July 31, 2024
This is part of a series offering tips and guides to help you make the most of your undercarriage system. For more information on rubber tracks, be sure to check out "Taking Care of Your Rubber Track for Extended Work Hours."
The typical undercarriage system of most construction machinery consists of 4 wheels and 1 chain. These components are known as the idler, the sprocket, the top roller, the track roller, and the track chain.
The track roller, also known as the bottom roller, bears most of the machine's weight on the ground with the track chain assembly. Proper distribution of the machinery's weight ensures a smooth ride, minimal ground pressure, and improved traction.
In a market with various suppliers offering track rollers at different prices, how can you assess the quality of the track roller? Are there any specific standards to follow?
Most track rollers are constructed with a shell, a shaft, bushings, seals, and brackets. Each component has its own unique manufacturing standards based on designated workloads and working environments. Manufacturers will choose raw materials and manufacturing processes like different heat treatment coverage and depth based on technical requirements and marketing goals, including machinery weight, undercarriage configuration, working hours, and production cost.
The shell must withstand the machinery's weight, friction against the track chain, impact from the terrain, and erosion from the work site environment. Therefore, the shells are commonly made of GB 40Mn2/AISI 1340 carbon steel or GB 50Mn/AISI 1050 carbon steel, with heat treatment to enhance the track roller’s wear resistance capabilities.
As for the shaft, apart from addressing the stress and impact during roller operation, the manufacturing process focuses more on improving wear resistance and reducing engineering tolerance for better working hours. These two components are crucial for ensuring the operational quality of a track roller.
However, without proper lubrication, the wear rate between the shaft and bushing will increase significantly, drastically reducing the service life of the track roller. Moreover, the seals and lubricant are sensitive to ambient temperature and moisture as their deterioration rate varies accordingly. Hence the bushings, seals, and lubricant should all be accounted for when evaluating the track roller’s overall quality. Feel free to contact us regarding what specifications and configurations would be the best for your workhorse and its operating environment.
Echoo has been specializing in supplying undercarriage parts and providing customized undercarriage solutions for over a decade. We work with multiple manufacturers to offer tailored undercarriage parts and chassis that meet your expectations for both cost and performance.
