Fixing Mini Excavator Track & Tensioner

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  • Опубліковано 30 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 567

  • @Ants_Pants
    @Ants_Pants  2 дні тому +154

    Mission accomplished

    • @rui4118
      @rui4118 2 дні тому +3

      Great to see another video 👍

    • @mobiousenigma
      @mobiousenigma 2 дні тому +8

      thanks for the video. as much as landscaping and construction can be fun to watch i prefer mechanical adventures

    • @JonathanWorachek
      @JonathanWorachek 2 дні тому +3

      Did you bother to count the links after removing two links on the first track

    • @topline620
      @topline620 2 дні тому +3

      And it’s starting way better now 😀👍👍🇬🇧

    • @limitles4758
      @limitles4758 2 дні тому +3

      super rapper🙃
      Grease II....Lord of the Rings IV
      Stop sign in Estonia? aight

  • @nedjasa
    @nedjasa День тому +30

    Was going to buy another case of beer but I’d rather you get one for these therapeutic videos. Got me again

  • @digg0rz
    @digg0rz 2 дні тому +38

    Estonia looks like a really nice place

    • @cabinman
      @cabinman День тому +6

      Agree...but way to close to Russia unfortunately.

    • @itsnetts
      @itsnetts 16 годин тому +1

      @@cabinman Try Finland... Yeah... Fun!

  • @thesytz
    @thesytz День тому +23

    Thanks for your videos

  • @Norwegianswede
    @Norwegianswede 2 дні тому +41

    We need an Ants Pants merch shop, I would love a set of Ants Pants sweatpants, workpants, I mean!😎

    • @turji
      @turji День тому +4

      Easy way to earn some money outside YT

    • @tobytopanga
      @tobytopanga День тому +2

      lol😂I get it

    • @scottsorby7966
      @scottsorby7966 День тому +4

      Yeah but just not a sweaty pair of Ants (under)Pants... great idea though, something for Andris to think about maybe earn a few extra € to help the channel

    • @jg3685
      @jg3685 День тому +2

      💯

  • @kevinblevins2612
    @kevinblevins2612 2 дні тому +13

    Good to see that you drive on the right side of the road down there

  • @johnferris4237
    @johnferris4237 День тому +6

    When you see the tracks up close with all the sand, gravel, and stuff packed in, you gain a real appreciation for the hard life they live. Great correction with the track length.

  • @kandersn317
    @kandersn317 2 дні тому +15

    Thank you for including us on your drive!

  • @Bcc0rg
    @Bcc0rg День тому +3

    Great to see Tartu, I worked there 25 years ago with Markko Martin and the EOS Subaru rally team, lovely place and very welcoming people, i hope to get back later this year.

    • @Ants_Pants
      @Ants_Pants  19 годин тому +1

      that's very interesting, rally is very popular in Estonia, like Finland

  • @jameslawson8193
    @jameslawson8193 2 дні тому +8

    So glad to see the Soviet chairs in action

  • @friik100
    @friik100 2 дні тому +17

    For grease fitting covers I would have gone with simple water pipe male threaded "weld nipple" to weld around the nipple. And to cover them - just use female threaded end cap. I have done few grease fittings with unfortunate locations like that. No crap will end inside those covers and they can easily be removed with random pipe wrench. There are end caps what have nut-heads as well, so you can just use normal wrench or impact to open them up to greasing.
    Great work as always! Tervitused!

    • @Elyjah1
      @Elyjah1 25 хвилин тому

      Exactly what I was thinking, it wouldn't even need to be more than hand tight.

  • @JP22095
    @JP22095 День тому +6

    Thanks!

    • @nedjasa
      @nedjasa День тому +1

      You are awesome for that! Ants pants community is the best!

