Quote:
Originally Posted by microbuns
Has anyone had issues with the rhino treads snapping? We busted one during a practice match when we started pushing another team.
We hope that it's just due to the fact that it was a heavily used track that has a lot of wear during build season and post build season.
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This is the main reason my team stopped using tank tracks back in 2007. We were using almost identical belts to the ones Andymark sells, and we would typically break at least one every competition we went to (and since the ones we ordered were custom, they were closer to $300 a piece).
After years of experimenting, we discovered that the issue seems to be caused by either too much or too little tension on the belts. Failure modes can also be caused by attempting to drive while getting pushed sideways by another robot.
Try adjusting the tension on your tracks using the turnbuckle and see if that helps (the tracks should be snug, not too loose or too tight). Also avoid situations where you get pushed from the side of the robot.
Finally, while it's certainly possible to build a reliable tank drive system, my advice to all teams using tank treads would be to make sure you have spare treads with you at your events, or you may regret it later.