You wake up before dawn to tend to your fields, just like every other day.
But when you go to start your tractor, you hear an awful grinding noise coming from the tracks. The rollers have worn down again, and now you're facing possible months of costly downtime while you wait for replacement parts.
With hundreds or even thousands of acres to cover, a breakdown during planting or harvest can cost you thousands in lost yield and productivity. Not to mention the headaches of scrambling to find repair parts and mechanics to get you up and running again.
The grinding noise from worn rollers is a common and frustrating issue for farmers. But it doesn't have to lead to equipment failures that put you behind during critical parts of the growing season.
There's a better way.
Rubber roller reconditioning lets you take control of maintenance on your schedule, so worn rollers don't take you by surprise at the worst possible time, and so you don’t have to bankroll an entire new set of rollers.
This can add years of reliable service to your tractors and implements. The process restores the surface and dimension of worn rollers to like-new condition. And upgraded polyurethane coatings often outlast standard OEM rubber by 4X or more.
The High Cost of Failing Rollers
It only takes one broken roller to turn an otherwise normal day into a nightmare.
Without properly functioning rubber rollers, your equipment simply can't run. Whether it's the Midrollers on your tractor, the idler Wheels on your grain cart, or the Drive Wheels on your combine - worn out rollers spell trouble.
And repairs are painful.
OEM roller replacements can cost $500, $600, even $800 apiece. On an older combine, you could be looking at $5,000 or more just to replace all of the Midrollers.
That's not even accounting for the lost time and productivity from having equipment stuck in the shop for days or weeks instead of working in your fields.
With today's high equipment costs, maximizing the working life of every piece of equipment you own is essential. Being sidelined by a broken roller is not an option.
The average farm has over $500,000 invested in equipment. Without proactive roller maintenance, a single breakdown can quickly negate any profits for an entire year's harvest.
But there is good news.
When you hire a reputable company like Mark Tool & Rubber to regularly recondition your rollers, you can dramatically extend the service life of your rollers and avoid untimely breakdowns.
How Rubber Roller Reconditioning Extends Equipment Life
Roller reconditioning is the process of refurbishing worn rollers to like-new condition.
During reconditioning, the old roller surface is stripped away. Then the underlying core is inspected and any damage is repaired. Finally, a brand new outer layer is molded onto the roller core.
Reconditioning restores both the surface tread and the critical dimensions that allow the roller to turn smoothly and evenly.
The result is a roller that's indistinguishable from new - but at a fraction of the OEM replacement cost.
The increased longevity comes from improved materials technology. Mark Tool applies a high-quality polyurethane coating that stands up to abuse much better than standard rubber compounds.
Once recoated, your rollers will better resist:
- Cracking from dirt, rock impact, and ozone exposure
- Hardening from sun, heat, and oxidation
- Chunking loss under heavy loads
- Abrasion from sand and other abrasive substances
The coatings often incorporate additional technology to reduce friction and enhance longevity even further.
Regular reconditioning lets you take control of maintenance on your schedule. Instead of reactionary repairs when rollers fail unexpectedly, you can plan ahead to avoid any downtime.
How to Know When You Need Rubber Roller Reconditioning
To get the most from your equipment, it pays to recondition your rollers before excessive wear causes functional problems. But how do you know when it's time for service?
Here are key signs to watch out for:
Visible Cracking or Chunking
Small cracks and missing chunks on the roller surface indicate wear. Don't wait until a crack compromises the integrity of the whole roller. At the first signs of cracking, it's time for reconditioning.
Flat Spots or Distortion
If your rollers develop any flat, distorted, or out-of-round areas, their days are numbered. Recondition before these defects lead to vibration, uneven wear, and breakdowns.
Slop, Looseness, or Wobbling
Feel along the roller as the equipment operates. Any looseness or wobble means lost dimensional accuracy. Get rollers reconditioned to restore tight, consistent sizing.
Changes in Noise or Vibration
Listen and feel as your equipment runs. Any increase in noise or vibration can signal wear, imbalance, or distortion in your rollers. Address these problems proactively before they accelerate or cause adjacent component failures.
Visible Wear or Polish
Smooth, polished sections or flattening on the roller tread indicate wear. Schedule reconditioning if more than 1/4 of the tread surface loses its roughened, textured finish.
Don't wait until your rollers cause an equipment failure. At the first signs of wear, cracked coatings, or changes in noise/vibration, it's time to restore them with Mark Tool’s professional reconditioning services.
The Benefits of Rubber Roller Reconditioning
When you make roller reconditioning a scheduled part of your seasonal equipment preparation, the benefits are transformational:
- Equipment downtime is practically eliminated. Breakdowns from worn rollers become a thing of the past.
- Maintenance costs drop dramatically, as reconditioned rollers provide 4-5X the lifespan at a fraction of the OEM price.
- Productivity surges, and your average number of acres covered per day jumps as equipment spends less time in the shop and more time in the field.
- Your confidence will rise as you feel in control of maintenance instead of dreading that next unexpected breakdown.
- With proactive care, equipment remains reliable long past typical replacement timelines.
- Reconditioning services can be scheduled well in advance instead of scrambling during the peak season.
- Increased profits with more uptime and fewer big repair bills.
The best farmers understand the importance of maintenance. They follow proven schedules to keep their equipment in top working order.
Reconditioning fits right in with existing seasonal servicing routines. Simply make roller restoration a standard part of your maintenance regimen before each planting and harvest cycle.
Then you can count on your equipment to work as hard as you do - year after year - with less downtime, stress, and unexpected repair costs.
With a consistent roller reconditioning program in place, you’ll be able to keep your tractors running reliably year after year. Breakdowns and stuck equipment during critical parts of the season will become a thing of the past.
For nearly 70 years, Mark Tool has been providing top-quality roller reconditioning services that reduce downtime and extend equipment life. Our innovative use of rubber coatings grants superior longevity for a fraction of the replacement cost.
Don't let failing rollers slow you down this season. Request a quote from Mark Tool & Rubber today to schedule your roller reconditioning service and keep your farm running smoothly all year long.