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Difference between sprocket on the front or on the back

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pachhh34

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Oct 12, 2016
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Hi,

I was wondering what is the difference if it is Front sprocket drive if I can say it or rear sprocket drive . I read the difference is in the wear of the shoes but I want to know more about that and why and when you use front sprocket or back sprocket drive.

Thanks in advance
 
kshansen

kshansen

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Not 100% sure about the question but the way I understand it on say a dozer. If the drive sprocket is at the rear and you are traveling forward the tension on the track chain is in a straight line. Now if this same machine is traveling backwards the tension on the chain goes all the way around the front idler and is putting a load on the pins and bushings while the chain is moving around the idler causing much more wear on those parts.

I hope that explanation made sense and answered some of your question.
 
mrappels

mrappels

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For working with an excavator, having your sprockets at the back is the only way to work and travel.
they weren't designed to take shock loading like the idler on the other end, they're raised slightly too so they don't carry the weight of the machine.
they also don't like things hitting them (exposure to falling debris from the bucket when loading)
and what khansen said applies to all tracks..
Not exactly sure if this fits in on your question, but thought it was worth a mention.
 
W

Welder Dave

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I think an excavator is a little different application than a dozer or loader. On a dozer having the sprockets at front would be like running in reverse and wear the undercarriage way faster.
 
R

RZucker

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Welder Dave said:
I think an excavator is a little different application than a dozer or loader. On a dozer having the sprockets at front would be like running in reverse and wear the undercarriage way faster.
Click to expand...
The big issue with the Euclid (pre Terex) loader was the tracks tended to "bunch up" behind the front mounted sprockets when the machine was pushing hard.
 
DMiller

DMiller

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Tanks drove from both ends at any point of time. Either pulling rails from the front over the top and shoving them under(front Sprocket) or pulling from under to push across the top(rear drive). Never been much emphasis on either end being better for a tracked military machine but in dirt work makes it much easier to pull the rails from under to feed forward over the top developing better control of machine.
 
kshansen

kshansen

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DMiller said:
Tanks drove from both ends at any point of time. Either pulling rails from the front over the top and shoving them under(front Sprocket) or pulling from under to push across the top(rear drive).
Click to expand...
I doubt military was too concerned about long life of under carriage! Not like a production machine that was expected to work for thousands of hours.
 
P

Plant Fitter

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DMiller said:
Tanks drove from both ends at any point of time. Either pulling rails from the front over the top and shoving them under(front Sprocket) or pulling from under to push across the top(rear drive). Never been much emphasis on either end being better for a tracked military machine but in dirt work makes it much easier to pull the rails from under to feed forward over the top developing better control of machine.
Click to expand...
How are army tank tracks made? I have always presumed that they are different than earthmoving tracks as they go so much faster. But I have never seen any up close.
 
mrappels

mrappels

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Very interesting! Bit off topic, but looks a dam side easier than Splitting Dozer and excavator tracks we usually needed a 100 ton press and occasionally a 14lb hammer too, for the sticky pins on the D9 and the 374D..
 
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