After a long day’s toil on the construction site, the undercarriage of excavators, bulldozers, or skid-steer loaders often accumulates a copious aggregation of soil, stones, and debris. Should such mud be permitted to repose upon the undercarriage, over the span of years, it shall occasion grievous attrition to the equipment. Accordingly, this guide will demonstrate the importance of undercarriage cleaning while also providing the proper procedural steps to help you save thousands of dollars in fuel and maintenance expenses.
Why Clean the Heavy Equipment Undercarriage?
The act of purification of the undercarriage is by no means for mere outward adornment. It constitutes a fundamental portion of preventive maintenance, bearing direct consequence upon the contrivance’s performance, longevity of service, and the very matter of safety. To neglect the cleansing of the undercarriage is to invite a multitude of ruinous and costly afflictions.
- Improved Fuel Efficiency: An undercarriage laden with mire and detritus imposes a burden of hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds upon the machine. The engine must consume more fuel merely to compel the machine to move, let alone to perform its appointed labors. Moreover, dried mud and stones engender greater friction between moving parts, thus begetting additional resistance, squandering both power and fuel.
- Reduced Component Wear: Within the undercarriage system, an admixture of mud, sand, and stones accumulates, which coalesces into a slurry of extreme abrasiveness. When the track revolves, such a mixture acts as sandpaper, abrading the rollers, idlers, and sprockets. The quotidian cleansing has the virtue of expelling these abrasives, thereby notably prolonging the life of those costly components.
- Critical for Inspections: that which escapeth sight may not be discerned. A ponderous layer of filth concealeth with ease the hydraulic leak already proceeding, the fissures within the track frame’s welds, the loosened bolts, or the damaged seals. An undercarriage system in a cleansed estate permitteth one to perform the daily scrutiny with swiftness and efficacy, discovering the petty troubles ere they transfigure into calamitous ruin.
- Prevents Freezing and Seizing: In cold climates, this is a critical issue. Wet mud and debris packed around rollers can freeze solid overnight, seizing the components completely. When an operator tries to move the machine the next morning, the immense force can cause severe damage to the rollers, bearings, and even the track itself.
- Enhanced Safety: Debris buildup can create an unstable and unsafe machine. It can cause uneven wear on tracks, leading to a higher risk of de-tracking. Furthermore, mud-caked steps and grab handles are a primary cause of slips and falls, one of the most common injuries on a job site.
Basic Steps of Cleaning Undercarriage
Proper undercarriage purification constitutes a process most systemic in nature. Hasty endeavor or pursuit of a shortcut shall invariably bequeath the most ruinous residues. To achieve optimum results, we follow a methodical progression, starting with crude decontamination and progressing to refined cleansing.
Step 1: Preparation and Safety First
Before you even think about grabbing a shovel, you must secure the machine and yourself.
- Position the Machine: Park the equipment on a flat, stable surface, preferably a concrete wash pad or a gravel area with good drainage. If possible, use the machine’s hydraulics to lift one side of the undercarriage at a time to get better access.
- Shut Down and Secure: Turn the machine completely off, remove the key, and engage the hydraulic lockout lever. This prevents any possibility of accidental movement while you are working around it.
- Gather Your Tools: Having the right tools makes the job faster and more effective. You will need:
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Safety glasses or a face shield are non-negotiable. A pressure washer can send rocks flying at high speed. Waterproof steel-toed boots and gloves are also essential.
- Scrapers and Shovels: A square-headed shovel is great for removing large volumes of mud. You’ll also want a smaller, long-handled scraper or a specialized undercarriage cleaning tool.
- Pressure Washer: A commercial-grade pressure washer with at least 3,000 PSI is ideal. Ensure you have a variety of nozzles, especially a 15-degree and 25-degree tip.
- Brushes: Stiff-bristle brushes can help with stubborn, caked-on grime.
Step 2: The Initial Knock-Down (Dry Cleaning)
This step aims to eliminate the majority of material without the addition of extra water.
- Primarily, employ a shovel and a scraper to remove all readily detachable large clumps of dirt, clay, and debris from tracks, track frames, and any reachable regions.
- Pay particular heed to the tops of track frames, for there accumulates an abundant amount of material.
- This “dry washing” first step is of utmost importance, as it can lessen the volume of soil to be dealt with in the subsequent stage and render the high-pressure washing more efficacious.
Step 3: The Power Wash
Now it’s time to bring in the pressure washer. Work methodically.
