Strategies to Reduce Wear on Pins and Bushings
One of the most important parts of machine maintenance is taking care of your pins and bushings. These components are mechanical hinges that connect different parts of your equipment together and allow them to move and flex. Their wear rate can vary based on factors such as the operating environment (soil, rock, gravel, or pavement), usage, and operator practices. To help you maximize their lifespan, we’ve put together several tips and recommendations for proper pin and bushing maintenance.
Why is Pin and Bushing Wear Important?
Replacing worn pins and bushings can be expensive, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Additionally, your equipment may need to be moved to an offsite shop for replacement, resulting in costly downtime and delays. Plus, if the worn components have damaged the equipment’s structural steel, you might also be faced with the cost of replacing the pin and bushing and the repair costs for line boring, welding, and refitting.
Two primary methods to minimize pin and bushing wear and avoid these expenses and downtime are lubrication and rotation.
Maintain Proper Lubrication
Insufficient lubrication leads to excessive and uneven wear on pins and bushings. Pins wear on the side that makes contact with the bushing and wears on the mating surface of its inner diameter. Worn components cause track stretching (known as pitching), which hinders equipment performance and reduces the lifespan of your undercarriage.
Most modern pins and bushings feature ‘grease grooves’ on the inner diameter where lubricants create a film layer for pin rotation. Applying lubricant at manufacturer recommended intervals as a part of your machine maintenance routine slows wear rates and helps expel contaminants from the bushing by forcing out foreign materials from the grooves.
Rotating Pins and Bushings
To prevent pitching, pins and bushings can be periodically rotated, shifting the wear side away from the contact area with other components. This rotation exposes new surfaces to working areas both internally and externally, evening out wear rates. Turning also restores pitch on the track between pins and can prolong undercarriage life by enabling the chain to last until links and rollers need replacing.
We recommend inspecting your pins and bushings before beginning work with your machine for the season. If you notice track pitching, it’s time to address the pins and bushings. The frequency of rotation depends on your working conditions, but it’s typically necessary around the 2,000 hour mark.
Contact Us Today
For any questions about pin and bushing wear, assistance with rotation or replacement, or information on machine maintenance in general, please contact our team today!