  • @terencemerritt
    @terencemerritt День тому +12

    Love the architecture in the city when you were driving around. Be cool to see more

  • @christ9460
    @christ9460 2 дні тому +20

    I remember one of your very first videos when you refurbished the excavator, it's been a few years now and you've really come a long way, very impressive

  • @rondadrolshagen9482
    @rondadrolshagen9482 День тому +5

    That was another great adventure with Andris . Thank You so much for taking us along and for saying you’re sorry when you hurt us like dropping us at the beginning of the video ouch! Love it when you take us on new adventures like going for a parts ride we get to see your local town. And all things considered your tracks went on very nicely and I was surprised how nicely the link nuts came out, and removing two links looked about right I’m not a expert by any means but I always thought they looked really loose. Great video! See you on Friday. Bye ✌️

  • @prinzeugenvansovoyen732
    @prinzeugenvansovoyen732 2 дні тому +18

    you should use the track pads for wear plates - like for josephs blade or for skidsteer bucket corner its basically free Hadox steel

  • @korrutustabel
    @korrutustabel 2 дні тому +19

    It is always nice to see that you were ready to change the starter but it came out that cable was loose. Thats the sign of good owner when always ready to tackle the job no matter what, sometimes we get lucky :) Also for the track links, make some Oak or something bases and place them at angle, "sort of display" piece with the winners name on some brass plaque.

  • @jim-me9wm
    @jim-me9wm 2 дні тому +9

    Nice to see someone that keeps crap running with ingenious solutions

  • @brandygray5894
    @brandygray5894 2 дні тому +8

    I felt like a kid on Christmas when you installed the new bucket teeth 😅 Great repairs bro!

  • @tonymannion5743
    @tonymannion5743 16 годин тому +1

    You're always informing with a sprinkle of entertainment! I liked it when you got so desperate you just looked at EVERY drill you had, even if it was well oversize - been there done that!! Was a bit concerned when you tried starting with that long drill - remember folks - pilot holes are your friend.

  • @firbolg
    @firbolg 2 дні тому +5

    Some years ago, I worked in an Volvo heavy machinery repair shop, and if I recall correctly, they had a fancy machine that made the process of replacing the pins, seals and bushings a breeze. Still hard work but a lot easier than a sledgehammer. And that bucket "might" need a new blade! :) And take good care of yourself!

  • @shawnnealon9235
    @shawnnealon9235 2 дні тому +9

    Thanks for taking us for drive uncle Ants.

  • @Chris5685
    @Chris5685 День тому +7

    Looking forward to see the new bucket teeth in action

  • @normhowes2975
    @normhowes2975 2 дні тому +4

    So glad you were able to get so much needed up-grades/repairs done to the Yanmar. Free repair on the starter was great.

  • @robertstewart7744
    @robertstewart7744 2 дні тому +11

    Nice drive through town. Great video

  • @terencemerritt
    @terencemerritt 2 дні тому +7

    Great job Andris. That was a major undertaking but you prevailed!! Thanks for the content. Farmcraft 101 John would be impressed with your lathe capabilities

  • @wincentykaluza6544
    @wincentykaluza6544 День тому +6

    Danke!

    • @nedjasa
      @nedjasa 22 години тому

      @@wincentykaluza6544 you are awesome!

  • @fufflenarnia3886
    @fufflenarnia3886 2 дні тому +6

    You should put Soviet chairs in a merch shop, they look uber useful.

  • @willaimlibecco
    @willaimlibecco 2 дні тому +6

    Nice to see so many tree lined streets. Must be pretty come fall. Thanks again!!!

  • @stevegaspa
    @stevegaspa День тому +5

    great Andris and take us on more road trips with you dude. we see your country even though we are not there.🙃

  • @dewd1
    @dewd1 9 годин тому +1

    Kinda amazed that a track is able to stretch that much 😮solid job fixing that Andris 👌

    • @Ants_Pants
      @Ants_Pants  8 годин тому

      Its because all the pins are about 20 to 30% eaten away so thats why each link is like 10mm longer 😅

  • @raualjohnson1739
    @raualjohnson1739 День тому +5

    Awesome use of the torch on the tracks. Glad to see it in action.

  • @martydodd9849
    @martydodd9849 2 дні тому +10

    I am smiling ear to ear. Just discovered I had a new video to watch. Thanks Ants!

  • @bradcrossman5068
    @bradcrossman5068 2 дні тому +5

    I think you're gonna be really happy with the shortened tracks. Nice to see the starter was an easy fix also. I'd take those as victories!

    • @W8iHav2P
      @W8iHav2P День тому

      Shortening will help some but they're so stretched they probably can't be tightened to spec or they will start binding on the sprocket teeth

    • @Ants_Pants
      @Ants_Pants  День тому

      i take everything as a victory :D

    • @bradcrossman5068
      @bradcrossman5068 День тому

      @@W8iHav2P Badly worn for sure (just like everything else on the old girl). But at least now the tensioner can provide some assistance in keeping the track on.

