The undercarriage is one of the parts of a vehicle that do not get the right attention. The undercarriage is an integral part of any motor vehicle especially construction equipment. It serves as protection for internal sensitive components such as the gears, the transmission, and the engine underside from ground wreckage. The undercarriage is most important in construction sites. It shields the internal components of heavy equipment from materials that are capable of causing damage or corrosion. Owners of construction equipment should invest in proper undercarriage maintenance. Undercarriages are built with durable materials that can resist the abuse it will undergo. Yet, you have to put some measures in place to avoid damage to the undercarriage and extend its lifespan. Construction equipment is on a daily basis performing heavy duty tasks such as: picking up materials, digging trenches, moving along rough and muddy terrain. Demolition work is another demanding task that an undercarriage is used for. Though, an excavator can be static while it’s working. The movement of the arm, the swing of the machine house and boom is hard work for the excavator.
We recommend the following steps to achieve proper maintenance of your undercarriage;
- Regular cleaning and maintenance
What you need most to achieve this is a pressure washer. Undercarriages on a regular basis come in contact with grime, dirt, and corrosive chemicals. Monthly washing of the undercarriage will ensure the removal of chemical buildup. This is capable of causing damage soon if not removed. Do thorough inspection after cleaning the undercarriage to check for damages. The pressure washer will blast away the dirt deposits and chemicals hidden in the crevices and cracks of the undercarriage.
You should consider the application of the rubberized spray. This will help reduce the possibility of buildup. It will serve as a guide layer against these elements thereby ensuring the durability of the undercarriage. Serious damage should not make you result in self-help rather consider consulting a professional for necessary guidance and repair. In serious situations such as accident, replacement of the entire undercarriage is usually advised. Proper maintenance culture forestalls high expenses on repairs.
- Daily inspection
Whenever the equipment is in heavy use, do a daily inspection of the equipment. Check for bends, breaks and cracks on any of the components. Make sure all fasteners are well tightened, re-tight loose ones and exposed inner components. Some of the components you should look at are rollers, idlers and sprockets. If you notice any damage, try to make corrections before using. When you discover potential problems on time it won’t cause any serious equipment failure
- Low operating speeds
The drive to finish a project or deliver as soon as possible may push an operator to high speed but note that over speeding increases wear and tear that the machine will undergo. High speed is the cause of wear on bushings, pins and sprockets. This is because speed and distance are the main causes of wear and tear. High operating speed increases the likelihood that damage will occur to the undercarriage. The faster you go the higher your possibility of delivering less quality work. There’s also a higher risk of accident as well. Hence, working at low speed is best to achieve quality and as well as maintain your equipment.
- Decrease reverse operations
Unless necessary, try as much as possible not to do reverse operation. It wears out the sprockets and bushings.
- Discourage digging over the sprocket
Prevent digging over sprocket by the excavator. This is capable of causing the bushings to break or crack. Encourage that the operator dig over the front idlers. It handles the vertical load better.
- Make your dealer your maintenance partner
Arrange regular routine maintenance check with your machine dealer. They have trained personnel who can help you run routine test services at regular intervals. These services are commonly affordable. This will put potential damage in checks as they can detect this earlier than your operator.
- Adhere to the telematics system
The telematics system tracks how you use your equipment, its performance and also the right time for maintenance and draw your attention to issues.
- Follow proper safety guidelines
Following proper safety guidelines during the inspection of heavy duty equipment is vital. It brings about secure parking of the equipment and ensures that the brakes are locked. This helps to avoid activation and damage risk during the inspection. When you make time to inspect your equipment you automatically cut down the cost of repairs and prolong the durability of the equipment itself. The undercarriage is just a part out of many.
Are you looking at how best to maximize life out of your equipment? Simply ensure the replacement of undercarriage parts whenever you are replacing the tracks. Remember that worn out sprockets if not change is capable of causing premature track wear and failure. Do not wait any longer for serious damages before taking the right step. TRACKS N TEETH has made getting all your undercarriage parts easy. We offer the best deals in the sales of undercarriage parts such as;
- Track Pins & Bushings
- Carrier Rollers
- Link Assemblies
- Bogies
- Track Rollers
- Sprockets
- Idlers
- Spring Recoil
- Equalizer Bars
- Track Adjuster & Recoil
- Track Shoes
- Track Guides
- Rubber Tracks
- Pivot Pins
with our affordable and competitive prices for both dealers and contractors, you assured of the”Right Parts, the Right Price, every day”. Our undercarriage parts are supplied by renowned manufacturers: Berco of America, ITR America, Trek direct, Value parts, boyd and sons, bluemaq, American crane and tractor, KTSU among others. They are famous for quality and ISO certified. Contact one of our parts specialists today for detailed information on Replacement of parts.