How to slash your machinery costs

Regardless of whether you run a single piece of equipment or an entire fleet of machinery, one thing is certain. Running heavy equipment is an expensive exercise, hence you try to save dollars where you can, without compromising on productivity.

But if you're only looking into the engine compartment or eco controls in the cab for some extra cash in the pocket, you could be looking in the wrong places.

In fact, 50 per cent of operating costs lie in the undercarriage. Just one damaged component (such as a failed bottom roller) will increase wear and shorten the life of all related components.

For example, if a rock hits a roller, the track and sprocket will also experience unnecessary strain and consequently cause unplanned downtime and costly replacements.

So by taking good care of the undercarriage, you can be sure to cut operating costs right down.

The good news is, undercarriage component maintenance is easier than you think. With daily routine inspections, you can spot potential issues before they begin to fester.

Make sure high wearing parts including sprockets, rollers, idler, chains and tracks are working as needed and not inhibited by rocks and debris.

Clear the tracks and undercarriage of foreign material as often as possible to ensure the next operation goes smoothly.

How you operate the machine greatly affects the wear and tear of the undercarriage. For example, aggressive driving such as counter rotations, track spinning, back dragging and high speed travel increases wear.

On rugged and sloped terrain, operate up and down rather than across the slope where possible.

Excavators should operate with idlers toward the direction of travel, sprockets at the rear. Excessive operation in reverse will contribute to undercarriage component fatigue.

Handle your machine with care and it will return the favour by saving you money in the long term.

As much as you try to care for your machine and its undercarriage, wear is unavoidable. It is only a matter of time before it surfaces, depending on the applications, job requirements, hours of application and underfoot conditions of the machine.

Hence, choosing the right replacement tracks for the right kind of application and terrain is of utmost importance. Operators should also look for tracks and components engineered to work and wear together as a system.

Take advantage of the after sales service offered by your local dealer or distributor. Ask for a machine inspection from time to time to check for wear, and seek replacement as soon as possible before it starts affecting your work.

Hastings Deering specialises in the Caterpillar brand of heavy equipment and offers a free Custom Track Service to customers as part of an overall machine inspection. Qualified technicians will visit your work site to assess the wear and tear of your tracks and undercarriage components and will, if applicable, give you free advice for any repairs or replacement requirements.

They can also assist in matching the right undercarriage solution to application and underfoot operation.

For more information on the Custom Track Service, visit Hastings Deering's website.