Feb 25, 2014 - 4 years ago
By Supply Post
The undercarriage of
tracked machines – dozers,
excavators and compact
track loaders – represents
a significant portion of
the equipment’s purchase
price and the lion’s share of
maintenance costs over the
life of the machine. In this
article we will cover tips on
how to prevent and minimize
undercarriage wear,
and maximize undercarriage
life and lower owning
and operating costs.

Operating techniques:
best practices
The undercarriage of a
crawler machine works as
a system of moving components
that consists of
sprockets, rollers, idlers,
tracks and other miscellaneous
parts. Proper operation
is critical to controlling
the cost of these wear
items. Follow these general
best practices:
• Plan ahead: Proper operating
procedures start
before the machine gets
to the jobsite. Check
the ground conditions
and the terrain to make
a number of informed
decisions. Examples include
the need to minimize
travel on the site as
travel equals wear, the
use of steel tracks versus
rubber tracks depending
on the need to control
ground pressure or
navigate debris, choosing
the narrowest shoe
width possible to meet
the required flotation,
and discussions with operators
about operating
techniques that match
the terrain.
• Make wider turns: Counter-
rotation, or pivot
turns, causes accelerated
wear and increases the
potential for de-tracking
of rubber-tracked machines.
Make wider more
gradual turns, such as Yturns,
when possible.
• Work up and down on
slopes: Constant operation
on a slope or hill
in one direction can accelerate
wear to idlers,
rollers and guide lugs by
placing greater forces on
one side. Travel straight
up or down the slope.
Turns are best performed
on level ground. We understand
some jobs require
hillside work. For
these situations, keep in
mind that minimizing
time on the slope will
always payoff in reduced
wear and load to the undercarriage.”
• Alternate turning direction:
Continuous turning
on the same side
can cause asymmetrical
wear and accelerated
wear. Make every effort
to balance the direction
of turns throughout the
day. If it’s not possible,
check for wear more often.
• Control track spinning:
Unnecessary spinning
can increase wear and
decrease productivity.
Decrease the blade or
bucket load to avoid it.
• Limit high-speed and
reverse travel: Higher
speeds can cause more
wear, as can unnecessary
travel in reverse
with dozers and CTLs.
Minimize unproductive
high speeds and avoid
excessive travel in reverse.
• Use caution when edges
are encountered: Driving
over steep edges, such as
curbs, can cause damage
to rubber tracks. Avoid
traveling over them altogether,
or use ramps. A
good suggestion for all
tracks (rubber or steel)
is to avoid loading just
the side of the track pad,
instead of the entire pad
supporting the weight.
Take care with rubber
tracks
Rubber tracks are a
good choice when working
in soft conditions and the
jobsite dictates the need
to minimize damage to the
ground. If rubber tracks are
used, it’s important to:
• Avoid harsh environments:
Traveling or
operating in, or on,
abrasive materials will
shorten track life. Avoid
surfaces that include
broken stone, jagged
rocks, scrap iron or other
recycled materials;
crushed rock, recycled
concrete or demolition
rubble; rough asphalt or
concrete; and rock-laden
jobsites or similar conditions
that can damage
tracks and cause them
to de-track when stones
get stuck in the idler or
sprockets. Also avoid
abrasive and contaminated
environments.
• Stick to relatively flat
surfaces: Operating the
machine with the out side/inside edge of the
track turned up can
cause damage to the edges
and lugs of the rubber
track. Avoid traveling
with the tracks on uneven
ground, or surfaces
with obstructions.
• Watch for curbs: Given
that rubber is weaker
than steel, do not allow
the sides of tracks to
contact curbs or walls to
minimize damage and
downtime.
• Rotate the tracks on compact
equipment: These
tracks are not directionspecific.
With tracks on
compact equipment,
pull the tracks and swap
sides or flip their direction
on each side when
wear patterns present
themselves.
• Properly clean and store
tracks: Flush the tracks
and undercarriage with
clean water if the machine
was used in areas
with corrosive materials.
The tracks should be stored on their sides to
avoid crimps.
• Replace not repair: Damaged
tracks cannot be
repaired and need to be
replaced to minimize excessive
wear to other undercarriage
components.
Use proper digging
techniques with
excavators
Operators should follow
proper procedures specific
to excavators and digging
to minimize wear and tear
on the machine’s undercarriage.
It’s recommended that
operators dig over the front
idlers. Doing so properly
transfers the vertical load
that can otherwise cause
damage. Avoid digging
over the sprocket because
it can cause bushings to
crack or break. It’s also
important to avoid digging
over the sides of the machine
given the additional
stress it places on track
shoes and the track link assembly.
Proper maintenance pays
dividends
Proper care of the undercarriage
can significantly
minimize maintenance
costs, increase
uptime and profoundly
impact the longevity of
the crawler machine.
Owners and operators
should:
• Ensure proper track tension:
Monitor track tension
when the machine
is in actual working
conditions and adjust it
accordingly. When steel
tracks are too tight, it accelerates
bushing wear.
When they’re too loose
it can create instability,
and in the worst case
scenario, it can cause the
tracks to derail. When
rubber tracks are too
tight, it can cause the
tracks to stretch or break
in addition to excessive
roller and idler wear. A
rubber track that is too
loose can de-track, leading
to a damaged track
and significant downtime.
Proper tension of steel or rubber tracks
also ensures the machine
puts available power to
best use. Check the operator’s
manual for specific
track inspection and
tensioning procedures.
• Keep the undercarriage
clean: At the end of the
day, clean out mud and
debris from the undercarriage
since it can
build up and accelerate
component wear. Doing
so at the end of the
day ensures that material
that might freeze or dry
up and harden overnight
is removed. Pay special
attention to clean-up
when rubber tracks are
used given that buildup
can cause the tracks
to “stretch,” or result in
harmful track tension.
• Conduct daily inspections:
Operators should
inspect the undercarriage
for excessive or
uneven wear, as well
as damaged or missing
components. Any issues
should be immediately
addressed to minimize
further wear or damage.
• Follow the schedule:
Conduct a complete undercarriage
inspection in
keeping with the manufacturer’s
recommendations.
More frequent
inspections should be
performed if the machine
is used in conditions
that are more demanding
than normal. Adhere
to routine maintenance
guidelines, including oil
changes for final drives
and checks on undercarriage
bolt torques.
Give the undercarriage
its due
Proper operation of
crawler machines – along
with proper undercarriage
care and maintenance – is
an essential part of fleet
management. Contractors
who give it the attention
it deserves will come out
ahead with machines that
deliver optimal performance
with lower overall
owning and operating
cost.