  • @johnferris4237
    @johnferris4237 День тому +4

    Nice job with Yanmar. Correcting no / slow starting and tracks falling off are huge accomplishments. Well done Andris.

  • @sharonlanger4693
    @sharonlanger4693 День тому +2

    I know you’ve mentioned Andrew but have you ever watched Matthew Cremona videos? He built his own sawmill but he built a large one, to handle very large logs. Always like watching him too. I like your videos, You put on interesting videos with humor in them. 😊

    • @Ants_Pants
      @Ants_Pants  15 годин тому +1

      Yeh i did. I whilr back

  • @ericcorse
    @ericcorse 2 дні тому +4

    I can't imagine how frustrating it was putting tracks back on especially in the mud and cold. Seems like this ought to remedy the issue. I look forward to the Santa update.

  • @brucemacdonald9351
    @brucemacdonald9351 2 дні тому +34

    I'm glad you gained some new subscribers since December. You're a lot more entertaining than a lot of UA-camrs with 200 500 thousand subscribers I hope you keep growing every week great videos

  • @SuperMAZ007
    @SuperMAZ007 2 дні тому +12

    Be glad this was not a CAT or Joseph track, now that is a stuff of nightmares. Yanmar seems to have a light press fit other wise you can't hammer them on and off. New bucket teeth look amazing, now you can rip into the hard ground. Well done hope the Yanmar now performs much better.

    • @LostCauseRT
      @LostCauseRT 2 дні тому

      Ever tried a track repair on a Komatsu PC650LC or anything similar? It makes you appreciate the small machines

    • @SuperMAZ007
      @SuperMAZ007 2 дні тому +2

      @@LostCauseRT I can imagine that machine would need a hydraulic ram to even press out the master pin. The press fit on larger chains is around 30 tons at least.

    • @LostCauseRT
      @LostCauseRT 2 дні тому +2

      @@SuperMAZ007 Farmcraft101 did a video on a similar tonnage machine if you're curious about it. He had to make his own 50ton pin press for it

    • @TheOtherBill
      @TheOtherBill День тому +2

      Couple years ago squatch253 had to custom build a 50 ton press to do the tracks on his pre-war D2. Scary!

    • @Ants_Pants
      @Ants_Pants  День тому +2

      siiamaani hoiab pinget peal, track oli ikka üsna välja veninud kui pinguti 99% väljas oli :D või keegi pani selle peale kunagi vale roomiku pikkuse

  • @buttonmonkey6845
    @buttonmonkey6845 2 дні тому +7

    Thanks for the second video this week😁. Never a dull moment when you have old machines🤔 I am about to take the injector pump out of a 45 year old fork lift😳 and rebuild it. Have a great week 👋😀🇬🇧

    • @RectalRooter
      @RectalRooter День тому

      Now watch the video backwards -- How to lengthen excavator tracks and loosen starter cable bolts for the perfect bad electrical connection. lol

  • @utubota5522
    @utubota5522 День тому +2

    Andris, thanks for the drive through the city. I had no idea what to expect, and it looked like a really great place to live.

  • @MrHugawa
    @MrHugawa 2 дні тому +11

    always such a nice surprise when you put out a mid-week video... thx!

  • @petermamo560
    @petermamo560 День тому +5

    You posted another great video, man how the hell you tackle all the problems. It’s amazing, nothing slows you down, and you’re not afraid to tackle anything. It’s a pleasure watching you work, you are and ants pants machine!!! Thank you ants, looking forward to Friday 👍

  • @stigsimo
    @stigsimo 2 дні тому +14

    love 2 week updates from Sir Ants

  • @prophaniti1
    @prophaniti1 2 дні тому +2

    I'd recommend getting all your lathe drills sharpened, can usually get this done pretty cheaply, and paying for the sharpening is usually worth it

    • @TheOtherBill
      @TheOtherBill День тому +1

      And buy a set of center drills, they're not expensive.

  • @kirk467
    @kirk467 2 дні тому +3

    Hey my brother, try putting a couple eye pads on the back of your excavator where the top mounts to hinge the top over! Kinda like the skid steer, a couple eye pads on the front to pin it or bolt it! Just an idea to keep you from removing it to go under the carport to your shop! Would make a good video too Andris! The way you engineer different things, I’m sure you can figure out a way! Just unbolt the front and hinge it over! Two padeyes and one in the middle of those, nothing complicated, I’ve done it on different things myself throughout the years!

