Problems with mud in track assembly?

[Dcara]

I feel like this is a really stupid question but wanted to ask anyway. For the past 2 weeks we have been getting rain, but I have not stopped clearing trees except shortly during downpours. Actually, I only get about 6 hours seat time a day on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays. My entire track assembly has been covered with mud for almost 2 weeks now, I can't even see the sprocket, idler wheel, or anything else in the track assembly. But everything seem to be working fine. Is there anything I should be concerned about, or should keep an eye on related to this mud issue?

 

[ClearViewGroup]

you need to dig or power wash that stuff out...its not good for the machine...yea it still works but you are greatly reducing the life span of the undercarriage which is the most expensive thing on the machine to fool with except maybe the engine and hydraulic pump

 

[Dcara]

Thats what I thought someone would say because thats what I thought at first too. After the first day it was covered in mud I cleaned it out with a shovel. What a job. Took me an hour. The next day I used it the tracks were covered in mud after about 30 minutes. I quickly convinced myself that the previous cleaning effort was a waste of time because wear only occurs during use and the tracks are covered in mud for all except the first 30 minutes of use. So the only issue would seem to be corrosion. What say ye.

 

[WestshoreConstruction]

Rollers packed with mud = BAD. Bearings etc will wear alot faster, tracks are going to be tighter than normal and may stretch, the sprocket will wear faster. Its just not a good scene, they should at least be cleaned out every day at the end of the day, you can try to limit the amount of mud by not making sharp turns in the mud etc or making stepped turns instead. You forgot to mention what kind of machine as all are different and handle the muck differently.

 

[20 20]

1st is a clean machine a better working machine{longer lasting}? Probably, but how long does a machine really stay clean as soon as it starts to move/work? Probably never unless some one is only working on a wooden or rubber floor

So to answer your question, I wouldn't lose sleep over some mud in the tracks. Lets look at it this way say your digging a pond. It's going to take a couple of weeks to do the job. It would NOT be worth the time spent trying to clean it every day just to drive straight back into the mud hole the following day. Now in between jobs or every couple of weeks clean it up and go through it, checking nuts bolts etc... Of course during your operation the most important thing you can do is KEEP IT GREASED!!!!! over greasing the rollers on a tracked machine will help keep crud and such out untill you can get it all prettied up. I'd worry more about keeping everything lubed up more then washing. Of course once POWER washed then relube everything so it's ready for the next job.

Also depending on what type of machine your speaking if it's a dozer with rock guards, GET THEM OFF!!! unless your realy in some heavy rock situation. Rock guards can cause just as much harm as good in the wrong work envirnment. If your in sand mud etc.. the guards will actually hold the crap in there for causing more trouble.

 

[gatractorman]

AAAHHHH...Yes, you've discovered the reason grading contractors primarily do not work in rainy/wet conditions. But if your going to, clean them out as best you can once a day and hope for dry weather.

 

[PILOON]

While I'm not an expert, buddies that operate heavy tracked machines claim muddy is far better than running dry.
Steel on steel wears fast while the mud lubricates the sliding componants.

They far prefer clay based work areas than sand/gravel sites.

 

[ClearViewGroup]

While I'm not an expert, buddies that operate heavy tracked machines claim muddy is far better than running dry.
Steel on steel wears fast while the mud lubricates the sliding componants.

They far prefer clay based work areas than sand/gravel sites.

and their dealers/repair guys must love them...

mud is NOT a lubricant...its an abrassive....GREASE is a lubricant...

 

[DarinRay]

To throw another factor into the equation..... During the cold seasons here if you don't clean out your tracks every night when completed the next morning your machine doesn't move because everything is locked up tight with frozen mud.

With the smaller machines I deal with sometimes you have to stop what you are doing to clean out the bottom due to power loss from packed in mud and big rocks. Always fun running equipment but you pay for the fun with the daily cleaning.

If you do leave your machine dirty you also will not be able to see when seals are leaking your lube out and will run the machine dry and possibly do major damage. - sprocket seals, front idlers, & etc.

Darin

 

[Dcara]

Thanks for all the considerations guys but I now have bigger problems. My machine is a Komatsu D31s-16. I'll start another thread about my latest problem. I think I blew my motor this morning.