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Maintaining The Undercarriage of Your Excavator

Jan. 19 2021 Maintenance By Bobcat of Buffalo

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As a responsible owner of construction equipment like excavators, you need to ensure that it’s always in good working order for the safety of you and your crew, as well as the overall life of your equipment. Excavators that are regularly maintained are more likely to last you a long time, which saves you from having to shop for a new one too quickly.

One of the most important components of excavator maintenance is taking care of the undercarriage. If you don’t know what you’re doing, this can be challenging, but we’re here to help. Bobcat of Buffalo, located in Lockport, is your New York State excavator dealer. Here are some tips to help you maintain the undercarriage of your excavator for proper functioning.

1. Use the Right Track Tension

Your owner’s manual should tell you the correct track tension for your particular make and model of excavator and you should endeavor to make sure that it’s always set. Tracks that are too loose can increase wear on your sprockets and bushings, while tracks that are too tight can stress out your undercarriage and waste fuel.

To check the track tension, let your excavator run for approximately half an hour so that the tracks acclimate to working conditions. Try to check the tension after every ten or fifteen hours of usage. 

Sometimes, it’s beneficial to adjust the tension to suit particular terrain types. Looser tracks will make it easier to work on soft and muddy ground, while tighter tracks make it less of a challenge to work on firm ground. 

2. Use the Correct Shoe Width

The shoe width on your excavator needs to match up with the machine and the terrain. Shoes that are too narrow will allow the excavator to sink into the ground, while shoes that are too wide will wear down the machine faster.

Narrower shoes are best for hard and rocky terrain, while soft terrain merits the use of wider shoes. Try to use the narrowest shoes possible for any situation.

3. Clean The Undercarriage Regularly

You may think that a clean machine is simply about looking good and keeping dirt off the operator. However, an excavator with a clean undercarriage is more likely to work correctly. If you allow debris to build up, any of the following issues can occur:

  • Parts will wear down faster, necessitating expensive replacements
  • Heavy dirt will weigh down the undercarriage and reduce fuel efficiency
  • Components won’t be inspected properly when you look them over because you won’t be able to see what’s amiss

At the end of a work day, use a pressure washer or even just a shovel to clean off debris from your excavator’s undercarriage. Regular removal ensures that debris doesn’t have time to build up, making it more difficult to remove over time.

4. Follow Good Operating Practices

When using your excavator, it’s wise to follow these guidelines to reduce the need for professional maintenance or part replacements:

  • Avoid moving in reverse
  • Limit usage at higher speeds
  • Use ramps to go up steep angles
  • Make wider turns to avoid de-tracking
  • Avoid spending too long on slopes

5. Inspect Your Undercarriage Regularly

Finally, it pays to perform regular inspections of your excavator and its undercarriage to ensure everything is working as it should. Inspections should occur every 1000 to 2000 working hours, with more frequent inspections for equipment that is used more frequently.

When inspecting your excavator, look for these issues:

  • Uneven wear or wear that is happening too fast
  • Missing or damaged components
  • Oil leakage from rollers, idlers and drives
  • Parts of the track that have fallen out of place

Make sure to get your excavator professionally inspected as soon as possible when you find issues. If you ever need assistance with your excavator, Bobcat of Buffalo offers 24/7 Mobile Service so that we can always help you out of a jam. And if you would like to schedule a maintenance appointment, you can get in touch with our service team to set up a time so we can get your excavator back into fighting condition. 

Looking to buy a new excavator instead? Check out our website to see our wide stock of new and used excavators and other pieces of construction equipment for sale at our dealership located in Lockport, NY. We also offer financing options to assist you with your purchase. Bobcat of Buffalo proudly serves the cities of Buffalo and Amherst, NY.