Six Tips for Increasing Undercarriage Longevity

Proper operation and maintenance are key factors in increasing the service life of your machine. Some common, avoidable habits cause premature wear of undercarriage components. Use these six tips and learn to work with your multi terrain loader rather than against it.

What factors affect undercarriage wear? Aggressive, intense work sessions contribute to multi terrain loader (MTL) undercarriage wear. Tough jobs requiring high torque and horsepower on rough terrain impact the service life of your machine. Regular maintenance and cleaning is important to extend the life of your undercarriage. How can I minimize track wear on my MTL? Operate up and down sloped surfaces instead of across. Keeping the heaviest end of the loader uphill prevents wear to track lugs. Don't forget to avoid quick turns, which can lead to derailment and track damage. If you come across a surface with a slope change, such as a curb or ledge, travel over it at a 90-degree angle rather than along it. The track and roller wheels can be exposed to side stress, making the wheels ride up and over the drive lugs.When backdragging, operate the loader arms in the FLOAT position. Take advantage of the machine suspension and reduce deterioration of the track and rear roller wheels. Using as little pressure as necessary for the job keeps both tracks firmly on the ground instead of raising the front of the track up in the air. What operating methods increase wear to the undercarriage? Counter-rotating to quickly change directions wears track out prematurely. Try using gradual turns and three point turns, which protects soft surfaces and prevents wear to the track and roller wheels. What other precautions should I take to minimize wear on my loader? Check rubber track tension regularly and adjust as needed*. Adjusting the track too loosely or too tightly causes premature wear and damage to track components. Avoid "ratcheting," which occurs when the track is too loose, causing the track drive lugs to jump over the sprocket rollers. Ratcheting creates quicker wear and damage to the track drive lugs. Do not adjust the track too tightly. It triggers wear to the undercarriage. *Always follow the track adjustment guidelines outlined in your operation and maintenance manual. What type of maintenance schedule should I follow? If your MTL track adjustment uses a turnbuckle arrangement, lubricate it with an oil spray to prevent rusting and simplify track adjustments. Keep torsion axles in good operating condition with regular lubrication. Frequent care helps increase service life. Check sprocket roller sleeves daily to ensure proper operation and maintenance manual wear limits*. Roller sleeves should turn freely to reduce wear to the track drive lugs. *Always follow guidelines outlined in your operation and maintenance manual. When and how should I clean the undercarriage? Caterpillar recommends you clean out the undercarriage daily to avoid early wear of machine components. Remove abrasive materials (such as mud, clay or gravel) as often as possible. When cleaning, focus on areas around the front and rear roller wheels. Debris builds up easily in these areas and can be difficult to remove later. Pressure washers work well and small shovels can help dislodge materials from the undercarriage.