Undercarriage inspection
A undercarriage inspection is an essential part of the maintenance process. This involves a thorough inspection of the condition of the undercarriage and the degree of wear of the undercarriage of an excavator, bulldozer or other tracked vehicle. Do you have the impression that your undercarriage might be worn out? Contact us today: +3292510796
The undercarriage is one of the most wear-sensitive parts of a tracked machine. Consequently, it has a direct impact on the performance, safety and operating costs of your tracked vehicle. During an undercarriage inspection, the various components (track chains, bottom rollers, track shoes, sprockets, idlers…) are checked to assess the degree of wear and functionality. The following describes what an undercarriage inspection entails.
Visual inspection
The first step in a inspection is to perform a visual check of all parts of the undercarriage. This involves looking for cracks, fractures or other visible damage. This then usually gives a general idea of the condition of the undercarriage and helps identify potential problems.
Checking the track chains
The track chains are inspected for wear, and any presence of cracks or tears in the bushings and links.
We can then determine the degree of wear by measuring the height of some links and determining the current pitch of the chains: after all, a chain that wears out gets longer. Sometimes the position of the front idlers or tensioning wheels can also be a good indicator: if the brackets of the front idlers stick out of the chassis beams, this indicates a significant lengthening of the track chains.
Checking the sprockets
During a undercarriage inspection of the sprockets, one is usually limited to a visual inspection:
- The thickness of a sprocket tooth tells us something about the degree of wear: the thinner (sharper) the sprocket teeth become, the greater the wear.
- The teeth of the sprockets are also checked for the presence of any fractures/ cracks and deformations.
Inspection of bottom rollers and top rollers
By measuring the diameter on the tread of the upper rollers and lower rollers, the degree of wear can be determined.
One checks for smooth rotation of the rollers and for oil leaks. Wear on the bottom rollers can lead to machine instability and damage to the steel tracks or rubber tracks.
Checking the tensioning device
Since the track tension units and grease adjusters are mounted inside the undercarriage, it is difficult to identify any defects on the springs and pistons during an on-site track inspection. The tensioning device (or tensioner) is then checked to make sure the tracks are at correct tension. A track chain that is too tight or too loose can adversely affect the performance of the machine and could lead to premature wear of the tracks and other undercarriage components.
Inspection of the front idlers
The diameter of the front idlers and the width of the guiding flange are measured to find out the degree of wear. With a visual inspection, we pay attention to the presence of any defects such as:
- cracks or tears in the tread
- cracks in the welds
- cracks along the guiding flange
In some cases, the presence of a squeaking sound, may indicate that that idler axle is worn in: which is the result of oil loss.
Wear analysis and recommendations
An undercarriage inspection involves measuring the wear of critical components such as the track chains, link assemblies, track rollers, idlers and sprockets. These measurements are then compared to factory specifications to then determine how much wear has already occurred and when parts may need to be replaced.
After the undercarriage inspection, a recommendation is made. Based on the findings and customer requirements, recommendations can be made for repairs, maintenance or replacement of parts. This helps to keep the machine in good operational condition and avoid unexpected downtime.
Importance of an undercarriage inspection
An undercarriage inspection performed by Janssentrack helps to detect wear and tear early, which can prevent costly repairs and unplanned downtime. Because the undercarriage is responsible for a large portion of an excavator or bulldozer’s operating costs, an overhaul and inspection can extend the life of the machine and reduce overall operating costs.
Contact us today if you would like to know more about our undercarriage inspections