Komatsu WA600-8 Operation & Maintenance Manual page 297

OPERATION MACHINE OPERATIONS AND CONTROLS
OPERATION PROCEDURES FOR AVOIDING DAMAGE ON MACHINE
HANDLE BUCKET
When lowering the bucket to the ground while approaching the
working face, be sure not to lower it to the ground abruptly.
Lowering the bucket abruptly gives large impacts to the bucket,
work equipment, pins, and machine frame, causing damage or
crack to them.
Also, the front wheels are lifted off the ground and the tires
easily slip. When lowering the bucket to the ground, be sure to
decrease its lowering speed near the ground surface.
GEAR SHIFTING WHEN APPROACHING WORKING AREA
When approaching the working face for digging, do not shift
down the gear with the accelerator pedal kept depressed (with
the engine running at high speeds). If you perform the gear
shift while engine is running at high speeds, a large load is ap-
plied to the whole power train of the engine, torque converter,
transmission, axle, and final drive, and this may cause damag-
es to the power train.
When approaching the working face and shifting down the gear
to 1st speed, release the accelerator pedal to decrease the en-
gine speed first. Then, shift down the gear and gradually de-
press the accelerator pedal. If you depress the accelerator ped-
al quickly immediately after the gear is shifted down, a large load is applied to the engine and power train.
MACHINE ARTICULATION WHEN DIGGING
Do not make the machine articulated during digging. If the ma-
chine is articulated, the front and rear wheels face in different
directions and the driving force does not work on the front
wheels fully. As the result, the digging force drops and a large
load is applied to the center hinge pin. Also, the driving force
does not work on the right and left front wheels evenly, and the
load is applied to only one side of the front wheel. The service
life of the tire is shortened.
If the machine is articulated during digging, the entire machine
becomes unstable and it may tip over.
Do not make the machine articulated but set it in straight pos-
ture when approaching the materials during digging work. With
this method, the load is applied evenly to the bucket, unbal-
anced load can be avoided, and loading amount in the bucket
increases.
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