Turf Damage - Rubber or metal tracks

[R_Redding]

Turf Damage - Rubber or metal tracks

I know that rubber tracks on mini (2.5t) excavators do less damage to concrete/tarmac than metal,but which do less damage on closely mown turf?.
Are rubber tracks also kinder to turf , and how kind are metal tracks with rubber blocks?...
I would like to use the excavator on a golf course...so limiting turf damage is a major consideration.

TIA

Rob

 

[Highbeam]

It all depends. If you go around turning all the time then any tracked machine will tear it up. The grouser bars on the metal tracks leave little cracks or dents but they will sink right into the turf until you are setting on the full pad.

More important than metal or rubber is the width. I have seen very large excavators leave very little or no damage if they have wide tracks and don't turn.

I would vote rubber over metal for less damage. Metal with the blocks would be better than metal but the block arrangement leaves less contact area between track and earth so more pressure to rut.

No turning on the grass. If you get fancy, you can minimize turn damage using the put down the hoe method where you lift all but the heels of the track off the ground and pivot using the hoe hydraulics.

Know that golf course workers/people are VERY particular about the turf and your chances of keeping them happy are nearly zero. Maybe time to whip out the 2x10 lumber planks to drive on.

 

[DKinWA]

Some say rubber is best and others say steel. I run 16" rubber on a 10,000 lb machine and the damage really varies. I've noticed it really depends on the moisture content of the soil and the condition of the grass. If I'm concerned about damage, I try to avoid too wet or too dry conditions. If it's too wet, it's really easy to make a mess of things and if it's too dry (drought stress), it seems to take longer for the grass to snap back.

If you have turning on the tips of the tracks down, it's really easy to turn on the grass and not make a mess. I was tired and got in a hurry one time and I was really surprised how neatly I could strip the sod off the soil on a turn. It looked like I used a sod cutter and did it on purpose. Fortunately, it was in my own yard and not a customers /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Is this a one time short duration job or are you looking to do lots of projects on the course with it?

 

[Taylortractornut]

I have a 6 ton PC50 I use with rubber tracks. Its the frst machine I have ever owned with them and they were in rough shape when I bought it. I m not a big fan of them. When I get them replaced im going with metal tracks with clip on urethane pads that are curved on the sides. I do demolition work but at times I need to work on pavement or turf. On a metal trac machine the way we work not to damage turf is to pik the machine up with the boom and swing while counter steering the tracks leaves very little disturbance. Ruber and metal both leave alot of scars when the are skid steered on the ground plus it wears on the under carriage more and the jack ad swing method.

 

[R_Redding]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Is this a one time short duration job or are you looking to do lots of projects on the course with it? )</font>

I'm essentially buying for the golf club (a poverty stricken UK operation), although it will be used on the odd hire job and for gardening at home...

Rob.

 

[DKinWA]

I'd probably go with steel since you can run it on virtually any surface. If you're careful, you can operate steel on grass without making a big mess. If you go with rubber, you're pretty much limited to surfaces that won't tear up the tracks and cause premature failure. I run on virtually every kind of surface out there and I'm looking to switch over to steel. There's pros and cons to both, so neither one really stands out for grass. The only time I really see rubber shine is if you're on concrete or asphalt all the time.

 

[Highbeam]

And the rubber really stinks if you need traction. The grousers are not good when new, terrible when worn in a bit. I wonder if the rubber might catch on fire if you were working around a brush fire, like a slash burn or cleanup of a site after a slash burn. Boy that would stink.....

 

[kayssupply]

I had rubber on my last 2.2T machine and rubber pads on steel this time. It is a flip of a coin. On grass traction isn't really an issue and the rubber will be easier on it. The rubber pads over steel tend to pinch as they go around and leave more of a track even when going straight. I never lost a rubber track but have known several that have. After my experiences I would take what ever came on the best machine if buying used.

 

[Botabill]

I can't comment on steel but I can say that if you drive the rubber carefully some damage will happen regardless however if you aren't careful you will rip the sod up rather badly.