Case 2050M Operator's Manual page 150

6 - WORKING OPERATIONS
How to extend the life of sealed track and lubricated track
NOTE: Turn the bushings at the 100 percent limit.
Letting the pins and bushings run to destruction results in accelerated wear of other components. The pins and
bushings should be flipped, end to end, with the lube hole remaining DOWN for proper lubrication. Contact your
authorized dealer or see the Service Manual for this machine.
Extended Life Track
The Extended Life Track chain incorporates a bushing that is free to rotate on the standard lubricated track bushing.
Wear is distributed over the entire circumference of the bushing. The bushing is free to rotate without creating the
scrubbing action between the sprocket and the bushing as in conventional crawler track chain design.
A major reduction in wear on the Extended Life Track chain is the external bushing wear caused by the sprocket
contact. The Extended Life Track bushing rotates with the sprocket. The wear point is primarily between the outer
and inner bushing. As the chain wears it may become more "noisy" under certain transporting conditions due to the
wear between the inner and outer bushings. This is normal.
Recommended application
Extended Life Track is recommended in high abrasive/low impact applications where bushing wear is severe. The
narrowest possible track shoe that will give adequate flotation should be used to obtain maximum life from the sealed
and lubricated standard pin and bushing joint. Field testing in abrasive conditions has proven the Extended Life Track
bushing will obtain up to twice the wear life as the conventional lubricated track bushings.
NOTE: If the machine has been parked for an extended period of time or is working in corrosive environmental appli-
cations, check the bushings before operating the machine. Loosen the bushings if they will not rotate.
This may be necessary on new chains where the clearance between bushings is minimal.
Uncontrolled wear factors
Normal undercarriage wear is a normal part of machine operation. Soil and underfoot conditions cannot be controlled.
These include abrasive soils, impact, packing and moisture.
Abrasive soils
Ground surfaces have different levels of abrasiveness. The higher the abrasiveness, the higher the undercarriage
wear rate.
Moisture plays a major role in the abrasiveness of soils. A sand slurry will be less abrasive than a damp sand. Wet
abrasives create grinding compound like conditions.
Low abrasiveness
Silts and clays are low abrasive soils. When wet, this type soil feels slick and can be easily molded.
Moderate abrasiveness
Silts or clays that contain a low amount of rounded sand particles and enough moisture to stick together are moder-
ately abrasive.
High abrasiveness
High abrasive soils contain a high amount of sharp, irregular shaped sand particles.
Impact
Impact is best described as the amount of grouser penetration in the ground. The effect of high impact loads can be
reduced by reducing the machine speed and by using the smallest track shoes possible.
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