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Is It Worth Repairing Steel Tracks? Welding, Pins & Bushings
Is It Worth Repairing Steel Tracks? Welding, Pins & Bushings
The Dilemma of Every Machine Owner
Steel track chains on an excavator or dozer are among the most expensive wear parts. When they wear out or break, the owner faces a dilemma: invest in a costly new set, or try to salvage the old one? Methods like welding links or turning pins and bushings are well-known, but are they always cost-effective? In this article, we'll analyze when repair makes sense and when it's just a false economy.
Method 1: Welding Cracked Links
Welding a cracked track link seems like the quickest and cheapest solution to get a machine back to work. Unfortunately, in most cases, it is only a temporary fix.
Why is welding a bad long-term idea?
Track links are made of special, hardened steel. The welding process introduces a tremendous amount of heat that destroys this structure. The area around the weld becomes soft and simultaneously brittle. As a result, a link repaired this way is significantly weaker than the others and will almost certainly crack again, often after a very short time.
- WHEN IS IT OK? As an emergency field repair just to get the machine back to the workshop.
- WHEN IS IT NOT WORTH IT? As a permanent repair on a machine that needs to continue heavy work. The risk of another failure and even more costly downtime is too high.
Method 2: Turning Pins and Bushings
This is a classic and much more professional method of reconditioning chains. It involves replacing the pins and turning the bushings, which are the main friction components in the link joints.
How does it work?
Using a powerful hydraulic press, the old pins and bushings are pressed out. The bushings wear on only one side (the side that engages the sprocket). The procedure involves rotating them 180 degrees (presenting a new, unworn surface) and pressing them back in with new pins. In theory, this can extend the life of the chain by up to 50%.
When does it make sense?
This procedure is cost-effective only if ALL of the following conditions are met:
- The chain links are in good condition: If the links themselves are heavily worn (their height has decreased), the track rollers won't run on them correctly, and the refurbishment will be useless.
- The bushings have enough material left: If the bushings are already so worn that they are cracking or very thin, turning them will do nothing.
- The rest of the undercarriage is new or in very good condition: Installing a reconditioned chain on worn rollers and sprockets is a waste of money. The mismatched components will destroy each other in no time.
The Brutal Truth: When is Repair a Waste of Money?
THE 50% RULE
There's a simple rule of thumb in the industry: if key undercarriage components (chains, rollers, sprockets) are more than 50% worn, the most cost-effective long-term solution is a comprehensive replacement of the entire running gear.
The labor cost associated with removing, transporting, and re-bushing chains is significant. If such a repair only extends the undercarriage life by a few hundred hours because the other components are worn out anyway, the actual cost per hour can be higher than investing in a new, complete set that will provide peace of mind for several thousand hours.
Wondering if your undercarriage qualifies for repair?
Contact us, and our experts will help you assess the condition of your components. We offer both repair kits (pins, bushings) and complete, high-quality undercarriages from the KERTRACK brand, including chains, rollers, and sprockets. We'll help you make the most financially sound decision for your machine. Don't overpay for false savings!
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