time to change tl 130 tracks

[SunriseGardens]

Hey guys, I am going to need to start looking at replacing the tracks on my takeuchi, I looked in the archives and there really isn't anything recent. Bobcat Ron, if you are out there any advice?

Are the OEM's worth the mucho extra dinero?

Thanks

Adam

[AWJ Services]

The oems are pretty much tried and true. every aftermarket track has a horror story. Aftermarkets will save you 40% and I have found no one say they last as long as oem with actual proof. Lots of opinions.LOL

[SunriseGardens]

That is what I thought, thanks

[JDSKIDSTEER]

I am having good results with the Comoplast tracks....People are price driven though and usually end up selling anther brand...I stock both.

[Digdeep]

I cast my vote for OEMs. You typically get what you pay for.

[AWJ Services]

Some of the aftermarket tracks do a have a little better ride and offer some different tread patterns so that may be attractive? For my TL140 the oem are 1800 per track. I can get aftermarket as cheap as 1000 per track. So if oem lasts 1000 hours and aftermarket last 600 hours they have the same operating costs.

[Digdeep]

Originally Posted by AWJ Services

Some of the aftermarket tracks do a have a little better ride and offer some different tread patterns so that may be attractive? For my TL140 the oem are 1800 per track. I can get aftermarket as cheap as 1000 per track. So if oem lasts 1000 hours and aftermarket last 600 hours they have the same operating costs.

Good point. I think its also imprtant to factor the potential cost of a cord breaking or a bar coming out on a jobsite and causing downtime. A failure on a jobsite can easily wipeout any advantage that a cheaper cost can give someone.

Granted, both OEM and aftermarket can fail on a jobsite. Still there is some peace of mind with a tried and true OEM. There's a reason why Bobcat, CAT, Takeuchi ship their machines with OEM tracks.

[bobcat_ron]

Mclaren. I had them and they rode so much smoother than the OEM's and did less damage to the ground when turning.

[Digdeep]

Originally Posted by bobcat_ron

Mclaren. I had them and they rode so much smoother than the OEM's and did less damage to the ground when turning.

The ride is much smoother and you get more traction in snow, but I've heard very mixed results on the life and reliability from Case, Bobcat and even CAT owners.

[AWJ Services]

I will also add that my tracks are falling apart before the pads are worn out. I think I have 1200 hours? I only use the machine a couple hunderd hours a year now so aftermarket are what I am leaning towards and taking the chance. If it was a 1000 hour a year machine they would get oem.