Replacing a rubber track becomes more difficult when the original size marking has disappeared. The machine needs to get back to work, but the track you have in front of you may have torn edges, damaged inner lugs or no readable code. Measuring it can help identify the replacement, provided you know which dimensions matter and how wear can affect the result.
If you need to know how to measure a worn rubber track, start with width, pitch and link count. Together, these identify the basic track size. You will also need to check the guide arrangement and machine details, particularly where damage makes the measurements uncertain. This guide explains the process and what to send our team before ordering.
Check for a size code before measuring
First, clean dirt from the inside face of the track and look for a moulded or stamped code. Check more than one section, as part of the marking may remain readable even where the surrounding rubber is worn. Photograph everything you can identify, including any letters beside or after the numbers. A partial marking can help narrow down the specification when considered alongside measurements and machine details.
Previous invoices, replacement-track packaging and the machine manual may also provide a track size or part number. Record the full machine model and serial number from its identification plate so those details are available when checking compatibility. Make and model are useful starting points, but they should be checked against the actual track specification where there is uncertainty.
Rubber track sizes are commonly expressed as width × pitch × links, with width and pitch measured in millimetres and links counted around the complete track. Additional letters can identify differences in the track’s inner guide arrangement. Our article on decoding rubber track codes explains how to interpret those markings and why the complete code matters.
Why a worn track can give misleading measurements
An old track may no longer present a clear picture of its manufactured dimensions. Edge wear can reduce the width you measure, while torn inner lugs can make it difficult to establish consistent points for measuring pitch. Structural damage or distortion can further complicate the process, especially if readings differ from one section to another.
The purpose of measuring is to identify the original specification, so keep a record of the actual readings and the condition of each area measured. Avoid adding an allowance for presumed stretching or rounding a result to the nearest available product. A track that appears loose does not, by itself, establish that its pitch has changed.
Before starting, park and isolate the machine according to its operating instructions. Measure only sections you can access safely, and follow the manufacturer’s procedures for any repositioning, lifting or track removal.
1. Measure the track width
Track width is the outside dimension across the rubber track, measured from edge to edge. Choose a straight, accessible section and position a metric tape square to the direction of travel. Measure across the full rubber body rather than across an individual tread block, keeping the tape straight so an angled reading does not overstate the width.
Repeat the measurement at several points around the track, looking for sections where both edges remain intact. If one area is badly chipped and another has sound edges, the sound section will provide a better indication of the original width. Record the readings in millimetres and note any obvious damage beside them.
Where both edges are heavily worn, even a consistent measurement may be smaller than the nominal track width. Compare it with any readable marking, manufacturer’s specification or confirmed purchase record. The opposite track may provide another reference if it is known to be the correct specification. If the results remain uncertain, send us the measurements rather than selecting a catalogue size by approximation.
2. Measure the pitch across several links
Pitch is the distance between corresponding points on consecutive links along the inside of the track. On common steel-core rubber tracks, this is the centre-to-centre spacing of the embedded steel links. The external tread blocks are unsuitable reference points because their pattern does not necessarily correspond with the link spacing.
Choose a straight section with clear, undamaged inner link positions. Measuring across several consecutive gaps gives you a longer reference distance and reduces the effect of a small reading error. To measure across 10 pitch intervals, start at the centre of one link and finish at the centre of the eleventh link, then divide the total distance by 10.
For example, if the distance across those 10 gaps is 525 mm, the calculation is 525 ÷ 10 = 52.5 mm pitch. The counting is important here: 11 link positions create 10 gaps. Measuring from the first link to the tenth and dividing by 10 would produce an incorrect result.
Repeat the measurement on another sound section, using the same reference points and keeping the tape straight. Decimal pitch sizes are valid specifications, so do not round 52.5 mm to 53 mm. If the readings disagree, retain both results and take a photo showing the tape position. Where the inner construction makes the link centres difficult to identify, send a close-up before relying on the measurement.
