330DL Excavator maintenance tips

The undercarriage of heavy construction equipmentjust like a crawler excavator is made up of many elements that should be maintained properly so the machine can work to the fullest. If the undercarriage is not managed and maintained properly and there is no routine inspection then it will cost you a lot of valuable money, time and also decreased the life span of the vehicle. 

If you are offering a used 330DL excavator for sale then it is important that you must follow these basic steps to avoid any kind of interruption in your selling process. Also, by following these major steps and tips you can get better performance from it and it will also increase the life of your crawler excavator when working in multiple conditions. 

Tip 1: Clean the undercarriage regularly:

At the end of every working day the operator of the machine should take some extra time to clean the dirt out and other debris as well that will help it to build up. Pressure washers and shovels can be used as well to clean the undercarriage. If the undercarriage is not properly cleaned and if they are working in cold climate conditions, dirt, mud, and debris will freeze. If the material will freeze then it will start to rub on its bolts, seize up the rollers and loosen the guiding will lead to potential wear later on. If the undercarriage will be cleaned regularly then it will help to prevent unnecessary downtime. Also, the debris can add weight to the undercarriage that will eventually reduce fuel economy. There are multiple manufacturers that are offering those systems which are specially designed to track the cleanout of track carriage as it also helps debris to fall on the ground rather than packed in the track system. 

Tip 2: Inspect the undercarriage regularly:

It is important to do a complete inspection of your heavy machinery to get rid of uneven wear as well as to prevent missing or damaged components. According to the experts, if these construction machines are being used in harsh and uneven conditions then the undercarriage must be checked more often. There are different parts and applications of the machine that should be inspected on a routine basis:

• Drive sprockets
• Drive motor
• Rock guards
• Main rollers and idlers
• Track chains
• Track bolts
• Track tension
• Track shoes 

During this routine check-up, the operator must walk around the machine and check if the tracks are properly in their place. If so, then it is an indication that it will lose the trackpad or possibly a broken track pin. Additionally, they should also inspect the idlers, rollers, and drives to check the oil leakage. If the machine is having oil leaks then there could be a failed seal that could lead to a major failure in idlers, rollers, or track drive motors. You must always follow the maintenance manual and manufacturer’s operation to have proper undercarriage maintenance. 

Tip 3: Follow normal best practices:

There are some of the job sites that create more wear on the tracks of excavator and also it damages undercarriage of the application that is why it is important that the handler must follow the operating procedures that are recommended. There are some tips and tricks that will help to minimize the damage of undercarriage and track. 

Make long turns: If you are the operator of the machine then you should prevent taking sharp turns or pivoting it because it can lead to accelerated wear which will increase the risk of de-tracking.

Minimize timing while working on slopes: If the machine is working constantly on hills or slopes in a single direction then it can hurt the accelerator. There are different types of applications that require a lot of hillside or slope work. If the machine is being moved down or up the hill then you must make sure that its drive motor is positioned properly so it can reduce the track wear. Its drive motor should be placed on the backside so it can easily move up on the hill or slope. 

Avoid harsh conditions: Rough concrete or asphalt or other caustic material can cause damage to tracks.

Choose the proper shoe width: The shoe width should be selected properly as per the weight and the requirements of the application. For example, if the machine is having narrow shoes then they are better for working in rocky and hard soil conditions because they can easily grip the surface and get better soil penetration. On the other hand, if you are using wide shoes then they will typically work well in underfoot conditions because they can float easily in lower ground pressure.

Tip 4: Maintain track tension properly:

If the machine is having incorrect track tension that it may lead to increase track wear that is why it is more important to have proper tension. Generally, when the operators are working with such excavators in muddy or soft conditions then they must run the tracks slightly looser. If the steel tracks of the machine or too loose or too tight then it will damage the tracks quickly. 

Tip 5: Stick with the proper digging process:

The operators of the machine must follow basic instructions and procedures that are mentioned in the operation of the manufacturer as well as on the manual that will help to minimize the track degradation and excessive wear. The undercarriage is considered as a large part of the machine that is why if there will be any kind of damage on this area then it will cost a lot of money and time so it is better to take preventive measures to avoid any kind of damage. 

If you will follow all these steps and tips carefully for your used heavy equipment for sale then it will not only extend and increase its performance but it will also remain in its perfect shape that is why when you will offer this machine in the business market it will give you a better return on investment.