BLOCK 1209332 - Caterpillar

Several internal improvements to belts, mid wheel construction, and the addition of a bogie undercarriage system have increased belt and midwheel life. Make sure to follow the basic information outlined above to maximize the MTS system life.Combines
Combines are heavy and this weight can be detrimental to MTS component life.Here are some general points to help improve MTS component life.
Do not road with hopper full.
Minimize roading on paved hard surface.
Avoid operation in deep mud that is mixed with rocks. This type of operation can accelerate midwheel and drive wheel chunking and cause belt inside diameter damage.
Avoid continual operation on steep side slopes with the same side of the machine on the downhill side. If the same side of the machine must be downhill most of the time, rotate the belts from one side of the machine to the other to balance side slope wear. Rotate the belts even if the machine is equipped with a sidehill leveling system.Agricultural Tractors
Many of the guideline examples and photos are from agricultural tractors. These examples describe many of the situations belts can encounter. The following points should again be emphasized:
Always make sure that belts are aligned properly. Periodically check belt alignment.
Avoid operation in material that will build up inside the MTS system.
Make sure that the tractor is properly balanced and not overloaded.
Avoid extended roading on paved surfaces. This operation wears tread bars at a high rate.
Avoid getting stuck. Read the O&MM for specific guidelines on how to get a machine unstuck or belt tearing can occur.
If equipped with a midwheel air spring, make sure to maintain the pressure in the range of 50-90 psi. Lower pressures cause more weight to be carried by the driver and idler increasing in belt wear. Poor balance can result which can decrease belt life.
Localized circumferential/longitudinal wear can occur over time from operation on specific row crop stubble spacing. Swapping belts side to side can prolong belt life by moving the localized wear area caused by row crop stubble spacing. Installation of aftermarket “stalk stompers” on the combine header can also reduce this wear.Note: Special Note on Challenger 35" BeltsChallenger 35 inch belts on tillage tractors offer a unique pairing of benefits and shortcomings. The belt is wider offering lower ground pressures and higher flotation than other belts. The belt is offset to the outside of the tractor (non-centered). This belt center of pull is outside of the centerline of the undercarriage. The belt can pull more load around a corner than the centered belt. The belt seems to minimize ground disturbance due to the curling up of the outside edge in a turn.Since the outer edge of the belt is unsupported on the outer overhang, the outer edge of the belt will wear at a different rate than the inner area over the undercarriage rolling stock. In some conditions, this belt can lead to little wear on the outer edge of the belt, when the inner area is 100% worn. This condition can lead to excessive belt