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Extend Track Life with Shanahan’s Track Management System
For equipment with a track system, 50% of all maintenance costs are for expenses related
to the undercarriage. Because the undercarriage operates as an entire system, a worn
component can significantly reduce the life on the entire undercarriage. The question is
never whether you will need to replace a wear component, but when it should be replaced
and how much production you can get before you need to replace undercarriage parts.
Shanahan’s Track Management System
- Uses Ultrasonic Tool and conventional hand measuring tools to measure thickness of
undercarriage components
- Assesses current wear
- Predicts when repairs are required
- Reduces unscheduled downtime and repair expenses
- Shanahan Equipment can assist you with all your undercarriage needs. See us for pad
swaps, pin/bushing turns and replacements of individual components
Shanahan Equipment Company’s Three Step Support System
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Regularly Scheduled Inspections
Shanahan Equipment recommends regularly scheduled inspections for all brands, all
types of track equipment. During our inspections, we routinely discuss proper track
tension and cleaning requirements with your staff to maximize the life of your
equipment's track system. We identify operational and maintenance concerns that could
reduce the life of any components and recommend an appropriate preventive maintenance program.
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Monitoring and Accurate
Ultrasonic Inspections
For accurate, quick undercarriage inspections, Shanahan Equipment has developed
Track Management System (TMS). With an ultrasonic measurement tool, hard to reach
measurement areas can be accessed. This tool stores data and uses sound waves to
determine the precise thickness of undercarriage components. The thickness indicates
wear and life expectancy. Conventional manual measurements are also used. A factory
trained Shanahan Equipment Product Support Representative evaluates the data and
recommends operational actions, maintenance activities and/or component replacements.
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Scheduling Maintenance
and Factory Support
Any track type machine needs repair or replacement of track life components periodically.
Shanahan Equipment can provide reliable estimates for remaining hours of life, so that you
can schedule maintenance, rather than be surprised by expenses and downtime due to breakdowns.
Tips for Extending Undercarriage Life
Track shoe width—Use the most narrow pad to maintain adequate flotation. If a pad
is wider than necessary, there is extreme stress on other components, especially the
track link seals.
Track adjustment—Follow the guidelines in the OEM operator’s manual to
determine proper track tension. Remember to adjust track tension to the operating
conditions. As packing conditions increase, the adjusted track tension should
decrease.
Sprockets—Carefully monitor sprocket wear, which is an indicator of operating
problems and can indicate the condition of the internal pin and bushing assembly.
Sprocket replacement is usually necessary whenever the mating surface of the bushing
is changed, when rotating or replacing bushings or replacing the chain assembly.
Rollers—As the track roller tread area wears, the roller flanges grow closer to the link
pin boss area. The pin boss area will be damaged if the flanges are allowed to come
into contact with the pin boss. Damage in the pin boss area can eliminate the bushing
turn option. Roller flanges contacting this area will wear away structural material and
the pin end will be damaged. Cracking can occur when pressing the pin out or in, if
the structure is weak. During the pressing process, damage and “flaring” to the pin
end can cause damage to the internal pin boss area, and the pin boss cannot properly
retain the pin after reassembly. Repositioning rollers from higher wear positions, at
both the front and rear of the machine, to less wear center positions can be helpful
to alleviate wear.
Bushing Turn—Turning the bushing 180° to use the unworn area allows using not
only the entire wear surface of the bushing but also more of the link. Timing is key,
however. If the bushing has worn past the wear life limit, the chances of damage to
the bushing increases during the processing of pressing in and out, because the
thickness of the bushing wall may be dangerously thin.
Alignment—The quickest way to detect an alignment problem is to look for
anything shiny that should not normally be shiny. Indicators that the track frame
alignment system needs adjusting are: inside of track links are scuffed and shiny, roller
and front idler flanges show wear, and sides of sprockets are coming in contact with
the inside of track links.
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