Rubber Tracks

Cost Management

You can control 70% of your operating costs.

The good news? 70% of your operating costs comes down to maintenance and operations, which you have the power to control. The bad news? The other 30% of those costs are due to application and underfoot conditions, which you can’t control.

The truth is there’s a lot that affects the life of your tracks, everything from the type of work you do to the way your operators maneuver the machine. But with proper cost management practices, you can significantly reduce those operating costs.

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Costs you can control

 

Maintenance

Keeping your track properly adjusted maximizes both track life and the performance of your Cat® machine. Some slack between the drive sprocket and front roller wheel is normal. Check regularly and adjust when needed.

 

Can cause lug damage and derailment.

Can increase wear on tracks, roller wheels, sprockets and drive motors, as well as damage the lugs.

Your machine’s undercarriage is often exposed to dirt and debris. For the best cost management, we recommend cleaning it on a daily basis. Cohesive and abrasive materials, like mud, sand, clay and gravel, should be cleaned out as often as possible, even several times a day, to reduce unnecessary wear to undercarriage components.

In cold climates or whenever freezing temperatures are expected between work shifts, it is recommended to run the machine in forward and reverse before shutting it down to reduce moisture build-up and help prevent freeze-ups.

Operating Techniques

Prevent excessive wear. Use gradual or 3-point turns, especially when on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt.

Turning Methods

Always move up and down a slope instead of across to prevent uneven wear.

Working on Slopes

Untrained operators can cause track breakage and chunking. Train your crew on proper machine maneuvers.

Operator Experience

Costs you can’t control

Work that requires maximum machine torque and horsepower means more track wear. For example, applications like excavating and dozing are much harder on tracks than jobs like trenching and grading.

Applications

The more abrasive the material, the faster the wear. Rocky, jagged material and construction debris cause the most wear while softer surfaces like turf and snow are the least damaging.

By running on the right tracks, you take on your application and underfoot conditions with minimal wear. Browse options and find the one best suited for your work.

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