Good day all another couple of quick questions

[furltech]

First question when working an excavator should you work over the sprockets or idlers , and also how do i tell when my tracks need replacing my machine has 4500 hours and i just took out a link so things are tightened up good  and not sloppy like they were. i was just wondering how many times i could do that before it was a lost cause .Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions .If it makes a difference it is a kubota kh28 with a patu 400sh stroke processing head on it

[chevytaHOE5674]

I've always been told you shouldn't take a link out of the chains to tighten them up. Doing so changes the pitch length of the chain and will cause accelerated wear to the sprockets....

Try to find the track specs for your machine. It should give you all the critical dimensions to access the condition of the undercarriage (rail height, roller heights, pin to pin measurements, etc).

It sounds like you at least need track chains, probably sprockets as well. Check all the lower rollers and upper idlers while you have it apart.

[Bobus2003]

The machine will be more stable if your working over end of the tracks, as to working over the side of the tracks. Is their a proper way? No, their build/designed to be operated either way.

[Norm]

With that many hours I'll bet everything needs to be replaced on your undercarriage. As for working over the front or sides either is fine but the load you can lift is much less on the sides. Not sure of your machine but it should have the lift specs for each.

[ely]

i believe he was asking about working over the front of the machine or the rear. meaning the drive sprockets(rear) or the idlers(front).

if this is correct, i have always heard operators say to never do anything too rough while over the rear of the track system.