7 steps to a clean undercarriage
Clean tracks mean optimum performance and reduced downtime. Hastings Deering offers some tips on keeping your undercarriage debris freeEveryone knows it is imperative to keep your machine and tracks as clean as possible to ensure an efficient operation, but often they are not maintained frequently enough. Often, when a performance issue surfaces due to premature track wear, it is usually too late and operators will have to fork out wads of cash to get the problem fixed.
Prevention is always better than cure, so check your undercarriage often for a clean out. How often depends on the material worked. For example, abrasive material such as mud, sand, clay, and gravel pose more risk and should be cleaned out as frequently as possible, even several times a day. However, as a general rule, machine tracks should be checked and cleaned at least once a day.
Follow these seven steps to ensure a clean undercarriage every time:
- Do a quick walk around your machine.
- Remove rocks and larger debris by hand if possible. Make sure your machine is switched off and not in operation.
- If your tracks, rollers, idler wheels and sprockets are hidden under a layer of mud or dirt, clean it. Caked-on mud, for example, can conceal sizeable rocks or wires which can potentially affect the roller/idler operation.
- After working scrap piles, remove loose strands of material. Items such as steel wires can wrap around wheel axles and cause irreversible damage.
- Remove materials like mud at the end of the day. It is far easier to clean then instead of the next morning after it has dried.
- Use a water pressure washer to dislodge and remove foreign materials from the undercarriage. If not available, use a small shovel instead.
- Be careful not to damage any undercarriage components while cleaning. If foreign material is lodged in hard - don't force it. Instead, review your operator's manual or call your dealer for support.
Hastings Deering specialises in Cat heavy equipment and offers a free Custom Track Service as part of an overall machine inspection. As part of the service, the company will analyse the wear and tear of your machine's track and undercarriage and will offer free advice for any repair work required.
Find out more at hastingsdeering.com.au
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