  • @John-ib6ec
    @John-ib6ec 2 дні тому +8

    Andris another great video thanks for you for putting out one on Tuesday. Enjoy the trip into town, like the comedy you throw in their wipers so often. Another reason I like your videos is because you're the only UA-camr that I that I watch does not quit because it gets dark you'll get the lights out there and you keep working that's what makes your videos so great thank you say hi to everybody can't wait till Friday

  • @ZacVaper
    @ZacVaper День тому +6

    Thank you for another fine video. !!!🚜 I always rinse out the final drive with some diesel, so the new fluid doesn't get contaminated so quickly !!! 🚜 I always dump 4 liters of diesel through all my engines, when I change the oil. 🚙

  • @andrewlafrance7727
    @andrewlafrance7727 2 дні тому +6

    Good stuff!! Nice work. Thanks Mr. Pants!!!!

  • @Lancelot_Jago
    @Lancelot_Jago День тому +4

    Thanks for the mid week episode! Cheers 🇦🇺

  • @Daniel_cheems
    @Daniel_cheems 2 дні тому +5

    Hey Andris, this was freakin' awesome to watch! (thanks). Those improvements will serve you well.
    If the new bucket teeth don't go all the way in, you could try to drive a steel wedge in that opening, behind each tooth and weld it.

  • @larryelliott6321
    @larryelliott6321 День тому +1

    Major maintenance successes! I was wondering why the Bobcat was doing all the log moving when the Yanmar seemed like it would have been more appropriate.

  • @NatNewstead-uk2nm
    @NatNewstead-uk2nm 2 дні тому +16

    G'Day Ants. Our Estonian, comedic, mechanical genius. Another fun filled video to keep us occupied & entertained. Thank you.

  • @patd987
    @patd987 День тому +4

    Pants you’re the best

  • @simonhi99
    @simonhi99 День тому +2

    Another 90+ minutes of Andris working his butt off to repair his machinery, brightens my day 😀
    But, I do think you need to revisit the set up of your lathe, the tip of the cutting tools should be in line with the centre of the job.

    • @Ants_Pants
      @Ants_Pants  14 годин тому

      I think it is, i just cut the rod with a angel grinder and that does.not produce a good straight cut

  • @raycastro7156
    @raycastro7156 2 дні тому +6

    Great job! Ants!

  • @guy7gsa
    @guy7gsa День тому +2

    Thanks

    • @Ants_Pants
      @Ants_Pants  День тому

      Welcome

    • @nedjasa
      @nedjasa 22 години тому

      @@guy7gsa you are awesome!

  • @benclark5225
    @benclark5225 День тому +2

    Thanks for the ride to downtown Estonia. Never been there and this was interesting.

  • @toukkis5698
    @toukkis5698 2 дні тому +4

    Hide the track links in random but obvious places in videos as easter eggs and write patron names on them. Might loose them quickly.... Amazing video as always!!!👍👍😂😂

    • @RectalRooter
      @RectalRooter День тому +1

      hahaha .. Like his matrix glitch easter eggs.. Like his ladder glitch building the saw mill and the disappearing bucket while pouring the saw mill concrete

  • @jimmytew9468
    @jimmytew9468 2 дні тому +5

    Glad to see you replaced the teeth on the bucket and took out the track links. I've said something about the teeth before and wanting to tell you that the track needed some links taken out. I knew the last time you replaced the rod on the tensioner that you didn't have much length left on it. But you have so much going on I knew you would get around to it sooner or later. You keep this Ole Retired Dude entertained. I could watch your videos every day. I've even re-watch some of your old ones. Can't wait until Friday hope it's a Motion Picture episode! 3 hours long would be Great! Later Bro! 🤘🏻😎

  • @lodollar23
    @lodollar23 2 дні тому +6

    Very good show! Thank you!

  • @kevinblevins2612
    @kevinblevins2612 2 дні тому +7

    How in the world do you not have 200K subscribers
    This is one of the best channels on YT

  • @Nena84734
    @Nena84734 2 дні тому +3

    I’m sure you fixed it and more, it’s been a fantastic worker for you and a good machine. Jesse Mueller bought a skid steer in his last episode and man, was that a piece of work, It was the worst I’ve ever seen!

