Maintaining your Excavator Tracks

I explain about undercarriage components, how to prolong track life, correct tension and working out what size your tracks are.

[@NiklasAdv]

Excavators are just the best, everyday its fun to go to work. ❤

[@ccccllllaaaarrrrkkkk]

1996 KX61 here on original rubbers with 3500 hours. I can't imagine new tracks lasting 27 years!

[@Olliegunns]

Thats very good service life, fair play. Tough old machines those Kubotas too

[@scottadams9753]

Great video as usual Ollie

[@henrymahoney7072]

Some interesting points. Thanks

[@robertturner4225]

hi ollie i am a new owner of a thirty year old machine! i have been glued to your channel! any advice or how-to's are very appreciated. thank you for your efforts, they are appreciated.

[@Olliegunns]

What do you want to know Robert?

[@robertturner4225]

@@Olliegunns well, I am starting from scratch! Never had any training and our little 4acre small holding is mainly on a south facing hill with 30-45 degree slope! My digger is a 1.5 ton 1986 pel job and is as worn as you would expect,- I’m working on that! At the moment the controls are hideously sloppy as are the pins and bushes but as funds allow I will do them. I am cleaning land to start growing veg for a veg box scheme and have ambitions to create 4 to 6 glamping units scattered around the property. Nothing is flat! And I will need to prep trenches and flat areas for yurts or shepherds huts or similar. Several soak aways water and sewerage pipes etc etc. i think the first bucket I will add to the three normal buckets that came with the digger is a rake bucket from digbits. Looks good for clearing brambles and saplings, or maybe a rake? Anyway love your very clear videos without ridiculous heavy rock music! Rob

[@peefor135]

More useful info, keep up the good work. There was a fleeting mention of sharp turns reducing track life. Depending on the sharpness of the turn, obviously the best solution would be to ease back on one stick to make a gradual turn. Is there anything to be gained by using the boom to lift the inside track, then just moving the track on the opposite side to complete the turn? I guess the worst scenario would be to have one track forwards, and one backwards, and spin on the spot.

[@Olliegunns]

Yes, "spragging" or neutral turns are the worst. Using the arm to lift the toes of the tracks up to do a tight turn is probably the best way to avoid stress on not just the tracks, but also the bottom rollers, and even the surface you are working on.

[@andycoulson4917]

Awesome video as expected. What hoody are you wearing?

[@Olliegunns]

Its made by Leo Workwear. Nice gear actually, well made - the hi viz t-shirts especially are made of like football top material. Much cooler in the summer.

[@seanmusk462]

The tracks definitely last longer if you run them slightly slacker, I managed 19 years on one set!

[@bobrose7900]

Very good training video, some of it sounds obvious, but it's amazing the range of idiots that drive these, particularly the smaller, machines. If you haven't killed the machine you haven't done a days work apparently!