{"id":568,"date":"2026-10-10T14:10:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T06:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.firmarehberde.com\/blog\/?p=568"},"modified":"2026-10-10T14:10:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T06:10:40","slug":"how-to-adjust-the-track-tension-of-a-drilling-rig-undercarriage-4559-0f0a45","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.firmarehberde.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/10\/how-to-adjust-the-track-tension-of-a-drilling-rig-undercarriage-4559-0f0a45\/","title":{"rendered":"How to adjust the track tension of a drilling rig undercarriage?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey everyone,
\nIf you\u2019re running a drilling rig, I don\u2019t need to tell you how much time and money a little thing like track tension can throw off your whole operation. Last quarter alone, we had two regulars come to us panicking because their undercarriage tracks were either slapping so hard against their rig that they cracked side panels, or so loose they jumped off mid-job 100 miles from the nearest shop. That\u2019s why today I\u2019m breaking down exactly how to adjust track tension on a drilling rig undercarriage\u2014straight from the guys who work on these things every single day, not some textbook jargon no one actually uses on site. Drilling Rig Undercarriage<\/a><\/p>\n

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First off, let\u2019s cut to the chase: why track tension even matters. A lot of new operators think, \u201cTighter is better, right? Keeps the tracks on.\u201d Nah, that\u2019s a rookie mistake. Too tight, and you\u2019re burning through undercarriage components like sprockets, rollers, and track pads way faster than you should. We\u2019ve seen customers go through two sets of track pads in half the time because they cranked the tension down so hard the metal was shearing. Too loose, though, and you risk derailing\u2014especially on uneven terrain like mud, rocks, or rough well pads. A derail at a drilling site? That\u2019s 8+ hours of downtime, maybe more, waiting for a tech to come out with tools to get that track back on. Plus, loose tracks can throw off the whole rig\u2019s alignment, making your draw works work harder than it needs to, killing fuel efficiency.<\/p>\n

Our go-to sweet spot for most drilling rig undercarriages? 1.5 to 2 inches of sag in the track between the idler wheel and the middle roller, when the rig\u2019s sitting on level ground and not loaded with drill pipe. Wait, hold on\u2014let\u2019s get that right: sag is the amount the track drops down from the top line between those two parts. If you measure less than that, it\u2019s too tight; more than that, too loose. We\u2019ve tested this a hundred times, and that range is the balance between no derail risk and minimal wear. But quick heads-up: that number can shift a little based on your rig\u2019s make, the type of tracks you\u2019re using (rubber vs. steel), and how much weight you\u2019re carrying. We always tell customers to check their operator\u2019s manual first, because some manufacturers specify 1 to 3 inches depending on the model.<\/p>\n

Now, the step-by-step for adjusting this. Let\u2019s make this simple, no fancy tools you don\u2019t have on a typical service truck. First, prep the rig. You can\u2019t do this adjustment when the rig\u2019s sitting at a 10-degree slope or covered in mud\u2014your measurements will be garbage. So park it on flat, solid ground, shut off the engine, set the emergency brake, and chock both front and back of the tracks you\u2019re NOT working on first. Safety first, always. We\u2019ve had a tech almost get run over because a track shifted while he was working\u2014don\u2019t be that guy.<\/p>\n

Next, locate the grease fitting for the track tensioner. That\u2019s the part you\u2019ll be adding or removing grease from to tighten or loosen the track, right? For most undercarriages, it\u2019s a big zerk fitting mounted on the idler wheel, usually with a big bolt or nut next to it that controls tension release. Wait, let\u2019s split this into two parts: tightening (adding tension, if your sag is too big) and loosening (if it\u2019s too tight).<\/p>\n

If you need to tighten up (sag too much): Take your grease gun, make sure it\u2019s loaded with the right grease\u2014we always recommend heavy-duty, extreme-pressure grease for drilling rigs, not the cheap stuff you can get at the gas station. Connect the gun to that zerk fitting, and pump slowly. Don\u2019t crank it the whole way\u2014pump 2 or 3 times, then stop, wipe the fitting, and measure that sag again. Wait, a second after pumping, because the track settles into place. Keep doing this until you hit that 1.5 to 2 inch sweet spot. Once you\u2019re there, make sure you lock the tensioner in place\u2014most rigs have a lock bolt or nut on the idler side so the grease doesn\u2019t push back out and loosen the track over time. Skipping that step is how you come back the next week to a derailed track.<\/p>\n

If you need to loosen up (sag too small, track too tight): This one trips a lot of people up, because you can\u2019t just yank the track loose. You have to release the pressure from the grease chamber. Locate the relief valve\u2014usually a small bolt or plug next to that grease fitting. Grab a wrench, loosen that bolt a quarter turn (don\u2019t take it all the way out, you\u2019ll grease get everywhere), and let the excess grease and pressure bleed out. Again, do it slow\u2014bleed a little, measure sag, bleed a little more, until you hit that range. Then tighten the relief valve back up, double-check the lock on the tensioner, and you\u2019re good.<\/p>\n

Wait, but hold on\u2014there\u2019s a pro tip we swear by that most guides don\u2019t tell you. After you adjust tension, take the rig for a short test drive\u2014like 50 to 100 yards over different terrain, then park it again and recheck the sag. Why? Because when you run the tracks, they settle, the grease shifts, and sometimes your initial measurement was off. We had a customer last month adjust tension in the shop, ran 2 miles down a dirt road, and the sag was way too tight\u2014he\u2019d have burned through tracks in a week. Test drives eliminate that surprise.<\/p>\n

Also, when should you check tension? It\u2019s not a set-it-and-forget-it thing. We tell our clients to do a tension check:<\/p>\n