  • @bobferranti5222
    @bobferranti5222 2 дні тому +2

    Ant Man, they have little gadgets called battery maintainers that keeps your batteries fully charged. You could use a few. You're lucky that you were able to get those link pins out with just hear. I have seen where some people have had to use heavy duty press assemblies to get their pins to move. Great to see that you had such success shortening the tracks, those pins are getting worn. New teeth on the bucket now it looks ready for anything, my OCD was killing me every time I saw the old worn out bucket teeth lol.

  • @williamnoel5092
    @williamnoel5092 2 дні тому +2

    I love your knee cushion. You are fearless. Happy to see that things are maintained properly for a machine that provides you with a great deal of excellent work. Excellent video...

  • @carlawheawill-bm8qr
    @carlawheawill-bm8qr День тому +2

    Great Job Man

  • @LostCauseRT
    @LostCauseRT 2 дні тому +2

    Midweek shorts are always great!

  • @NGC1433
    @NGC1433 2 дні тому +1

    Wow! You have snow there! I know you don't enjoy it much, but here in Latvia we still have +5 and a total mudfest...

  • @kidhenderson8260
    @kidhenderson8260 День тому +2

    I had to replace that blue crap hose they supply on my VEVOR plasma cutter with a higher quality one since it leaked so much. Great stuff as always.

    • @Ants_Pants
      @Ants_Pants  День тому

      Mine is still working surprisingly

  • @abuidris5278
    @abuidris5278 2 дні тому +5

    Awesome technique bro

  • @danbay1685
    @danbay1685 2 дні тому +7

    Hey. You need to adjust your tool height on the lathe. The tipp of your cutter should be center of work piece of just below. You can use your rear centerspiss (?) to adjust correct height 👍🏻

  • @douglasthompson2740
    @douglasthompson2740 День тому +1

    Good to see you got your torch up and running. No substitute for it when it comes to the nasty work.

  • @ammelovmokum7346
    @ammelovmokum7346 2 дні тому +4

    she is ready for the new mud-season. Well done and now get on with sawing lumber, floors and walls above the workshop well and fixing bobcrap or something. Thanx for the midweek movie🤘

  • @charlescarriere76
    @charlescarriere76 2 дні тому +3

    Excavator tracks looks awesome now. I expect no more issues on these. Ready for other projects. thumbs up !!!

  • @MikeeonYouTube4
    @MikeeonYouTube4 День тому +3

    Ants that was a great vid,your attitude to make things work will always make you a winner,where there’s a will there’s always a way,maintenance is and always will be money in the bank,love your work and looking forward to your next project ATB from Perth

  • @csongorvarga
    @csongorvarga День тому +1

    For the tracks: what if you turn them into something? Like use it as a heavy stand, weld a pipe to it and a piece of rock slice. And it would be a great table to hold a beer next to the couch. Or could be a base of a wall lamp. Would need some beefy anchor bolts to keep it on the wall :) Hand made bespoke merch.

  • @sloppystooly5439
    @sloppystooly5439 2 дні тому +3

    Lol got to love it , your first instinct to remove the master link was a big ass hammer, lol. Bout the same in opening your boxes lol.

  • @danthestanmanj594
    @danthestanmanj594 22 години тому +1

    You should look into a North Honeywell half face (or full face) respirators. I work in demolition and thats what the compamy provides us with, along with P100 (purple) filters. You can even get the combo filter for organic vapors as well 😄

    • @Ants_Pants
      @Ants_Pants  19 годин тому

      the company sent me new facemasks (4 of them) and ALL of them have the same issue lol after 10 minutes of use the output valve gets stuck open due to moisture inside the mask.

  • @garthmiller6191
    @garthmiller6191 2 дні тому +4

    New teeth, too? Bro, out did yourself! Great work!

  • @DavidTreadwell-m4h
    @DavidTreadwell-m4h День тому +2

    Great job

  • @RuedigerEtzold
    @RuedigerEtzold День тому +2

    Nice practical fix. 👍
    I'm no lathe expert, but you have to use center drills first, might have seen it before in one of your videos.
    PS: Cool bonus footage, interesting to see some urban places too in addition to more rural ones. 🌍

    • @Ants_Pants
      @Ants_Pants  День тому

      Ok i gotta check it out

    • @Ants_Pants
      @Ants_Pants  День тому

      I wonder would a cone drill also wander or can that be used as a center drill also?

