Here at Jaytrac, we believe that inspecting the undercarriage of your heavy-duty equipment should be a regular part of your maintenance routine. The undercarriage supports and drives your whole machine and therefore it is vital it is functioning correctly. Whether you own a Caterpillar, Komatsu or Volvo, you are likely to want to maximise your equipment’s lifespan, ensure it is running at optimum performance, and above all, functioning safely. To make things easier, we have highlighted some points to consider when inspecting your machine’s undercarriage. Incorporating this inspection as part of your regular maintenance routine is sure to keep your heavy-duty machine in good working order.

Safety first

Before completing any maintenance on your heavy-duty machine, ensure you are adhering to the appropriate safety measures. Wearing Personal Protective Equipment such as eyewear, gloves, steel-toed footwear and hard hats helps prevent injuries occurring when working on construction machinery.

Before inspecting the undercarriage, ensure that the machine is fully turned off and standing on a level surface with no risk of rolling or slipping.

Check for damage and debris

One of the most important steps in the undercarriage inspection is to check for damage. You should get into the habit of running these checks daily, particularly before and after using your machine. If a part of your machine is damaged, it could seriously hinder its overall performance and safety. Check that there are no cracks, holes or obvious signs of wear on the individual components of the undercarriage including all track links, shoes, track rollers, carrier rollers, idlers, segments, and track adjusters. During the inspection, check for any debris that may have lodged in the undercarriage. This might be pieces of rock or hard mud that may have caught in your track links. If left, this debris can build up and result in serious damage.

Check track tension

Checking the tension of the tracks in the undercarriage is a crucial part of maintenance. If the tracks are too tight, it can create stress and increase the chances of breakage. If too loose, it can wear down other components, make your machine unstable or worse, derail your tracks entirely. Your machine maintenance manual will specify the correct track tension, so be sure to refer during this step. Different conditions, such as wet and clinging ground conditions, may also require you to adjust your track tension accordingly.

Check your grease points

During your inspection, ensure that the undercarriage’s grease points are sufficiently lubricated. Grease points are important to prevent friction which can increase the chance of premature wear. During this process, also check to ensure there are no oil leaks.

Replace worn or damaged parts

If you do notice any worn or damaged parts, you must replace them as soon as possible. If damaged or worn parts are left unattended, it can result in serious damage and likely to incur greater costs in the long run. From a safety perspective, it is also paramount that all parts of your machine are in optimum working order. Luckily, here at Jaytrac, we supply a variety of replacement undercarriage parts, sourced from Quality Assured European OE Quality Manufacturers.

Following these steps as part of your daily, weekly, and monthly routine as preventative maintenance is sure to extend the lifespan of your machine and reduce the cost of ownership. As replacement parts specialists, we are on-hand to help. Get in touch today on 01604 491133 or email sales@jaytrac.co.uk