Dargo
Like a bad penny...
Well, I did have assistance from my wife. Otherwise, I think I would have lost for sure. I didn't realize how physically difficult it would be to change the tracks on my compact excavator. I think my little excavator is in the 6 ton class and the new rubber tracks for it just didn't look that big. Besides, I've changed the tracks and taken steel tracks off to repair idlers etc. a dozen times or more on far larger pieces of equipment. I guess I just wasn't prepared to deal with what basically amounts to a steel track encased in heavy rubber. Not heating my barn the night before assured the rubber would be nice and stiff too. Dunce! 
Anyway, it's hard to describe how difficult it is to handle a 620 pound loop of rubber with a steel core. All movements feel dampened and so so heavy! It really wasn't a problem to get the old tracks off, but just dragging and rolling them out of the way was just so draining. I have a fork lift, but I didn't want to take a chance of cutting or damaging the new tracks, so everything was done by hand. All that had to be done was to pick up one end of the new track and get it put over the rear sprocket. Then pull it tight and put the front up over the idler. The inside of the rubber tracks have what amounts to a giant chain in the middle with inner teeth to keep them on the idler and keep the track lined up on the sprocket. I'm sure all the Snow Cat guys are familiar with stiff rubber tracks. I just don't think the tracks have a steel core and are as heavy though. Feel free to tell me if they do.
I think even my eyeballs are sore today. My back hurt the most right after the job, but it's okay now. I'd start describing what all hurts but I don't know where it would end. My hands and forearms are so sore it's hard to even type. I guess this old man is really out of shape. I knew we'd handle basically 4 tracks; two off and then two on. It just didn't seem like it would be that physically taxing. But, it's done now and the new tracks look great and should last me forever. The last tracks lasted 2500 hours. I'll never put another 2500 hours on the machine. Here are a few pictures of the Gumby beasts.
Anyway, it's hard to describe how difficult it is to handle a 620 pound loop of rubber with a steel core. All movements feel dampened and so so heavy! It really wasn't a problem to get the old tracks off, but just dragging and rolling them out of the way was just so draining. I have a fork lift, but I didn't want to take a chance of cutting or damaging the new tracks, so everything was done by hand. All that had to be done was to pick up one end of the new track and get it put over the rear sprocket. Then pull it tight and put the front up over the idler. The inside of the rubber tracks have what amounts to a giant chain in the middle with inner teeth to keep them on the idler and keep the track lined up on the sprocket. I'm sure all the Snow Cat guys are familiar with stiff rubber tracks. I just don't think the tracks have a steel core and are as heavy though. Feel free to tell me if they do.
I think even my eyeballs are sore today. My back hurt the most right after the job, but it's okay now. I'd start describing what all hurts but I don't know where it would end. My hands and forearms are so sore it's hard to even type. I guess this old man is really out of shape. I knew we'd handle basically 4 tracks; two off and then two on. It just didn't seem like it would be that physically taxing. But, it's done now and the new tracks look great and should last me forever. The last tracks lasted 2500 hours. I'll never put another 2500 hours on the machine. Here are a few pictures of the Gumby beasts.
When I was lifting competitively I was always more sore the 2nd day after a workout. That's me still. Today is day two. I'll have to take a picture of the inside of my forearm and show the pull that's actually visible. Like you, I've used backhoes, other trackhoes, forklifts and whatever to help changing tracks. As expensive as these rubber tracks are, I wasn't about to risk cutting or ripping one.