Take action to reduce undercarriage costs

Undercarriage maintenance costs can consume 50 percent or more of the maintenance budget for your Cat track-type machines. It’s good management to understand how your undercarriage works so you can reduce wear and minimize operation and maintenance costs.

• Maintain optimum track tension
• Run the right shoe width for conditions
• Monitor operator habits
• Prepare machines for underfoot conditions

Start with the best and keep it working longer
Caterpillar designs undercarriage components to wear as an efficient system.
How and where your machines are operated can impact the life of the entire undercarriage system. The following steps can maximize your investment in Cat Undercarriage.

Maintain optimum track tension
Tight tracks create excess stress throughout the undercarriage, increasing wear on bushings, sprockets, carrier rollers and idlers. Follow the tension adjusting procedures in your machine’s owner’s manual or consult your Cat Dealer.

Run the right shoe width for conditions
The extra flotation of the wide shoes used for muddy conditions can actually increase wear and strain on shoes, pins and bushings when used in high impact conditions.

Monitor operator habits for unproductive travel, speed and work location
How a machine is operated can impact undercarriage life and costs. These areas need special attention:

Track-Type Tractors
Speed
High speed operation, especially in reverse, means more wear on links, rollers, idlers, bushings and sprockets. Avoid high speeds whenever possible.

Turning

Turning the machine constantly to one side increases wear to rail sides, rollers and idler flanges on that side. If operators cannot alternate turning directions, regularly check for wear on the turn side. Rotating tracks can help extend life.

Slipping Track

If track slips, decrease the load to prevent excessive wear
and stress on grousers.

Adjust to the Site

Tracks will last longer when you work downhill rather than uphill. Alternate sides when on hills. If a machine constantly works on crowns or in depressions, check for inside or outside track wear.

You can place the least amount of strain on undercarriage and final drive components by following these three rules:
1. Never dig over final drive.
2. Never dig over side of machine.
3. Always dig over front idlers to reduce potential for structural problems.

Prepare machines for underfoot conditions
You can equip the machine to handle the soil conditions of a specific environment. Use center-punched shoes and remove roller guards in muddy conditions to reduce packing and the increased tension and wear it causes. Use extreme service shoes and carrier rollers for abrasive conditions.

Maximize life and reduce costs with Custom Track Service
Custom Track Service (CTS) is an exclusive Cat Dealer service that helps you monitor undercarriage wear and identify repair needs early. Trained track specialists monitor and predict component wear so
you can plan repairs to achieve the lowest operating costs.
CTS inspections minimize your downtime by utilizing high-tech instruments like the Ultrasonic Wear Indicator, which uses sound waves to measure component thickness and calculates the percentage of wear.