Best Rubber Tracks for Mini Excavators: Improve Maneuverability and Longevity

Mini excavators are useful on job sites, especially in tight or small spaces. Due to their compact size, they have better maneuverability. Rubber tracks for mini excavators significantly impact their performance, so a mini excavator is only as good as its tracks. Many construction contractors and excavating businessmen prefer them because of their smaller size, lower cost, and better versatility than the larger models.

Valuable tips for choosing rubber tracks for mini excavato

Mini excavator tracks are as good as any mini excavator attachment. So exchanging them with a new set of rubber tracks is very important. Fortunately, the selection process is simple.

Get the Right Size

Finding the right replacement rubber tracks mini excavator starts with getting the correct size. Compact excavator owners end up with either too small or too large tracks for the compact excavator. The best-size tracks will work well. The wrong-size rubber tracks can wear out the undercarriage extremely.

Match the old size with the old tracks on your machine because it has stamped information on the rubber. You can also verify the size with the manufacturer of the compact excavator. 

Consider the Application

When you find the rubber track size for the mini excavator, you must determine what tread you need for your job site. Small excavator manufacturers will generally provide information about the tread patterns for different applications.

You can use different tread patterns purchased with non-marking rubber compounds. These are Ideal for specific applications like landscaping, where the operator does not want to make black rubber marks on surfaces.

Check the Track Construction

If you have a cheaper track with less rubber, they are with a single rubber compound for the entire track. While the premium tracks have multiple layers, every layer serves a different purpose to enhance performance. These rubber compounds build after research and development to perfect the track.

Review a Good Reputation

When choosing a rubber track supplier, always Review a Good Reputation. Suitable mini excavator rubber tracks suppliers affect the quality. Most Mini excavator users can often recommend certain track manufacturers based on their experiences. Also, Consider the warranty length, but it’s essential to know how the manufacturer handles warranty claims and customer support.

Why is it essential to select the best mini excavator track?

You can benefit from selecting the right rubber tracks for your mini excavator. Using better treads and rubber tracks will lower maintenance, and you will have to spend less time on the job, leading to higher productivity. It will also help to increase the longevity of your equipment. 

What Is the Lifespan of Excavator Tracks?

It depends on Compact Equipment with normal wear and tear, about every two years or 1,500 hours, and also based on the job site. One another thing is the conditions your mini excavator operates on. Not maintaining proper maintenance can also lead to a shorter lifespan. Inspecting your rubber tracks daily for equipment walk-around inspection and looking for large cracks, exposed steel cables, or other damage. If you found these, the tracks need to be replaced right away. Every manufacturer has its lifespan guidelines, so consulting their specifications is essential.

Tread Patterns for Mini Excavator Rubber Tracks

Mini Excavator tracks have indifferent tread patterns for different applications and ground conditions. So before purchasing, you must know what surfaces you will use for your mini excavator. The most common trends include: 

Block: It is the most popular OEM pattern; this astonished tread is planned for multi-purpose use.

Zigzag: This tread type is designed to handle switching between hard and soft surfaces during a job.

Turf: When you need to minimize disruption on the ground, the turf pattern is best for the grass.

C-pattern: This pattern resembles a “C” shape; you can use it both on and off-road.

How Do You Measure Compact Excavator Tracks?

First, you should carefully inspect your existing rubber tracks; the size or serial number is noted on the inside. If you can not find the size, you need three critical measurements before your rubber track for small excavator selection.

• Measure in millimeters the track’s width  
• Take the Measurement of the track’s pitch, which is the distance between the center of one link (lug) to the center of another, in millimeters.
• Now you should Count the total number of track links.
• And the formula for taking size is:-

Track width x track pitch x total links = track size

Tips for keeping your mini excavator’s rubber tracks in good condition:

• Clean the tracks of the small excavator regularly. Dirt and other debris can get embedded in the tracks, which can make cause them to wear out more quickly. So with a stiff brush, remove any buildup, and clean the tracks after each use.
• Check the damage of the tracks for cuts, holes, or any other signs of damage. If there are any issues, you should be repaired or replace them as soon as possible to prevent more damage.
• You should keep tight enough Rubber tracks to prevent excessive slippage but be careful not to be so tight that they cause excessive wear. Following the manufacturer’s guidelines is best to ensure the tracks are correctly tensioned.
• If you notice that one side of the tracks is worn out faster, try rotating them to distribute the wear evenly. It will increase the life of the tracks.
•  Please avoid using the mini excavator when it is not in use by keeping it inside. The tracks will be protected from the elements, reducing wear and tear.
• You should use the machine appropriately; overloading it or using it heavily in extreme conditions can cause the tracks to wear out more quickly.

How to install rubber track on mini excavator?

After choosing new rubber tracks for mini excavator. Now we tell you how to put rubber trackback on mini excavator

Step 1:

Clean the grease fitting with a wrench. Stop down on the bottom side of the track to collapse the idler and release the stress on the track. It is an excellent opportunity to check the grease fitting to see if it needs to be replaced.

Step 2:

As soon as the front of the rubber track tips upward, press down on the machine’s front blade. Rotate the machine’s housing and lower the boom to lift higher the other end of the track. Now the track ought to be stopped.

Step 3:

Have your partner place heavy-duty jack stands beneath the undercarriage as a safety precaution. It is to safeguard against any problems with the machine’s hydraulic system.

Step 4:

Check to see if you can physically take the track out of the sprocket teeth at one end. If not, have your partner start the machine while you use a pry bar to ‘walk’ the track off of the sprocket teeth. If this doesn’t work, start the machine yourself. At this stage, double-check that there are no individuals close or any risks in the machine’s path.

Step 5:

Pull the track away from the machine. Examine the idlers, sprocket teeth, and bottom and top rollers. Remove any extra dirt and debris that may have gotten stuck in your undercarriage.

Step 6:

Place your new rubber track next to the machine. Hook the track onto the machine’s back sprocket teeth with the aid of your assistant.

Step 7:

As your helper pushes the track forward, use the pry bar to align the front of the track into the proper position on the front idler.

Step 8:

Let the tracks run a few revolutions to ensure proper track movement and verify that nothing binding or ill-fitting requires adjustment.

Step 9:

Lift the boom to gently lower the back side of the track to the floor. Lift the blade to lower the front of the track back down to the ground.

Conclusion

With the right size mini excavator rubber track and proper maintenance, you can increase the life span of mini excavator rubber tracks.