3. Count the links around the complete track
Link count is the total number of repeating link positions around the entire track. Count along the inside, using the links or corresponding drive positions rather than the outer tread blocks. If the inner profile has two projections at each link position, count that repeating position once rather than treating each projection as a separate link. If your track has no embedded steel links and is driven by moulded rubber lugs, count the drive lugs instead and include a photo of the inner profile with your enquiry.
Mark your starting link with chalk or a paint pen and count it as link one. Continue around the complete track until you return to the mark, without counting the starting link again. On a fitted track, the lower run sits under the machine. Count the visible links, mark where you stopped, then move the machine only as permitted by its operating instructions and continue from the mark. Counting in groups of 10 and recording each group makes it easier to keep your place, particularly on a large track. Repeat the full count to confirm the result.
Damage needs particular attention during this step. A torn lug may leave enough of the underlying link position visible to count, but a missing section can prevent you from establishing the total. Explain any gaps or uncertainty when making an enquiry rather than estimating the number. The required link count is a whole number, and an incorrect total changes the replacement specification.
4. Confirm the guide arrangement
Width, pitch and link count establish the basic dimensions, but tracks with the same three figures can still have different inner profiles. The guide arrangement must suit the machine’s rollers and undercarriage, so it also needs checking before a replacement is selected. Wide-guide, outside-guided and offset arrangements are examples of differences that can affect compatibility.
Clear photographs of the inner track profile are useful when the original markings are missing. Include a view across the track and another showing several consecutive link positions, so our team can see both the shape and arrangement. Keep any remaining letters from the size code with your measurements rather than leaving them out of the enquiry.
Once you have the machine details, the Parts Finder on our homepage provides a starting point for finding suitable parts by make and model. If the listed specification conflicts with your measurements, contact us so we can resolve the difference before you order.
What to send us if the size is still uncertain
A useful sizing enquiry brings the measurements, machine information and photographs together. This allows our team to assess the worn track in context and identify where further confirmation is needed. Include:
- Machine details: make, full model designation, year if known, and serial number.
- Measurements: width, pitch and link count, including any inconsistent readings.
- Overall photos: the complete track and any damaged or missing sections.
- Inner-profile photos: clear views of the links and guide arrangement.
- Remaining markings: any readable numbers, letters or part codes.
- Undercarriage photos: accessible views of the sprocket, rollers and idlers where possible.
If the track has already been removed, an overall photograph laid out on a level surface is helpful. For uncertain measurements, include a close-up with the tape’s starting point and endpoint visible. Our How to Measure guide also provides a reference for the three basic sizing measurements.
Confirm the specification before ordering
Measuring a worn track is most useful when the results are repeatable and supported by the machine details. Where damage prevents a reliable reading, photographs and a clear explanation give our team more to work with than an estimated size. Confirming those details before selecting from our rubber track range helps avoid another delay when the replacement arrives.
Send us your measurements and photos, or call 1300 669 294 for help confirming the right replacement for your machine.
Frequently asked questions
Can I measure a worn rubber track accurately?
Often, provided enough remains intact to establish width, pitch and link count. Heavy edge wear, damaged links or missing sections can make the results unreliable, so uncertain measurements need checking against the machine specification.
What does rubber track pitch mean?
Pitch is the spacing between corresponding points on consecutive inner links. Measuring across several gaps and dividing by the number of gaps helps reduce reading errors.
How do I count rubber track links?
Mark one inner link position and count every position around the complete track. Count the starting position once, then repeat the full count to confirm the total.
What if the rubber track size stamp is missing?
Check previous purchase records and the machine manual, then measure width, pitch and links. Send those measurements with the machine details and photographs of the inner track profile.
Can I order using only my machine make and model?
Make and model can help identify a suitable replacement. If the specification is uncertain or your existing track measurements conflict with the listed part, ask our team to confirm compatibility before ordering.
