Breakage of chain links.

You have not indicated how/where the break occurs, but I would have expected this to be a rare occurrence. Are you using genuine Cat parts? If so I would return a broken link to them and ask them to explain the reason for the failure. If not, then get independent advice as to the nature of the failure. Chain links rarely fail in tension.

Failure to run at less than 50% speed.

What happens? I presume you have a fixed displacement motor and variable displacement pump in your hydraulic drive system so if you can generate sufficient torque to run at high speed there should be sufficient torque available at low speed (torque being approximately proportional to system pressure).

Regarding the the correct running direction of pans/chain this should be specified in the manufacturers handbook for the machine. (You might also check the Cat web site for any guidance although tracked vehicles are normally expected to work in both directions.) ■

Where does the chain fail, in the main body of the link, at the connecting pin, the pin itself?? Frequently with chain links the failure mode is that of fatigue, the failure surface being quite smooth with "beach marks" indicating the growth of the fracture surface until failure takes place.

Without a drawing/sketch it is difficult to comment on the direction of rotation of the pans. Can you post something to illustrate? ■

On the DOR bit, if material is trapped in the alledged gap then there must be some smaller material getiing through onto the return strand. Have you seen this & what do you do with it? ■

You sure? Can't see it myself? ■

I'd say the pans were the wrong way round for the direction of travel. They open up a gap allowing product to fall through on passing round the sprocket.

Anyway, that's my two pennyworth. ■