02/10/2026

5 Tips to Extend the Life of Your Rubber Tracks

Every rubber track wears out eventually. How quickly it wears is largely down to how the machine is operated and maintained, and longer track life means less downtime and more machine uptime. These five tips are drawn from maintenance guidance published by Cat, John Deere, Volvo and Bobcat.

These tips apply to mini excavators, compact track loaders (CTLs) and other rubber-tracked machines. Always follow your own machine's Operation and Maintenance Manual first.

1. Drive and turn with the track in mind

Caterpillar adds that tasks needing frequent travel between sites also increase wear.

• Keep travel speed down. Cat's compact track loader guidance says operating at the minimum ground speed needed for the task extends track life.
• Limit roading on hard surfaces. John Deere's CTL guidance says driving on hard-surface roads should never exceed 10 percent of total daily operation, and that a hot road surface and high speed together accelerate wear on rubber components. Volvo's advice for excavators: "Minimize long-distance tracking."
• Use three-point turns instead of counter-rotating. In their compact track loader guidance, Cat says counter-rotating (keeping one track still while operating the other) causes unnecessary wear on tracks and other components, and Bobcat says it puts extreme lateral force across the track, sprocket and rollers.
• On slopes, Cat's compact track loader guidance advises working up and down rather than across.

2. Keep the undercarriage clean

Packed mud, clay and debris add weight and wear. Cat warns that "materials can harden overnight" and become harder to remove. Remove debris and packed mud with a shovel or pressure washer, as Cat recommends.

• In winter, Volvo stresses clearing debris from the undercarriage, "especially important if the weather is below freezing, and ice or frozen mud is stuck in the tracks."
• After working in corrosive material such as fuel, oil, salt, fertilizer or manure, John Deere advises cleaning the undercarriage daily with plain water. Long exposure to these materials can damage rubber tracks.

3. Check track tension regularly

John Deere adds that rubber tracks lose tension over time, even with proper care, and recommends checking track sag weekly or as needed. Cat's general method for checking rubber track sag:

4. Watch the ground you work on

Cat says abrasive conditions "such as rocky terrain or gritty soil" accelerate track wear. John Deere goes further, listing conditions rubber-track systems are not designed or recommended for:

• over sharp or angular rocks;
• in soils containing materials such as concrete and rebar;
• landfill maintenance;
• extended periods of high-speed roading.

Deere also advises avoiding running over objects such as culverts, posts or blades, and removing embedded rocks or debris. For compact track loaders, Cat recommends avoiding sharp turns on abrasive material like jagged rock, and crossing transitions at 90 degrees. If your machine lives on this kind of ground, compare rubber and steel tracks side by side.

5. Inspect sprockets, rollers and idlers

Tracks wear alongside the rest of the undercarriage. During inspections, Cat advises examining sprockets for damage or loose bolts and checking rollers and idlers for leaks or uneven wear. John Deere says sprockets and rollers should be regularly checked for excessive wear or "flat spotting," and warns that worn-out sprockets can let the track skip and potentially derail.

When you replace tracks, inspect the sprocket. Here are 5 signs your sprocket is worn. Bobcat also recommends changing both tracks at once for even wear. Many machines also have their own parts page, for example Bobcat E35 parts.

Bonus: store the machine properly

For machines parked for long periods, John Deere advises:

• keeping tracks out of direct sunlight, by storing indoors or tarping the tracks;
• storing in a dry area without exposure to fuel vapor or ozone-producing electric devices;
• moving parked machines once a month.

How do you know a rubber track is worn?

Cat's method for mini excavators: place a straight edge across two of the track's tread blocks, then measure from the top of the tread block to the top surface of the track. Compare the depth with your manual or dealer guidance. Time to replace? Here's how to measure a rubber track.

FAQ

Manufacturer names and model numbers are used for identification only. Excavator Parts Direct is an independent supplier of aftermarket parts and is not affiliated with any manufacturer named.