Uncover Undercarriage Savings - Maintenance and operating tips help extend excavator track life

摘要

Determining whether to use an excavator with steel or rubber tracks is rather straightforward. "Steel tracks should be used when ground conditions are severe (i.e., rough ground, rocky soils, etc.), which could damage or cut rubber tracks," says Don Lake, Berco America. "Steel tracks should also be used in applications when machine weight and operating loads exceed the capabilities of rubber track machines." Kara Barnett, aftermarket business manager for Bridgestone Rubber Tracks, agrees that rubber tracks should not be used in environments where cuts are likely. "In those kinds of situations, steel tracks are better. But if you have a situation where you are working on a sidewalk, street or finished surfaces, that's where rubber tracks have an advantage," she states. "There is obviously less noise with a rubber track, and sometimes there is better vibration performance because the rubber tends to absorb the vibration from the machine more than steel." Application is a key driver of track life. While proper maintenance extends track life, the application determines the maximum possible life expectancy. "In high-abrasive and high-impact conditions, the track life expectancy decreases and operating costs go up," says Lake. "In applications with low impact and low abrasion, track wear is reduced and operating costs go down."