Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/268384
AGGREGATES MANAGER March 2014 14 to idlers, rollers, and guide lugs by placing greater forces on one side. Travel straight up or down the slope. Turns are best performed on level ground. Some jobs require hillside work — for these situations, keep in mind that minimizing time on the slope will al- ways pay off in reduced wear and load to the undercarriage. • Alternate turning direction. Continuous turn- ing on the same side can cause asymmetrical wear and accelerated wear. Make every effort to balance the direction of turns throughout the day. If it's not possible, check for wear more oen. • Control track spinning. Unnecessary spinning can increase wear and decrease productivity. Decrease the blade or bucket load to avoid it. • Limit high-speed and reverse travel. Higher speeds can cause more wear, as can unneces- sary travel in reverse. Minimize unproduc- tive high speeds and avoid excessive travel in reverse. • Use caution when edges are encountered. Avoid loading just the side of the track pad, instead of the entire pad supporting the weight. Proper maintenance pays dividends Proper care of the undercarriage can signifi- cantly minimize maintenance costs, increase uptime, and impact the longevity of the dozer. Owners and operators should: • Ensure proper track tension. Monitor track tension when the machine is in working con- ditions and adjust it accordingly. When steel tracks are too tight, it accelerates bushing wear. When they're too loose, it can create instability, and, in the worst-case scenario, it can cause the tracks to derail. Proper tension also ensures the machine puts available power to best use. Check the operator's manual for specific track inspection and tensioning procedures. • Keep the undercarriage clean. At the end of the day, clean out mud and debris from the undercarriage since it can build up and accelerate component wear. Doing so at the end of the day ensures that material that might freeze or dry up and harden overnight is removed. Optional covers and guards are available to help keep the undercarriage clean. • Conduct daily inspections. Operators should inspect the under- carriage for excessive or uneven wear, as well as damaged or missing components. Any issues should be immediately ad- dressed to minimize further wear or damage. • Follow the schedule. Conduct a complete undercarriage inspec- tion in keeping with the manufacturer's recommendations. More frequent inspections should be performed if the machine is used in conditions that are more demanding than normal. All regular service items should be checked at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer. Consult your owner's manual. Prevention is the best medicine — true for human health, as well as dozer performance. EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT