In the undercarriage system, the various components of a crawler undercarriage — links, pins, bushings, sprockets, rollers, idlers, shoes and frames are assembled into a system that supports and propels a track-type machine that transform the crawler undercarriage to be a complex mechanism.
Undercarriage basic points to note:
- Undercarriages are to be cleaned and check frequently in order to prevent soil or debris from packing onto the system. This reduces the chances of increased loads on the undercarriage components which also reduce higher wear rates. Of course, it also depends on where the undercarriage system is being used based on the terrain types.
- Reducing the duration on reverse operation to decrease the percentage of pins and bushings in terms of contact and load. Reverse operation also accelerates wear on the track bushings and sprocket teeth which will cause shorter lifespan of your undercarriage components.
- Track tension causing track sag affect can be controlled by having the correct track chain adjustment. The correct sag is normally estimated at 2 inches. On the other hand, working with a tight track can cause your fuel consumption and wear rate to increase.
- Misalignment of the track frame and front idler will increase the wearing of all undercarriage components. In order clearly identify the misalignment, a visual inspection on the track rollers and idlers are required to check on the wear patterns.
- By limiting the travelling speed and distance, we can prolong the lifespan of the undercarriage system. Therefore, it is always important to pre-plan your working process to minimize long travelling distance to cover.