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Find and Measure Rubber Track Sizes Easily with This Guide

How to measure rubber tracks

While rubber tracks do tend to last long, at some point, you will face the need to replace it.

As an owner, you should remember that replacing old rubber tracks is essential to keep your machine in good condition.

If it already needs replacement, you must know the required measurements. Further, you must also be aware of the other essential details, such as the kind of roller it has. It will be necessary for you to choose the right replacement.

Before we go more in-depth, you might first ask:

How do I know when I need to replace my rubber tracks?

There are specific indications to see if you already need to replace your rubber tracks. Here are five points where you can base your decision on whether or not to do so.

1. Problems start to occur with the Sprockets

Like gears, the sprockets interlock with the tracks when in use. If both are engaging poorly with each other, there are two possible reasons. It’s either the sprocket is already worn, or the track is already loose. Whatever the cause is, you need to replace it to maintain a good condition for your machine.

2. Cracks start to appear on the Tracks

Like any other machine, the track’s surface is prone to cracks in the long run. This event primarily happens due to either long usage time or prolonged exposure to the sun. If you ever find cracks, it’s a sign for you to replace it.

3. The Tracks Keep on Losing Tension

Like shoes, the tracks tend to stretch in time, which can be ah cause it to lose tension. While it can be tempting to fix it by tightening, the best thing to do is find the right replacement.

4. Missing Lugs

The lugs of a rubber track can pop out due to a continuous sliding of the sprockets. It can also be an effect of prior damage from debris getting caught under the carriage.

5. The Tracks Begin to Dry Out

The primary cause of this is prolonged exposure to extreme heat and light. If you find your rubber tracks dried out and rotting sides, then it’s a sign for you to replace it.

Now let’s get into the main point.

Four things you need to find the proper replacement:

1. The Brand, Model, and Year of your Vehicle.

There are rubber tracks designed to fit a particular brand and model of a vehicle. By knowing the brand, model, and year of your machine, you can identify the correct rubber track. You’ll also be able to filter out from the wide variety of options that the market offers.

2. The Size of the Rubber Track of your Vehicle.

This variable includes measuring the following:

  • Width
  • Pitch
  • Number of Links

Through these three, you can measure the size of the rubber track for your vehicle. With the right measurement, you’ll know the correct one suited to replace the old rubber track.

3. The System Size Guide

The Guiding System Size includes the following things:

  • Outside Guide Bottom
  • Inside Guide Bottom
  • Inside Lug Height

4. The Roller Type Used on Your Track

Rubber track rollers have two classifications. These are the Center and the Flange.

  1. Center Rubber Track Roller – The Center comes with its roller running between the rubber track’s links. These types of rollers branch out into two more classes, usually known as W and X.
  2. Flange Rubber Track Roller – The other classification aside from the center is the Flange. If compared to the center type, these roller runs along the rubber track links’ exterior. Flange Rollers also branch out into two other classes, usually known as Y and Z.

2 Ways to Find Your Rubber Track Size

1. Find the size info on the track

It’s likely to happen that the inside of your old rubber track contains its measurement. If it has, then you’re in luck. Get the specifics of the sizes and use them when buying the replacement.

2. Measure the track yourself if you can’t find it

If you can’t find the size anywhere on your rubber track, don’t worry. You can do the measuring on your own.

There’s a standard in measuring when it comes to rubber tracks. You can get it through multiplying the width with the pitch, and then with the number of links in the rubber tracks.

The first two usually counts in millimeters. For easier measuring, use this unit to quicken the calculations.

The Industry Standard Formula for the Rubber Track Size

There is a standard size in measuring rubber tracks. It comes in the formula below:

  • Width (mm) x Pitch (mm) x Links (#)

If you measure the track in inches, convert it using the following formula:

  • 1 inch = 25.4 millimeters
  • 1 millimeter = 0.0393701 inches

For more straightforward calculations on the measurement, check out this measurement converter.

Measure Your Rubber Track Size with These 3 Easy Steps

  1. Measure your old rubber track’s width in millimeters.
  2. Measure your old rubber track’s pitch in millimeters – If you have no idea about the pitch, it pertains to the distance between two links’ centers.
  3. Count the total number of links in your old rubber track – The links in the track pertain to the drive lugs or teeth, and these are the other frequent terms used to describe it.

Finding/Measuring Your Guide Size

Before you deal with the guide size, you must first understand what it is.

Rubber Track Guide and Guiding System: Everything You Need to Know

The system of wheels that engage with the links inside the rubber track is the guiding system. The guide is the segment of the rubber track that interacts with the system. The trough, together with the links themselves, make up the guide.

IMPORTANT: Incompatibility between the guide and the replacement track can lead to damage. It can cause breaking, jamming, or jump tracks. To avoid such, ensure that the guide and the replacement track are compatible.

Four Steps to Find/Measure Your Guide Size

  1. Measure the Outside Guide Bottom (OG) – The OG pertains to the space between the external bottoms of two links.
  2. Measure the Inside Guide Bottom (IG) – The IG is the measurement of the space between the internal bases of two links.
  3. Measure the Outside Height (OH) – The OH is the space of the link’s height from the perspective outside the trough.
  4. Measure the Inside Height or (IH) – The IH means the measurement of the links’ height from the perspective inside the trough.

Rubber Track Inner Circumference

Measuring the inner circumference in a rubber track is simple. You only need the pitch’s measurement and multiply it with the link count.

Here is the Inner Circumference Formula:

  • Inner Circumference = Pitch (mm) x Links (#)

Finding the right replacement requires accurate measurement and a thorough understanding of the type. With help from this guide, you’ll be able to figure out every information that you need.

Have you already found the right replacement for your rubber track? Learn how to install it! Check out our guide on how to install rubber tracks.