As the core component of engineering machinery, agricultural machinery and special vehicles, the maintenance of crawler chassis is directly related to the service life and operating efficiency of the equipment. However, in actual operation, many users have many misunderstandings about the maintenance of crawler chassis, and even some "experience" accelerates the wear of the chassis. This article will reveal the ten common misunderstandings about crawler chassis maintenance to help you avoid these "pitfalls" and make your equipment run longer and more efficiently.
Misunderstanding 1: The tighter the track, the better? Wrong!
90% of users are wrong about the first one! Many people think that the tighter the track is adjusted, the better it can prevent derailment. In fact, this is the most common misunderstanding. Too tight tracks will lead to:
Increased walking resistance and fuel consumption
Excessive pressure on the drive wheel, guide wheel and supporting wheel, accelerating wear
Track pins and track links are subjected to excessive force and may break
Correct approach: The tension should be adjusted according to different working conditions:
Soft soil (such as mud and sand): slightly loose to prevent abnormal stress caused by soil accumulation
Hard and flat road surface: slightly tight to reduce vibration
General standard: Measure the maximum vertical distance between the lower edge of the middle position of the chassis side frame and the track shoe, which should be within the range of 30-40mm
Misunderstanding 2: No need to clean the chassis mud? Be careful of high cost!
Many operators think that the track chassis covered with mud is "normal" and does not need to be cleaned. In fact:
The sand and gravel in the sludge will accelerate the wear of the supporting wheels and sprocket wheels
The accumulated soil may cause the track to derail
Acidic soil will corrode metal parts
The correct approach:
After daily operation, support the equipment on one side (about 30cm from the ground) and walk at high speed to make the sludge fall off
Stubborn dirt can be washed with a high-pressure water gun, but avoid direct impact on the oil seal part
In particular, the accumulated mud around the drive wheel and guide wheel should be cleaned
Myth 3: The more grease, the better? Too much is as bad as too little!
Some users think that "more grease is better", but in fact:
Excessive grease will absorb more dust and form a grinding paste effect
The oil seal may fail due to excessive pressure
Waste lubricating materials and increase costs
The correct approach:
Lubricate according to the cycle and oil filling amount specified in the equipment manual
Use a special high-pressure grease gun to ensure that the grease reaches the lubrication point
Clean the old grease before adding new grease
Myth 4: The maintenance methods of rubber tracks and steel tracks are the same? There is a big difference!
Many people don't know that there are significant differences in the maintenance of rubber tracks and steel tracks:
Rubber tracks:
Avoid contact with oils, acids and alkalis, which will cause rubber aging
The running speed should not exceed 5m/s to avoid high-speed friction and heat
When storing, it should be placed in a roll, not folded, and turned over once a quarter
Steel tracks:
The wear of the chain track segments needs to be checked regularly
Pay attention to the lubrication of the pin shaft to prevent dry friction
It should be rinsed in time after working in a corrosive environment
Misunderstanding 5: Is the abnormal noise of the chassis a small problem? It may be a precursor to a major failure!
"A little noise is normal" is a dangerous idea! Abnormal noise may indicate:
Damage to the bearing of the supporting wheel or the sprocket
Excessive wear of the track chain segment
Severe wear of the drive wheel teeth
Correct approach:
Stop and check immediately if abnormal noise is found
Focus on checking the wear of the source of the noise
Contact professional maintenance personnel if necessary
Misunderstanding 6: No special maintenance is required for long-term parking? Be careful of "breaking"!
Many users ignore the chassis of idle equipment. In fact:
Long-term pressure on the track will produce plastic deformation
Exposed metal parts will rust and corrode
Rubber tracks will crack due to static stress
Correct approach:
Thoroughly clean the chassis before long-term parking
Lift the equipment to release the tension of the track off the ground
Rubber tracks should be parked away from direct sunlight
Move the equipment regularly (monthly) to change the pressure point of the track
Misunderstanding 7: Use the same tension for all working conditions? Flexible adjustment is scientific!
Many operators do not adjust the tension after adjusting it. In fact:
Soft terrain (such as mud and sand): slightly loose to prevent abnormal stress caused by soil accumulation
Hard terrain: slightly tight to reduce jumping and wear
Extreme cold environment: Consider metal shrinkage and adjust appropriately
High temperature environment: Consider metal expansion and adjust appropriately
Professional advice: Adjust the tension according to the working conditions to extend the track life by more than 30%
Myth 8: Replace the worn chassis parts without repairing them? Small repairs save big money!
Many users replace the entire part as soon as they see wear and tear. In fact:
The early worn drive wheel can be used with an adjustable surface
The track plate with local wear can be replaced separately
Timely replacement of oil seal failure can avoid greater losses
Economic approach:
Regularly check the wear and tear and intervene early
Use professional repair technology (such as surfacing welding to repair the drive wheel)
Establish a record of parts replacement and predict the remaining life
Myth 9: The chassis armor is sprayed once and for all? Regular maintenance is required!
Many users no longer pay attention to chassis armor after installing it. In fact:
The armor coating will age and fall off over time
Mechanical damage such as stone impact will damage the protective layer
New welding parts may not be protected
Proper maintenance:
Check the integrity of the armor once a year
Re-spray the damaged parts in time
New cars or overhauls should be fully sprayed
Myth 10: Maintenance only looks at the track? These key points are often overlooked!
Many users only focus on the track itself, ignoring:
Floating oil seal: the key to preventing oil leakage, dust accumulation will cause failure
Guide wheel adjustment: too large a gap will cause the whole machine to swing
Support wheel lubrication: lack of oil will cause the bearing to burn
Drive wheel teeth: uneven wear affects transmission efficiency
Comprehensive maintenance list:
Daily: check tension, clean sludge
Weekly: check the status of the support wheels and sprockets
Monthly: full lubrication, check oil seals
Every 250 hours: deep cleaning and maintenance
Professional maintenance advice: double the life of your track chassis
Establish a maintenance log: record each adjustment, lubrication and repair
Original parts first: non-original parts may cause matching problems
Professional training for operators: many problems are caused by improper operation
Special care for harsh environments: seaside and acid-base environments require increased maintenance frequency
Special precautions in winter:
Warm up at low speed after cold start
Avoid sharp turns on icy and snowy roads
Clear the snow after parking to prevent freezing
Remember: the cost of preventive maintenance is much lower than that of fault repair! A correct maintenance plan can extend the life of the crawler chassis by more than 50%, saving a lot of maintenance costs and downtime losses. Starting today, avoid these ten misunderstandings and maximize the value of your equipment!