How to Adjust Track Tension on a RIPPA Excavator
Loose tracks throw; tight tracks wear rollers and rob power. Here's how to measure sag, add or release grease at the tension cylinder, and how often to check.
Applies to: R10 ECOR13 PROR15 ECOR18 PROR22 PROR32 PRO
Rubber tracks are tensioned by a grease cylinder behind the idler. Pumping grease in pushes the idler forward and tightens the track; opening the relief valve lets grease out and loosens it. Every RIPPA excavator in our lineup uses this system, and the access port is behind a metal cover on the track frame.
Measure first
- Park on firm, level ground and lift one side of the machine with the boom and blade until the track just clears the ground.
- Measure the sag between the bottom of the track frame and the top of the track at the midpoint. RIPPA specifies the sag per model in the operator's manual; most compact models sit around 10 to 20 mm (roughly 1/2 to 3/4 in).
- Repeat on the other side. Uneven tension is the number one cause of thrown tracks on turns.
Adjusting
- Too loose: clean the grease fitting, connect a grease gun and pump slowly while watching the idler move. Stop when sag is in spec.
- Too tight: crack the relief valve a quarter turn with a wrench, standing to the side, and let grease escape until sag is right. Never remove the fitting completely; the cylinder is under pressure.
- Lower the machine and run it forward and back a few metres, then re-measure.
How often
Check weekly in mud and clay, which packs the undercarriage and effectively tightens the track, and after any new-machine break-in. Clean the undercarriage at the end of every day in wet conditions.
- #tracks
- #undercarriage
- #grease
Rather have a certified technician do it?
We service RIPPA machines in our shop in Thorold and on site across Niagara. Parts ship Canada-wide.
