All undercarriage elements are wearing components and are costly to replace when required. To maximise the life of these components and minimise the costs, there are some important maintenance requirements you must attend to along the way
Track Adjustment. It is very important that you keep your tracks to the correct adjustment at all times. Refer to your Komatsu Operation & Maintenance Manual for your machine for details of the correct adjustment and how to achieve this.
Keep them Clean. It is very important that you keep the tracks on your machine as clean as possible at all times. If you allow the tracks to pack or build up with dirt, mud, dust and other ground products it will lead to increased wear rates, perceived lower power and increased fuel usage. You should use every opportunity to use a high-pressure hose to clean your tracks. In addition, get in the habit of digging away as much of the dirt as you can before or after each shift.
Minimise Reversing. The tracks on your machine are designed to operate with less wear when traveling forward, compared with reverse travel. Reversing creates extra wear and you should reverse as little as possible. The extra power required for reverse will also cause an increase in fuel consumption.
Measure your Undercarriage. You should ensure that your Komatsu Customer Support Sales Representative (CSSR) measures and checks your undercarriage components regularly; every six months at a minimum, more in demanding conditions. This is available free as part of our Komatsu e-Care undercarriage inspection service.
By doing this, the CSSR will be able to help you manage you undercarriage to achieve maximum life and schedule replacement for minimal downtime. Your CSSR will be able to recommend pin & bush turns, roller rotation and the replacement of sprocket rings to maximise overall component life and minimise cost.
Our CSSR will also be able to ensure we have stocks of Genuine Komatsu Undercarriage on hand when replacement does become necessary on your Komatsu machine. Any other brand will not be designed specifically for your machine.
For more information on getting the best possible life from your undercarriage, please call 1300 KOMATSU (1300 566 287) to speak to your nearest Customer Support representative.