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These 6 undercarriage tips will avoid costly excavator downtime

The undercarriage of tracked heavy equipment, such as crawler excavators, consists of numerous moving components that must be maintained to function properly. If the undercarriage is not routinely inspected and maintained, it may lead to downtime and lost money, as well as a potential decrease in the track’s lifespan.

By following these six undercarriage care tips, outlined by Doosan marketing manager Aaron Kleingartner, you can improve performance and life out of your crawler excavator’s steel track undercarriage when working in construction applications. Undercarriage Idler

At the end of the workday, excavator operators should take time to remove dirt and other debris that may lead to undercarriage buildup. Regardless of the application, if the undercarriage is dirty, it needs to be cleaned. If the undercarriage is not routinely cleaned, it will lead to premature wear on components. This is especially true in colder climates.

“If operators neglect to clean the undercarriage and are working in a colder climate, the mud, dirt and debris will freeze,” Kleingartner said. “Once that material freezes, it can start to rub on the bolts, loosen the guiding and seize up the rollers, leading to potential wear later on. Cleaning the undercarriage helps prevent unnecessary downtime.”

In addition, debris adds additional weight to the undercarriage, therefore reducing fuel economy. Use shovels and pressure washers to help clean the undercarriage.

Many manufacturers offer undercarriages that are designed for easier track carriage clean-out, which helps debris fall to the ground rather than getting packed in the undercarriage.

It is important to complete a full undercarriage inspection for excessive or uneven wear, as well as look for damaged or missing components. According to Kleingartner, if the machine is being used in harsh applications or other challenging conditions, the undercarriage may need to be inspected more frequently.

The following items should be inspected on a routine basis:

During a routine walk-around inspection, operators should check the tracks to see if any components look out of place. If so, this could indicate a loose track pad or even a broken track pin. As well, they should inspect the rollers, idlers and drives for oil leakage.

These oil leaks could indicate a failed seal that may lead to a major failure in the rollers, idlers or  the machine’s track drive motors.

Always follow your manufacturer’s operation and maintenance manual for proper undercarriage maintenance.

Certain construction jobsite tasks can create more wear on excavator tracks and undercarriages than other applications, so it is important that operators adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended operating procedures.

According to Kleingartner, some tips that can help minimize track and undercarriage wear include:

Incorrect track tension may lead to increased  wear, so it is important to adhere to the proper tension. As a general rule, when your operators are working in soft, muddy conditions, it is recommended to run the tracks slightly looser.

“If steel tracks are too tight or too loose, it can quickly accelerate wear,” Kleingartner said. “A loose track could cause the tracks to de-track.”

Rubber tracks are available on smaller excavators and these models excel in a variety of applications.

Most noticeably, rubber tracks provide good flotation, allowing excavators to travel across and work on soft ground conditions. The rubber tracks have minimal ground disturbance on finished surfaces, such as concrete, grass or asphalt.

Your crawler excavator operators should follow basic operating procedures – outlined in your manufacturer’s operation and maintenance manual – to minimize excessive wear and track degradation.

The undercarriage makes up a large portion of track replacement costs. They consist of expensive components, so adhering to these six undercarriage maintenance tips, as well as proper track maintenance outlined in your manufacturer’s Operation & Maintenance Manual, may help keep your overall cost of ownership down and extend the life of your tracks.

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