A lot weighs on the undercarriage parts of mini excavators although it may not seem like much. Costly repairs are avoided when proper maintenance and operation happens with the understanding of the undercarriage parts.
A mini excavator typically does not travel much. Digging trenches and holes is its main job on a worksite. It only sits motionless in one position with a spinning housing that allows it to perform its required tasks.
It means that the undercarriage parts of compact excavators experience less wear and tear. However, an operator must be able to understand the workings of the various undercarriage parts and components to ensure the proper working of the machine.
Frequent checks and inspection is the best way to ensure that the undercarriage parts of a compact excavator are at optimum levels. Knowing about the various undercarriage components is the way to understand their workings.
Rollers
Rollers are the small parts included in a compact excavator’s undercarriage. Mounted to the top and bottom of the track frame, the metal wheels or rollers serve as guides and support between the front idler and the sprocket. Guiding the track on its frame is the responsibility of the track roller while bearing the weight of the machine is the function of the bottom rollers. Rubber tracks failure or damage occurs with loose, seized, or worn rollers. Expense and downtime are avoided with frequent inspections of this undercarriage part.
Tracks
The most important part of the undercarriage of a compact excavator is its tracks. The rubber tracks that are typically seen in mini diggers allows them to provide a smoother ride, low ground pressure, great versatility on the worksite, machine stability, and high floatation. The manufacture and machine size of the machine are the determinants for the widths of the rubber tracks.
Narrow widths enable compact excavators to squeeze through narrow spaces on worksites while uneven ground stability is provided by the wider widths.
Replacing the tracks is expensive; hence proper care should always be exercised. Debris-heavy or rocky grounds must be avoided to prolong the lifespan of rubber tracks. Frequent visual inspections to check for distress, cuts, or tears are important maintenance procedures for tracks.
Idlers
The idler wheels are another undercarriage component of compact excavators. The rubber tracks are guided by the large, metal wheel of the idler. De-tracking is decreased because of the tensioning provided by the idlers to the tracks. Damage to the undercarriage is avoided when worn idlers are immediately replaced. Failure to do so result in increased drag, causing costly damage to the undercarriage and the tracks.
Drive sprockets
The profiled wheel with teeth meshing with the tracks of the compact excavator is called the drive sprockets. The machine is propelled forward when the chain is pulled over itself as it moves. The brunt of the work is handled by the drive sprockets. Because of this, worn drive sprockets are a common occurrence. The drive’s sprocket teeth shape should always be periodically checked. A more pointed sprocket tooth needs replacement before it damages the rubber tracks’ lugs.
The undercarriage parts of compact excavators are subject to wear and tear over time. Lack of maintenance and improper operation are the major factors that can quickly affect the overall productivity of the machine. Accelerated wear of a compact excavator’s undercarriage can be avoided with proper care and use. Contact us at TKV stock undercarriage parts for mini excavators.