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TRACK MANAGEMENT
Management & Merchandising
Introduction to Track
Management
Track management objectives:
1. Match pin and bushing life with link
life by turning or replacing bushings if
needed.
2. Match track roller life to link life by
swapping rollers if needed.
3. Match shoe life to link life by regrouser-
ing or replacing if needed.
4. Time these maintenance actions to
achieve lowest cost per hour and/or
least loss of machine production.
The link is the base or core component to
which other components should be
matched, either through design or man-
agement. Track management is related to
ratio of expected life between the pins and
bushings, track rollers, and links.
Other considerations such as the manage-
ment of unbalanced roller, carrier roller
and/or idler wear rates as to optimize the
basic track management objectives are
discussed in the sections dedicated to
those components and/or in the appropri-
ate model family sections.
Destruction Wear Limits
The component wear charts always
display the wear measurements to 120 per-
cent worn. This wear point, frequently
described as the destruction point, can be
projected to occur at 120 percent of pro-
jected life.
As a general guideline, the undercarriage
may begin to fail or ‘destruct’ near this
120 percent wear point. However, the
undercarriage (except for bushings) may
operate well beyond 120 percent worn
before ‘destruction’ actually occurs. This
depends on several factors including appli-
cation, underfoot conditions, past experi-
ence, and customer resistance to downtime.
When running to destruction, it is impor-
tant to leave the parts on the machine as
long as possible to minimize the cost per
hour. Use the following guidelines when
performing an undercarriage inspection
near 120 percent worn to determine if the
parts should continue to operate or be
replaced.
Component Failure Mode
Links Cracking, pin and bushing
loosening, pin boss damage
Bushings Cracking
Shoes Cracking, bending, loss of
traction
Idlers Cracking, damage to track
bushings
Carrier Rollers Cracking, damage to track
bushings
Track Rollers Cracking, damage to track
bushings, link pin bosses,
and/or roller flanges