Excavator Undercarriage Maintenance Tips

It's important to properly maintain your excavator and that includes taking care of the equipment's undercarriage. The following guide covers maintenance tasks that can be done at-home. If you need professional maintenance help or want to explore excavators for sale, visit Bobcat of Parry Sound. Our dealership is based in Parry Sound, Ontario.

Check the Track Tension

Improper track tension can be harmful to an excavator. Too loose and it can cause sped-up wear for the bushings and sprockets. Too tight and it can cause sped-up wear for the undercarriage as well as waste fuel.

Check the owner's manual to determine the ideal track tension for your given excavator. You'll want to inspect the tension after every 10-15 hours of use. Just be sure to let the equipment run for about 30 minutes first. This will let it acclimate to the working conditions and give you a better insight into the track tension, which helps you make better track tension adjustments.

You may also want to adjust the track tension to suit given terrain conditions. Looser tracks work well with soft and muddy conditions. Tighter tracks work well in firm and tough ground conditions.

Check the Shoe Width

Improper shoe width can also cause problems. Too wide and the shoes face sped-up wear. Too narrow and the excavator can sink into the ground and get debris more easily caught in the undercarriage.

The key is using the narrowest shoe width possible while still getting the function and flotation needed. Narrower shoes can offer better grip and soil penetration, which is ideal for hard and rocky terrain. Wider shoes can offer better flotation and reduced ground pressure, which is ideal for soft and loose terrain.

Clean the Excavator Undercarriage

At the end of each work day, take the time to clean out the excavator undercarriage. Simply use a shovel or pressure washer to remove any debris. If you leave the debris for later, it will become harder to remove.

Employ Best Excavator Operating Practices

Certain operating practices can cause increased wear and tear. Try to avoid high-speed usage, moving in reverse, sharp turns, and going up and down slopes.

Inspect the Excavator

After 1,000 to 2,000 hours of use, inspect the excavator. Look for damaged parts that need to be replaced, uneven wear that can signify a problem, and so on. The sooner you catch issues, the easier they will be to fix.

If you run into an issue that you can't DIY, the experts at Bobcat of Parry Sound are here to help. Our service department can handle a wide variety of excavator maintenance needs. If you want to upgrade your fleet, we also carry a range of excavators for sale. Simply reach out or stop by our dealership to get started. We are located in Parry Sound, Ontario, and also serve those in Muskoka and North Bay.