- Firstly, spray the upper structures and the operator cabin, clearing away the loose dirt, lest such debris subsequently descend upon the cleansed undercarriage.
- Nextly, concentrate on the cleaning of the track frames and the tracks themselves. Employ broad, sweeping motions to flush away layer upon layer of grime.
- CRITICAL TIP: eschew directing the high-pressure water straight toward the hydraulic seals, electrical connections, roller axles, idler axles’ termini, or bearing housings. Direct high-pressure spraying may permit water and grit to traverse the seals, contaminating the lubrication system and precipitating rapid malfunction.
Step 4: Detailed Scrubbing and Component Focus
This is the paramount stage within the cleansing procedure. After the majority of the mud has been removed, one must direct focused efforts upon the pivotal moving components, for upon these parts accumulated debris shall induce the most grievous damage.
- Sprockets and Drive Motors: Scrupulously cleanse interstices between each tooth of the drive sprockets, and also the debris surrounding the hydraulic drive motors. Such detritus hastens the attrition of sprockets and track bushings.
- Rollers and Idlers: Here lies the recompense for your fastidiousness. It is imperative to clear the debris lodged between the track carrier roller assemblies and the undercarriage. Employ scrapers and high-pressure washers to eradicate the dirt encasing each top carrier roller. The substantial front idler wheel and its tensioning apparatus must be entirely purged of debris, thereby guaranteeing the proper operation of the track tensioning mechanism.
- Track Chain and Guards: Conduct cleansing along the track chain itself. It is equally critical to expunge debris located posterior to the chain guards, as stones lodged therein may precipitate severe impairment.
Step 5: Final Rinse and Post-Undercarriage Cleaning Inspection
Upon ascertainment that all aggregated matter has been duly removed, proceed to the comprehensive final rinsing of the entire undercarriage system.
Presently, with all components rendered cleansed and distinctly observable, one may engage in a meaningful scrutiny. Inspect the following aspects:
- Whether there exists any oil seepage around the roller seals or the drive motor.
- Whether bolts exhibit looseness or absence.
- Whether the weld seams of the track frame manifest any fissures.
- Whether components display anomalous wear.
Tips and Tricks for Undercarriage Cleaning
- Frequency is Key: Every workday after leaving the post, swiftly scrape for ten minutes, far more effective than once-per-week, three-hour brutal cleansing. Make it a part of your routine after work each day.
- The Parking Trick: If knowing in advance that the machine will be washed in the morning, attempt to park it upon elevated wooden blocks or logs overnight. Thus, the majority of wet mud can naturally dry and fall off, making the cleaning easier for you.
- Use the Right Scraper: Although metal scrapers are very fit for heavy-duty tasks, consideration may also be given to using hard plastic scrapers or sharp hardwood for cleaning around seals, lest they accidentally scratch or damage the seals.
- Degreasers for Oil: If a hydraulic leak occurs, simple water washing cannot remove oily residues. Apply a degreaser suitable for heavy equipment to the affected area, let it sit for several minutes, then rinse clean. This helps you identify the source of leakage.
Undercarriage Parts That Need Regular Replacement
Even with the most diligent cleaning schedule, the undercarriage is a system of wear parts designed for eventual replacement. Cleaning simply ensures you get the maximum possible life from them. When the time comes, replacing worn components is essential to protect the rest of the system. A worn sprocket, for example, will rapidly destroy a brand-new track chain.
Regular inspection will tell you when it’s time to look at replacing key undercarriage parts. The most common high-wear items include:
- Track Chains and Shoes: The parts in constant contact with the ground, bearing the entire machine’s weight.
- Track Rollers: These support the machine’s weight on the track. They wear down and can develop flat spots.
- Carrier Rollers: These support the weight of the track itself on the upper part of the frame.
- Front Idlers: These guide the track and are critical for maintaining proper tension.
- Sprockets: The teeth wear down over time, losing their ability to properly engage the track chain.
Keep Your Machine Moving for Less
Proper undercarriage cleaning is not an onerous task; rather, it constitutes an investment in the health and profitability of the machinery. It directly transmutes into elongated component longevity and diminished operational expenditure. When your inspection manifests the necessity to substitute worn components, the trustworthy aftermarket supplier FridayParts can furnish, at an economical price, a copious quantity of superior and durable parts, which are compatible with a variety of heavy equipment brands. Begin now the preparation for your undercarriage cleaning!
