backhoe and dozer question

2. on some of the bigger cat dozers, the tracks aren't the traditional long oval but a large triangle. I'm guessing the large triangle type (is there a name for that?) allows the drive axle to be much higher in the machine making the transmission placement easier, but what is the real benifit of this configuration. also, i noticed this only on the big dozers, not the big track loaders. why not the loaders also?

I even heard Cat may be going away from this design soon, and return to a conventional track design. Not sure if that's true, maybe someone else knows more about it. And I don't know why they don't use it on their loaders, I've often wondered that myself...maybe it's because the longer trackbase required on a loader makes the triangle track less suitable/adaptable? Plus it looks like more weight is up high, which would be a distinct disadvantage with a loader.

2. The main benefit of the triangle design is that the drive axle and transmission has no contact with the ground. This puts much less wear and tear on the more expensive components of the dozer. And i think that it allows more flex in the tracks. Something along those lines anyway.
I dont think they use it on track loaders because it would make them sit up much higher.

Thats what i think. I'm no expert though.

The high sprocket drive on Cat crawlers and dozers is supposed to give several advantages. The BIG one is that it allows a final drive to be removed/repaired without breaking the track. Another is that contact between sprocket and bush is kept up out of the dirt as are the seals around the points where the drives to the sprockets exit the machine's main body.

However, I'm not sure about Cat's claim of longer life from this system. I'm yet to be convinced that any track system that travels around THREE idlers/sprockets will wear less than a system that only travels around two major curves in each rotation. Not only do the high-sprocket machines have that extra curve for the track to travel around but all three curves are of smaller radius than the earlier oval-track machines of the same model, thus increasing the arc of movement of the pin within the bush and giving more opportunity for wear. In my humble opinion anyway.

Hope this helps.

You have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.