    • @RuedigerEtzold
      @RuedigerEtzold День тому

      @@Ants_Pants possibly yes, because it is more rigid/does not Bend that easily. Maybe i remember incorrectly, but i think you used a center drill on another lathe project?

  • @Prodriver790
    @Prodriver790 День тому +2

    Great call on removing two plates on each side of the tracks , well done , liking all of your antics and funny segments , keeps me laughing , see you in the next video , take care Ants , great place you have there , looks great

  • @RD_Piesins
    @RD_Piesins 2 дні тому +1

    I hoped that at the end there will be some testing like going to german autobahn with Janmar or something 🏎

  • @GMans-World
    @GMans-World 2 дні тому +2

    I WOULD BUY A TRACK, just let me know..... always a treat with a nice drive into your city and always awesome working on your Yanmar....

  • @Alofuke
    @Alofuke 2 дні тому +1

    Nice work hormiguita but you still need a vacum lol 😊

  • @jonmelanson8143
    @jonmelanson8143 2 дні тому +3

    You could make a coffee table for the cabin with the tracks.

  • @martyv954
    @martyv954 2 дні тому +5

    our Estonian brother as always drops a quality bombshell with few jokes :D Well done as always, Andris ! :)

  • @walterkucharski4790
    @walterkucharski4790 День тому +1

    hey Ants The large hole in the track adjuster shaft is to make it easier to compress the cylinder. I would keep the pieces of track incase you break one. It happens.

  • @darellsunderlin4670
    @darellsunderlin4670 2 дні тому +2

    All's well that ends well 😊 nice work!!

  • @resonistance
    @resonistance 2 дні тому +6

    Hello Andris, hope your having a good week 👍

  • @mickmillane3122
    @mickmillane3122 2 години тому

    Hey Ant
    Something you might want to try on those tensioners is a thing called a fork sock. They are designed to protect the fork seals on a motorcycle. Used extensively for off road bikes. Pretty easy to make your own.

  • @keeps717
    @keeps717 2 дні тому +1

    I know nothing about machines or machinery but I love all your videos! 🤷‍♀️ thanks for sharing!

  • @rianaolivier9741
    @rianaolivier9741 2 дні тому +2

    Love the mid week video. Have a great week.

  • @CharlesColeman-m2h
    @CharlesColeman-m2h День тому +3

    Ants... Enjoyed the video, Entertaining watching you resolve issues with what you have and making it work, saving yourself lots of money and down time

  • @Sneddz1
    @Sneddz1 День тому +2

    I know you enjoy watching other youtubers, add John from Farmcraft101 on that list. He recently undertook a similar job on a scrap price excavator he is getting back into service. His approach to problem solving is entertaining and informative. Im glad you didnt need to go through the same hassles he did for yours. As always Ants, keep up the great content. Best wishes from Australia.

  • @erikowren7894
    @erikowren7894 2 дні тому +3

    Playing operation with the excavator in your shop again.😊

  • @Lord_Big_ben
    @Lord_Big_ben День тому +2

    Bonne réparation mais cest combien les pieces de métal en vrai... 🤔 Dédicace avec obliger biensur 😅👌

  • @gabelizr1308
    @gabelizr1308 2 дні тому +5

    Hello Andris, great to see you again! 😉

  • @AW-Services
    @AW-Services 2 дні тому +3

    Another brilliant video, Andris
    Made my Tuesday evening in the UK watching your video more exciting. If you want to sell track parts, be careful of ridiculous shipping costs and also agricultural bio security with soil and dirt present

  • @ashleysomerville2509
    @ashleysomerville2509 День тому

    Another great video. You probably know this already but all the pins are worn in the track chain allowing it to stretch out to long removing a link is know as a temporary solution. As I see it you have a few options,
    Option 1, Use it now with the removed links and worry about it later. Which is what I would do. Think it will last for a couple of thousand hours.
    Option 2, Fit new chains and swap your old steel pads over onto them.
    Option 3, Fit a pair of new rubber tracks these don't have any pins in them to worry about however they do still wear out and fail.
    Your steel chains may have been alittle to long from new. It's unusual to have to remove two links.