Caterpillar tracks and sprockets.

[Jimny J]

Evening all.

Im in the process of spending my hard earned xmas overtime pay, and have decided to venture into the world of caterpillar tracks. But despite easily locating the track sections, Im having problems with the sprockets.

My main problem is I do not know what the actual parts are called/numbered to search for them, nor am I entirely sure what is actually available.

Could somebody help me on this please?

Cheers, J.

Edited January 4, 2013 by Jimny J

[timslegos]

Bricklink.com is a great place to find all sorts of parts and buy them individually or in bulk from various stores. Here is a specific link to all sellers selling black sprocket wheels. Look around though, at least one seller sells every type of Lego part!

http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?colorID=11&itemID=75310

tim

[Jimny J]

Ah, tread sprocket! Cheers, couldn't for the life of me think what they where called. Suprisingly hard to search for if you dont have the correct name.

Edited January 5, 2013 by Jimny J

[Splat]

There are the large sprockets that timslegos linked to:

But there are also the smaller sprockets too:

If you want to just 'guide' the treads rather than 'drive' the treads, then there are lots of alternatives. Eg:

or

There are also the smaller treads that you can use too:

These are used in some of the smaller sets, such as the 8259 Mini Bulldozer and 9391 Mini Crane.

To drive these smaller treads, square edge gears are used, such as the 16t, 24t, or 48t gears.

One good way to find the names of parts is to search for a set that has those parts, and look at it's inventory on Bricklink.

Eg. The 8043 Motorized Excavator has these larger treads, so you could look through it's inventory here.

Edit:

If you are in the US, you can also get the treads and sprockets from the Lego Education website:

• Sprockets (10 large orange sprockets, 12 small black sprockets) = US$12 + shipping
  
• Sprockets and Large Treads (10 small black sprockets, 100 large dark grey treads) = US$12 + shipping
  
• Large Treads (120 large dark grey treads) = US$15 + shipping
  
• Small Treads (36 small black treads) = US$10 + shipping
  

These may be more expensive than Bricklink, but it does allow you to order the parts in bulk.

Edited January 5, 2013 by Splat

[jorgeopesi]

A tracks thread would be incomplete without these other alternative examples.

[technicfan]

Jorgeopesi, I want that bulldozer, any instructions for it?.

Edited January 5, 2013 by technicfan

[Phoxtane]

I have a bit of an issue with my tracks. I have quite a few of the smaller sprockets, from buying a pack of tread links off Lego Education. The problem is, they seem to 'stick' inside the treads. It's kind of hard to explain, but if I lay out a section of tracks on a table and attempt to roll a sprocket across the drive bars, it will lift up the tracks behind it and even occasionally get stuck.

[jorgeopesi]

Here you are the brickshelf folder from Zbiczasty an incredible MOC of 2007, I only have a little D11 .

Komatsu D575 http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=271972

Caterpillar D11 http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=493523

[DLuders]

@ Phoxtane: You could reduce the friction and stickiness by getting a can of CRC Heavy Duty Silicone Multi-Use Lubricant from your local auto supply store. It "Stops Sticking, Binding, Squeaking on Nylon, Rubber, Metal & Non-Metal Surfaces." It does not "eat" the ABS plastic Lego parts. Any silicone-based spray lubricant (not WD-40) will work too.