Oil analysis is a very valuable tool in managing overall maintenance costs. Take samples of each machine system every 500 hours. If a particular system shows indications of abnormalities, sampling can be accelerated as needed. Regular analyses will allow you to proactively manage component life, maximizing uptime and minimizing operating costs.

Don’t forget about the coolant. Inspect coolant levels each day during your walkaround. The sight gauges and overflow bottles are easy to access and read. If levels are in range, you only need to do a visual inspection for leaks. The coolant temperature gauge will also give you real-time information on coolant system performance during operation.

4. Tracks

The undercarriage system is the most critical system on the dozer. It’s also the most expensive to maintain and repair over the life of the machine — that’s why daily inspections and periodic maintenance are vital to operation.

Undercarriage cleanliness and track sag are two items that should be checked every day. While it’s true that track frames are designed to shed material, areas around the sprocket, final drive housing, carrier roller, and front idler should be cleaned at the end of the work day, especially in muddy or freezing conditions. If material becomes packed around rolling parts and freezes overnight, those parts may not move properly and can lead to seal failures and shorter component life.

Track sag — track tension — should also be inspected daily. A track chain that is too tight can increase track wear by 50 to 70 percent as compared to a properly adjusted track. Track chain that is too loose increases the risk of derailment and track kinking. Use an ultrasonic measuring device to help speed an accurate inspection. In addition, a visual alignment check should be part of your daily tasks.

Also use the daily inspection to look for specific kinds of wear. Wear on the track link-pin boss is an indication of bottom roller wear. The position of the idler block in relation to the track frame can be an indication of increased seal failure leading to track pitch extension (internal pin and bushing wear).

Many operators choose to turn pins and bushings as a way to maximize the life of sealed and lubricated track chains. This is particularly common where the link wear is much slower than the bushing wear. If links are around 50- to 60-percent worn at the turn, the operator can usually perform a pin and bushing turn then “run to destruction” on the back side of the bushing, utilizing the entire link and bushing life.

Daily inspections aren’t the only way to minimize wear. Good daily operating techniques play a part. Some basics include limiting high-speed reverse operation because component wear is three times greater in reverse than forward, and limiting unnecessary turns and counter rotation. It’s also a good idea to choose the narrowest shoe possible for each application and ground condition. This will also help extend undercarriage life.

Telematics

Most crawler dozers on the market today come with telematics systems. These systems combine wireless communication with global positioning technology to give the operator location, hours, and diagnostic information. Using these items will help keep you up and running and catch potential trouble before it occurs. You can have more control over machine maintenance than ever before thanks to this technology.

Be sure to take advantage of the following:

• Machine location and hourly usage information that will allow you to schedule routine maintenance as needed without having to rely on daily reports from the field;

• Component pressures and temperatures;

• Fuel consumption readings;

• Machine utilization modes; and

• Machine system alerts — if your machine is equipped with this capability, you can set it up to be notified if a critical system on the unit is not performing properly.