Rubber Blocks V's Rubber tracks on a 6 Ton machine

[CPS]

Evening all

As the tittle say, Rubber Blocks V's Rubber tracks Pros and cons to both?

I've seen a machine with rubber blocks thats fairly worn, chains are good, cost to replace them is twice as much as new rubber tracks, just for the blocks?

Are they worth the extra?

Any thoughts?

 

[TiltyShaun]

Question I would ask is what weight and what work?

I have run a 6 tonne machine on steels and a 10tonne on rubber. For general site work in the sticky stuff I would say anything over 6 and you are going to start struggling on rubber, if you need rubber and more than 6 then track pads would be my preference!

Discuss.

 

[CPS]

Question I would ask is what weight and what work?

I have run a 6 tonne machine on steels and a 10tonne on rubber. For general site work in the sticky stuff I would say anything over 6 and you are going to start struggling on rubber, if you need rubber and more than 6 then track pads would be my preference!

Discuss.

Hi Shaun, should have said 6 ton machine

 

[craig]

One customer I move machines for has 2 Hitachi 7.5 tonners 1 on blocks and the other rubber tracks, the rubber tracked one has better grip when going onto my beavertail, generally other block tracked machines I`ve moved never seem to grip that the well either. I`ve not worked one on blocks sorry, so not much help sorry.

 

[JD450A]

Hi Shaun, should have said 6 ton machine

Aide, what make machine? Might know where there are some decent steel pads cheap if there any good

 

[CPS]

Aide, what make machine? Might know where there are some decent steel pads cheap if there any good

Hitachi 65

 

[Left hooker]

Hitachi 65

One I've moved that's on blocks don't like spragging with out help from arm on tramac my 5 ton on rubber tracks turns well on tarmac

 

[doobin]

Rubber blocks have next to no grip off-road in my experience.

 

[JD450A]

Hitachi 65

If you send us over the bolt holes i think the pads that my mate have off a Doosan 6t are the same. Only steel triple grousers but give you a better option than changing it to rubber

Our 75 on geogrip pads does us alright. Bit less grip when blading but for versatility there far better than rubbers IMHO.

 

[Smiffy]

I occasionally drive a hitach 65 on rubber blocks and I have never driven a machine that shakes itself apart whilst track so badly
I don't know whether it's the pads being worn the owner liking to run the tracks on the loose side or just what the Hitachi 65 's are like but it feels like the cab is about to fall off
The only other rubber blocks I have driven is a brand new Hitachi 85 which didn't seem half as bad
I agree with Craig rubber blocks can be lethal on a beaver tail
They also make way more mess in mud I don't know about difference in grip but they turn wet ground into a mud bath quicker than rubber bands or steels
They break the blocks of used to track in hardcore to much not just flex out the way
And if being used to track in dry soil when building up ground level they don't really leave an acceptable finish for grass seed like rubber bands or steels would
One final thing is they seem to take a lot of power to turn with on most surfaces but I don't know if the same can be said of larger machines on bands
I can't tell you anything about life expectancy of them
And I haven't driven any comparible size machines on rubber bands
Only smaller on bands or similar size on steels so my thoughts might be a bit misguided

 

[CPS]

If you send us over the bolt holes i think the pads that my mate have off a Doosan 6t are the same. Only steel triple grousers but give you a better option than changing it to rubber

Our 75 on geogrip pads does us alright. Bit less grip when blading but for versatility there far better than rubbers IMHO.

Il let you know when I get the machine, I'd like, well need rubber of some sort.. but wouldn't mind a set of steel also.. leave it a bit of an all rounder.

 

[wee_gus]

Alancady from the ce forum, his boss runs 7.5 & 8t hitachi, rubbers, Steele and Wide, they swap them when needed

 

[V8Druid]

Alancady from the ce forum, his boss runs 7.5 & 8t hitachi, rubbers, Steele and Wide, they swap them when needed

think @Alan caddy is on here Aiden

 

[CPS]

Thanks for all the replies lads, this one did sake about quite a bit which mad me question the blocks. I have used a newer one on the blocks and not near as bad... I will try one on the rubber tracks also.

 

[Alan caddy]

Thanks for all the replies lads, this one did sake about quite a bit which mad me question the blocks. I have used a newer one on the blocks and not near as bad... I will try one on the rubber tracks also.

YE we just swap between steel and rubber all the time doesn't take long easy on the zx85 but more awkward on the zx85 swing boom but not bad if getting rubber tracks get good ones as the cheap makes shake machine to bits of tracking long distances can swap over on back of low loader if necessary too

 

[Lynchy]

Used to drive this us138 on more like plastic pads,never had any problems even on steep'ish ground,was suprised,did make a mess,'nipping' the grass between pads on a golf course though

 

[T whiting]

I'd have rubber bands on anything these than a 13, smaller machines bounce around horribly when tracking on rubber blocks. They also destroy kerbs like a steel track would and I've put rubber bands over pretty nasty stuff with little damage I think the only major cut I've done on rubber bands was when I accidentally tracked over a mini pile.

 

[Alan caddy]

I'd have rubber bands on anything these than a 13, smaller machines bounce around horribly when tracking on rubber blocks. They also destroy kerbs like a steel track would and I've put rubber bands over pretty nasty stuff with little damage I think the only major cut I've done on rubber bands was when I accidentally tracked over a mini pile.

YE we just swap between steel and rubber all the time doesn't take long easy on the zx85 but more awkward on the zx85 swing boom but not bad if getting rubber tracks get good ones as the cheap makes shake machine to bits of tracking long distances can swap over on back of low loader if necessary too

If machine has always been on steel tracks you may have to cut front guides down to clear rubber tracks the zx85 ones unbolt but the zx70 had to be cut down

 

[Engcon UK]

Used to drive this us138 on more like plastic pads,never had any problems even on steep'ish ground,was suprised,did make a mess,'nipping' the grass between pads on a golf course though View attachment 9242

Bachy?

 

[DaveDCB]

My 6T is on rubber tracks and having had the exact same machine on rubber blocks direct onto chains I’d always have the rubber tracks! It just does everything all round so much better! If I was on concrete/tar all the time I’d consider blocks but then I’d go with a wheeled machine anyway!