Undercarriage Tips to Reduce Wear
Extend the life of your undercarriage by following a few simple rules.
• Double Wear Life with CELT
CELT is Case Extended Life Track that can more than double the
wear life of a standard lubricated track design. With CELT, a
hardened bushing is placed over a standard type track bushing.
With this configuration, the larger bushing is free to rotate on the
smaller bushing, reducing the scrubbing action between the
bushing and the sprocket, which doubles the wear life.
• Adjust the track for correct tension
Loose tracks can detrack. Over-tightening can cause power loss,
excessive roller and idler wear, and could tear the tracks. Refer to
your operator’s manual for track inspection and tensioning procedures.
• Use the narrowest shoe possible
Wider shoes can cause problems maneuvering by sticking out
farther and making it more difficult to turn. Wider shoes may be
necessary, however, to keep the machine from sinking in extremely
wet conditions.
• Keep the undercarriage clean of mud and debris
The accumulation of mud and dirt around the undercarriage can
interfere with proper operation by changing the pitch, which
changes the component engagement and leads to faster wear.
Knock away any debris every day after use, then wash the tracks
thoroughly with water.
• Minimize high operating speeds
Higher speeds cause more wear on the undercarriage. Use the
slowest possible operating speed for the job.
• Alternate the turning direction
Continuous turning to the same side can cause asymmetrical wear
and accelerate wear for sprocket teeth, track tread, guide lugs and
roller flanges.
• Inspect your equipment visually every day for signs of wear
Check for cracks, bends and breaks on components. Look for
wear on bushings, sprockets and rollers. If you see any
components that are shiny, there’s probably an alignment problem.
Make sure nuts and bolts are not loose, which can cause
abnormal wear by interfering with proper movement of parts.
• Control track spinning when filling the bucket
Use loader hydraulics to penetrate into the material to reduce
track spinning. Unnecessary spinning of the tracks can accelerate
wear and cause cuts in the tracks.
