Edit - Problem is fixed. Thanks for the help, everyone!


Anyone able to give some good advice on replacing the track on a John Deere 17G mini-excavator?

I was working a rental unit out at my farm this weekend, and completely snapped one of the tracks.

Of course, I am a 1/4 mile from the trailer and in a section of loose sand.

I plan on getting a hold of the rental shop on Monday morning and following their advice. My property is about 50 minutes from their shop, so I don't want to lose an extra portion of my work day performing an unreasonable "fix" from them.

I believe that unit is about 3,800#. Think I can just meet their mechanic out there and help him fix it, or is the sand going to create additional problems beyond the usual means of repair, such as at a construction site with firm soil?

Thanks,
Rod

You could spend some time using the excavator arm and bucket to lift the broken side of the machine off the ground and track it closer to the road one arm length at a time. Did a pin just break in the track or is a section of track broken? Either way a replacement piece of track should be able to be installed, just remove and replace 2 pins (I believe).

Thanks esshup.

That model has rubber tracks with embedded steel bands. I fully parted a track - rubber and steel both.

I am not enough of an equipment guy to comfortably operate machinery that is outside of its normal operating range. I maneuvered just enough to clear the piece of broken track and then shut down. I was afraid to drive sand into the travel motor and cause some REAL damage.

I believe I can swing the boom and then tilt the machine at a safe angle to elevate idler and the travel motor to install a new track.

I just wanted some expert advice, in the event they are really busy on Monday morning and I get the "shop guy" instead of the actual mechanic.

This shows how to track the machine with one side up in the air.


You can temporarily fix a torn rubber track, but they aren't "repairable" they are a "replace when torn" item.


https://www.fortishd.com/repairing-rubber-tracks-on-excavators-and-skid-steers-can-it-be-done/

I would call them and tell them their machine broke down and they need to get their butts there and fix it.

DD1,

Fortunately, that was their response - without me having to chew any butts.

Turns out the mechanic had to go out Monday morning and replace the track on two separate machines! (I am not enough of a machine operator to realize that is just a typical "normal wear" failure.)

I just posted so I would have a slight clue on the process in case they tried to give me the run around. Instead, they have shown they have good customer service.

I have always preferred this company out of the three (large equipment) rental companies in my area. One is a national chain, one is a regional chain, and this one is local - and the two owners also work the counter. Fortunately for me, the one with the lowest prices also has the best service.

Most of them have pretty reasonable customer service, replacing the track is not a huge undertaking but can be a little cumbersome to the inexperienced, Like Esshup said, I would limp it to a more user friendly site to do the work, I have loaded them on a trailer with only one operable track under certain circumstances. had a drive motor go out one time.
The easiest way will be to get on solid ground, use some cribbing to support that side of the excavator after it is lifted off the ground, that way you will still have the excavator to assist you with installing the track,, Most of the tracks will be tensioned with a cylinder by using grease from a greas gun, and also will have to be released by releasing the grease, but the cylinder will not retract on its own without tension, or a track on it, thats where you will need the excavator to push the cylinder back.
Good luck, I hope you got back on track quickly!

I’ve had to do that. Wasn’t fun but was doable

Dealing with a broken track on a mini-excavator can be quite a hassle, especially when you're in the middle of a job.
As for meeting the mechanic out there in the loose sand, it might be a bit trickier due to the terrain. It's great that you plan to follow the rental shop's advice, and they'll likely assess the situation to determine the best course of action. Repairing heavy equipment in sandy conditions can be challenging, but with the right tools and expertise, it can be done.
On a related note, have you ever considered using a Bobcat T66 loader for your projects? It's a versatile machine that can handle various tasks, including track repairs if needed.

So, can you tell me how the machine can repair it's own tracks?

Good to hear the issue's fixed! That sounds like quite the ordeal, man. Reminds me of the time I had a track pop off my old Deere. Was in the middle of a job, and let me tell you, it wasn't pretty. I ended up calling a buddy who's a whiz with this kind of stuff. We managed to jury-rig it enough to get it back to the barn. Learned my lesson and now I keep a list of contacts for equipment parts, just in case.

I consider replacing a track as a “character builder”.

Couldn't agree more, if you get thru the process without any serious cuss words, especially if its your first one, in a sandy spot, with no help, you've got some serious character!
Its twice as hard on a skidloader tho, speaking from experience,

One of the very few good things about being old (I just turned 80) is knowing that you will never replace another dozer track.