Track assembly having wear inhibiting contact members

A method of protecting components of a machine track assembly during operation, the machine track assembly including an outer track link, an inner track link, a track pin, a rotatable bushing positioned about the track pin, a first seal member disposed between the inner track link and the rotatable bushing, and a second seal member disposed between the inner and outer track links, the method comprising:

• disposing a sleeve bearing about the track pin;
• and
• protecting the first and second seal members at least in part by:
• assembling a first thrust ring about the track pin and engaging the first thrust ring with the rotatable bushing;
• assembling a second thrust ring about the track pin and engaging the second thrust ring with the sleeve bearing;
• engaging a first contact member with the first seal member;
• and
• engaging a second contact member with the second seal member.

A track-type machine comprising:

• a frame;
• a track mounted on the frame and including a first chain assembly;
• a second chain assembly coupled with the first chain assembly via plurality of track pins, the first and second chain assemblies including a plurality of inner track links and a plurality of outer track links;
• a rotatable bushing positioned about each track pin;
• a sleeve bearing disposed within a first bore of each inner track link and positioned about each track pin;
• a first seal member disposed between each inner track link and the rotatable bushing;
• a second seal member disposed between each inner and outer track link;
• a first thrust ring positioned about each track pin and engaged with the rotatable bushing;
• a second thrust ring disposed about each track pin and engaged with the sleeve bearing;
• and
• a first contact member engaged with the first seal member and a second contact member engaged with the second seal member, the first and second contact members configured to inhibit wear of the first and second seal members.