Every now and then, a job reminds you why undercarriage work isn’t just “bolt it on and send it.”
A few months ago, a customer in Skamania County, Washington ordered a set of steel tracks for his rubber tracked Bobcat 442. This isn’t a common size, and because of that we usually only stock one full set at a time. If that set is sold, it can be 2–3 months before another replacement arrives on the next container. So when this customer called, everything needed to go right. Email: [email protected]
The Plan: Retire the Rubber, Drop on the Steel
The install went exactly the way it’s supposed to:
- Removed the worn rubber tracks
- Laid out the steel chains on the floor
- Dropped the machine down onto the rails
- Brought the two ends together and pressed the pins in
Visually, everything looked perfect:
- The idler and sprocket sat nicely on the steel rails
- The sprocket timing was bang on
- The bottom rollers looked like they were sitting exactly where they should on the rail
On paper, this was a textbook steel track conversion. And then we started to travel the machine.
The Problem: A Thud Every Few Seconds
As soon as the Bobcat 442 started tracking, we heard it: Thud… thud… thud. Every few seconds, like clockwork.
Everything looked right. Dimensions were correct, rails were in spec, alignment was good. But that repeating thud is never a noise you ignore especially on a rare size track set with months of lead time behind it. For a moment, the thought crossed my mind:
“Uh oh… this might be an expensive mistake.”
The Culprit: Two Rollers with Big Middle Flanges
Then the light finally hit the culprit. The Bobcat 442 has six bottom rollers per side. Four of them are “normal” end flange rollers that ride on the rails. But two of them have big boss middle flanges. On rubber tracks, that big center flange helps keep the track centered and controlled. On these new steel rails, it did something else entirely.
The rail height on the steel track wasn’t high enough to clear that center flange. As the machine tracked forward, those two rollers were:
- Rolling up onto the middle chain link
- Then dropping back down off it
- Over and over, producing that repeating thud
Every revolution, the roller climbed the link, dropped off, and announced it with a bang.
To confirm the diagnosis, we pulled those two middle-flange rollers off.
The machine tracked perfectly. No thud. No drama. Just smooth steel track travel.
The Fix: Swap to Standard End-Flange Rollers
With the problem pinned down, the solution was straightforward:
- Replace those two big boss middle-flange rollers
- Install regular end-flange bottom rollers, like the other four on the frame
Once those are swapped out, the Bobcat 442 will have:
- Six matching end-flange rollers per side
- Rollers that sit correctly on the steel rail
- No contact with the center chain links
- No more “thud” every few seconds
Problem solved.
Why It Matters for Owners and Fleet Managers
For this customer, the payoff is big:
- He can run steel tracks on his Bobcat 442 and be more aggressive on his ranch
- He doesn’t have to worry about rubber tracks breaking, which now run about $2,500 per side
- These steel tracks will likely be the last set of tracks he ever buys for this machine
But the real lesson is this:
Undercarriage work isn’t just about what you bolt on.
It’s about understanding how rollers, rails, sprockets, and idlers work together as a system.
On paper, this conversion was perfect. In reality, two middle-flange rollers designed for rubber tracks didn’t play nicely with a steel rail. Catching that is the difference between an expensive mistake and a clean, long-term solution.
Thinking About Steel Tracks for Your Machine?
If you’re considering switching from rubber to steel or sizing a new set of steel tracks for your excavator or dozer, we’re happy to talk through:
- Your machine model
- Your ground conditions
- Any roller or undercarriage quirks like this Bobcat 442 story
SteelTracks.com is here to make sure that when you upgrade your tracks, the rest of your undercarriage is ready to work with them not against them.
Call 360-906-0109
[email protected]
SteelTracks.com
Wherever you’re working across the U.S., SteelTracks.com is here to keep your machine tracking strong.
- Buy online: VIQAN.com
SteelTracks.com is an informational portal operated by VIQAN LLC your one‑stop source for rubber and steel undercarriage parts.