Partially controllable factors

For clarity, the operator can only slightly influence the machine and soil conditions described above. In general, work should be carried out in accordance with the environmental conditions in which the machine is operated. However, the operator can reduce undercarriage wear by adjusting certain parameters that are within his control. These partially controllable factors are determined by both operating conditions and the actions of the driver.

SPEED

The level of wear is directly related to speed and distance traveled, not hours worked. In fact, the wear on all components increases in proportion to the increase in speed. This occurs as a result of an increase in shock loads and the frequency with which the rubbing surfaces come into contact.

An increase in speed, due to an increase in shock loads, directly affects the mutual wear of the pins and bushings of the tracks, teeth of the driving wheels and bushings of the tracks, treadmills of the links of the tracks, track rollers and idler wheels, and also indirectly affects the wear of the lugs of the shoes due to more powerful impacts on the ground. Driving at high speed in reverse accelerates the wear of the contact area between the bushings and the teeth of the drive wheel, while they are subjected to the greatest loads.

To achieve the optimum working speed, it is recommended to avoid high speeds that do not lead to increased productivity that can compensate for the increased wear of the components of the undercarriage, and it is also necessary to avoid unproductive forward-reverse shifting. Moreover, in the case of working on heavy ground, the speed must be kept as low as is sufficient to get the job done.

PIVOTS

The wear rate increases at pivot movement. The result of pivot movement is an increase in the loads between the interacting parts of the units of the undercarriage system, especially on the surface along the sides of the link rail and on the flanges of the rollers and idler wheels. When turning in reverse, wear on the bushing and drive wheel is accelerated compared to wear when turning during forward travel. To balance the wear of the undercarriage bogie on both sides, turns in only one direction should be avoided. If turns in one direction are due to the technology of work, one-sided wear can be compensated by swapping the undercarriage parts from one side of the machine to the other in the middle of their service life.

COUNTER-ROTATION

Counter-rotation - turning the machine in one place by moving one track forward while the other moves back. Hydrostatic and electric tractors and excavators have this ability.

This turning method must be used reasonably, as at the same speed and on the same ground, the load on the sides of the undercarriage components is much greater than during normal turning.

TRACK STICKING AND SLIPPAGE

Slipping of the track entails increased wear of all components of the undercarriage system without performing effective output.

Especially when slipping, the grousers of the track shoes wear out due to the resistance of the soil to the cutting effort of the bulldozer cutting edges.

ONE SIDE DOZING AND OTHER OPERATION

Uneven wear on the sides of the undercarriage occurs when the load on one side of the undercarriage is greater than on the other one. The wear rate increases in proportion to the power used, sticking and slippage. This is typical for uneven soil movement, one-sided blade loading, soil loading, etc.

To minimize the effect of wear on the working surfaces, it is advisable to change the operating conditions and the operating technology of the machine, for example, the operating mode, the blade loading direction.

REVERSE MOVEMENT

Reverse movement causes more wear on the bushings and drive wheel than when driving forward. Since reversing is unproductive, it is advisable to avoid reversing.