Track Systems Break-In

IMPORTANT: Avoid roading at high speeds with a new set of tracks and wheels especially during the first 50-100 hours, as damage to guide lugs and wheels may result.

Break-in of new and or extremely clean or washed track belts and related components require application of a dry lubricate before roading.

Initial “break-in” and “alignment” should be performed before any high speed transport of tractor. Clean frictional track components such as belts, drive wheels, front idlers and mid-rollers can generate significant amount of heat if run in a non-lubricated condition. This heat is capable of damaging components and preventative measures should be taken to properly “break in” and “align” new components as follows:

Initial Break-In

• After installation of new and/or extremely cleaned track belts and/or other frictional components such as track belts, drive wheels, mid-rollers and front idlers it is important to expose clean components to materials that will lubricate and break them in.
• Work tractor in field in loose soil for at least 15 minutes.
• If tractor cannot be exposed to loose soil a “clay based” granular material such as clay based lubricant, kitty litter, oil-dry absorbent or talc powder are all acceptable to be substituted. When used this material should be introduced to “joint” area between the drive wheels and belts continuously for at least 15 minutes.

Track Belt Alignment

• After initial break-in procedure is completed track alignment should be performed.

NOTE: After initial break-in and alignment have been completed, a long term break-in process will likely occur for up to 400 hours following new component installation. During this time frame it is best to maximize exposure of the tractor to soft soil and minimize exposure to high speed heavily loaded transport conditions. Check alignment of belts during this time.

Break-In Overview

Track systems break-in takes place during the first season of use. Correct break-in will help reduce amount of initial guide lug wear. During this break-in, the guide lugs and the wheels undergo a “polishing in” process which accomplishes two things:

1. Scours out the excess rubber flash inside the drive wheels.
2. Removes the tackiness of the new rubber by embedding fine dust particles into the rubber surfaces.

Both of these processes reduce friction coefficients in the system and lower frictional heating. During this time, new rubber surfaces require contact with the soil to act as a dry lubricant. In situations where the track system is run at high speed, roading or higher speed tillage in the absence of dust (such as wet conditions or road travel) without the benefit of soil contact, can be the primary cause for early hour excessive guide lug wear, and should be avoided.

Roading can cause both rapid as well as uneven treadbar wear. Uneven wear is caused by the road crown and can be even more pronounced with a machine at a high loaded weight and degree of unbalance (such as hitch mounted implements).

In order to minimize wear during road transport, it is important to minimize both transport weight and turning on hard surfaces. Lowering maximum travel speed especially during high ambient conditions whenever possible can promote lower wear rates, as can the following guidelines:

• Using correct operational techniques (minimize skidding on hard surfaces, etc)
   Treadbar scrubbing on hard surfaces can also increase tread wear – avoid or minimize spot turns
• Use proper amounts of ballast and in the right locations
  Both “front heavy” and “rear heavy” configurations increase the amount of treadbar compression (and wear) as the tread respectively contacts or leaves the ground. The least amount of wear will occur with a balanced machine.

Maximizing Track Life

Roading of tracks can increase tread wear up to 15 times the field wear rates. Excessive roading can greatly reduce treadbar life. In addition, track carcasses are designed to exceed tread wear out, so long as the integrity of the carcass is maintained. It is critical to keep moisture out of the steel carcass and to avoid situations where localized cable overloading could occur. It is recommended that track machine owners follow the listed points below in order to achieve maximum track life and avoid operational problems, all of which will result in lower cost per hour of operation:

• Maintain correct track tension
  Too low will cause more rapid wear on the wheels and the inside surface of the belt due to slippage and potentially cause material buildup.
  Too high will add additional load and stress to undercarriage bearings, internal track cables and track frame.
• Keep irregular material out of track such as rocks
  Sharp hard material inside the track is the primary reason for localized track tears and subsequent entry points for moisture.
• Use care when crossing ditches or transitions while making turns
  Diagonal crossing of ditches causes the track to become unsupported in the center and in combination with the idler hitting the opposite embankment, can cause momentary loss of tension that can drop the center section down and outside wheels, making derailing a much higher risk if in a turn.
• Use ratchet turn technique
  When turning at the end of the field, the best steering performance can be gained by using a bump or ratchet steer technique - turning in several small turns, returning to the neutral position between each ratchet steer. This helps gain more traction and complete the turn more efficiently and with less ground disturbance than by attempting to power and spin through the turn.