of wear.

Avoid side-hilling all day. Running slopes sideways constantly side-loads the tracks and wears the edges. Point up and down the grade when the job allows.

• This topic was modified 1 week ago by Ryan Calloway.

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