ForConstructionPros.com

With undercarriage maintenance representing half of the owning and operating costs of a steel track machine, any extension in track life drops straight to the bottom line. And one of the largest influences on track life is the operator.

"Maximizing undercarriage life begins in the operator's seat," says Dick Schaefer, senior product manager, undercarriage, Komatsu America Corp. "The operator is the key ingredient to controlling undercarriage cost per hour. Therefore, operator training is a must."

Even with recent changes in track systems, the basics still apply. "Undercarriage technology has improved over the years with better shock absorbing systems, but the basic [excavator] track remains the same as it has for the last 20 or so years," says Dave Pooley, Hyundai Construction Equipment U.S.A. Inc. "Application and operator awareness make the difference in the longevity of the undercarriage."

Speed kills

High speed has always been detrimental to steel tracks.
"Traveling at high speed adds additional wear and stress on undercarriage components and increases the potential for serious damage," says Guido Bottin, vice president of operations, Berco of America Inc. "Wear on tracks is directly proportional to speed. So non-productive, high-speed travel should be limited, and every work action of the jobsite should be planned carefully. Track adjustment and alignment are also very important when operating at high speeds."

Of course, high-speed operation can't always be avoided. "There are times when a job requires higher speed operation, but the fact is wear accelerates as speed increases," says Thomas Neeley, world-wide undercarriage support manager, Caterpillar. "Links, rollers and idlers are particularly vulnerable. Keep them working longer by controlling your speed."