Operators Control Undercarriage Expense - Proper operation is crucial to longevity and lower costs

摘要

With undercarriage maintenance representing half of the owning and operating costs of a steel track machine, any extension in track life drops straight to the bottom line. And one of the largest influences on track life is the operator. "Maximizing undercarriage life begins in the operator's seat," says Dick Schaefer, senior product manager, undercarriage, Komatsu America Corp. "The operator is the key ingredient to controlling undercarriage cost per hour. Therefore, operator training is a must." Even with recent changes in track systems, the basics still apply. "Undercarriage technology has improved over the years with better shock absorbing systems, but the basic [excavator] track remains the same as it has for the last 20 or so years," says Dave Pooley, Hyundai Construction Equipment U.S.A. Inc. "Application and operator awareness make the difference in the longevity of the undercarriage."