John Deere provides us with some simple tips to manage logging machine undercarriages.The information can be sourced in the Spring 2011 edition (pages four and five) of the John Deere forestry customer publication, called “The Forestry Review”. The key areas that damage the undercarriage are briefly described. Logging-on provides an overview of the information provided:
- Turning - Non-productive turning damages various components, especially when reversing.
- Track shoe width – John Deere indicates that the narrowest shoe that meets requirements should be used. Wider shoes cause more wear than narrower shoes. They provide the signs that can be seen that indicate that the shoe is too wide.
- Speed – High-speed travel accelerates wear, especially in reverse. High speed impacts with hard objects can cause major damage.
- Travel direction - John Deere explains how the direction of travel influences the wear on certain components.
- Track tension or sag – Too high tension causes high chain loads which can wear the undercarriage, and even slight sag can increase wear by 50%. The article provides more detail.
- Adjustments according to conditions – In muddy or snow conditions, briefly running in reverse can allow the debris to fall out. The implications of debris build-up are explained.
- Preventative maintenance - The key areas that should be checked are provided.
Source: http://www.deere.com/en_US/cfd/forestry/deere_forestry/info_center/publications/forestry_review_spring_11.html