Crawler cranes are powerful machines widely used in heavy lifting and construction projects. Among crane’s critical components, crawler crane track link plays a vital role in providing stability and mobility. However, without proper maintenance, track link issues can arise, leading to operational inefficiencies and safety concerns. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the importance of maintaining crawler crane track links and provide valuable insights on preventive measures and solutions. By following these guidelines, you can maximize the efficiency of your crawler crane operations while ensuring the safety of your personnel and equipment.
the Importance of Crawler Crane Track Link Maintenance
Crawler crane track link, also known as crawler crane track chain, is subjected to intense loads, harsh environments, and continuous movement. As a result, they require regular maintenance to prevent issues such as dislodging, wear, and misalignment. Neglecting track chain maintenance can lead to costly repairs, downtime, and even accidents. By prioritizing track chain maintenance, you can extend the lifespan of your crawler crane, improve its performance, and enhance overall productivity.
Six Tips of crawler crane track link maintenance
To ensure smooth and safe operations, it is crucial to follow proper maintenance practices for track links. Here are six essential tips to help you maintain your links effectively:
Tip 1-Track Length Adjustment
New track links may be too long or stretch over time, making them challenging to adjust. If necessary, removing links is an option, but remember to maintain an even number of links. Ensure that the chain links pass through the backside of the track, with the locking plate inserted on the outside. The opening of the locking plate should face the opposite direction of rotation.
Tip 2-Optimal Track Tightness
Proper track tightness is crucial to avoid power consumption, bearing wear, and track jumping. The ideal tightness can be determined by lifting or pressing down from the middle of the track. The distance between the two track wheels should be approximately 2%-3% of their center distance.
Tip 3-Sprocket and Track Link Replacement
Severe wear on the sprockets requires simultaneous replacement of both the sprockets and the track links. This ensures proper engagement and prevents accelerated wear. Flip reversible sprockets to utilize the opposite side and extend their service life.
tip 4-Alignment and Installation
The sprockets should be mounted on the shaft without any inclination or swinging. In the same transmission assembly, the end faces of the two sprockets should be in the same plane. Deviations of 1 millimeter for center distances below 0.5 meters and 2 millimeters for distances above 0.5 meters are acceptable. Avoid friction between sprocket teeth to prevent dislodging and excessive wear.
Tip 5-Lubrication
Regularly lubricate the crawler crane track links to improve working conditions and minimize wear. Properly channel the lubricating oil into the clearance between the rollers and the inner sleeve for optimal results.
Tip 6-Avoid Mixing Old and New Track Links
Mixing old and new track links in crawler crane can have negative consequences, leading to transmission impacts and chain breakage. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that only track links of the same condition are used together. Here’s why it’s essential to avoid mixing old and new track links in crawler crane:
Consistent Wear and Stress Distribution: crawler crane track chains experience wear and stress over time as they are subjected to the weight and movement of the crawler crane. Old track chains have already undergone this wear and stress, leading to a specific condition. When new track chains are introduced into the assembly, their condition differs from the old ones. This can result in uneven wear distribution and stress concentration, potentially leading to premature failure or damage.
Transmission Impacts and Chain Breakage: Inconsistent wear and stress distribution, as well as improper fit, can lead to transmission impacts within the track link assembly. These impacts can cause excessive forces and stress on the links and chains, increasing the risk of chain breakage and unexpected failures. The sudden failure of a track link can result in safety hazards, downtime, and expensive repairs.
how to measure Alignment?
To measure alignment during the replacement of sprockets and track link in crawler crane, follow these steps:
Position the Crawler Crane: Ensure the crawler crane is parked on a level surface and engage the parking brake. This provides a stable foundation for accurate alignment measurements.
Measure the Parallelism: Use a measuring tape or laser alignment tool to measure the distance between the sprockets at multiple points along their circumference. Compare these measurements to ensure parallelism between the sprockets. The distances should be consistent and within the manufacturer’s specifications.
Check the Center Distance: Measure the center distance between the sprockets. This is the distance between the centers of the two sprockets. It should be the same at multiple points along the sprocket circumference. Verify that the center distance matches the manufacturer’s specifications.
Verify the Track Link Alignment: Visually inspect the alignment of the crawler crane track links with the sprockets. Ensure that the links are properly engaged with the sprocket teeth and are running smoothly. Look for any signs of misalignment, such as gaps or excessive contact between the track links and sprockets.
Conduct a Test Run: After completing the alignment measurements, start the crawler crane and observe its operation. Pay attention to any unusual vibrations, noise, or track jumping. These could indicate misalignment or other issues that need to be addressed.
Make Adjustments as Needed: If any misalignments or deviations are detected during the measurement or test run, make the necessary adjustments. This may involve realigning the sprockets, adjusting the track tension, or repositioning the crawler crane track chains. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for proper adjustment procedures.
how to check the center distance?
To check the center distance between the sprockets and track link in crawler crane, follow these steps:
First, ensure that the crawler crane is parked on a level surface and the parking brake is engaged to provide a stable foundation for accurate measurements.
Identify two reference points on each crane sprocket that can be consistently measured. These points should be located near the center of the sprocket and easily identifiable.
Using a measuring tape or calipers, measure the distance between the two reference points on each sprocket. Be careful to measure from the exact same points on each sprocket for consistency.
Once you have measured the distances, calculate the center distance by adding the measurements taken from each sprocket. This will give you the distance between the centers of the two sprockets.
