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.
I had a hydraulic problem on my skid steer and called all my local dealers in the lake Ozark area. They were all weeks out and really acted like they didn’t want to take the job. We called Luby Equipment out of Springfield and they pulled it in the next day to diagnose, and got the ball rolling. Travis at the desk answered all our phone calls and let us know the progress. If my Case machine needs work from here on out, I’ll be taking it to Luby. Customer service was tip top
Response from the owner:Cody, we appreciate you taking the time to leave us a review. We’re glad we could get you taken care of on such short notice. We know downtime is money lost, so keeping customers updated and getting machines back to work matters. We’ll make sure Travis and the Springfield team see this.
Christopher Bugg
2 months ago
Guys are professional and know what there talking about
Response from the owner:We appreciate you taking the time to leave us a review Christopher. Please reach out if you need anything.
- Luby Equipment Team
Joseph Martinez
3 months ago
william ashworth
3 months ago
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for choosing Luby Equipment, William. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything at all. We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business and look forward to supporting you with parts, service, rentals, or your next machine.
Cori Kremmer
4 months ago
Great service and nice clean building!
Response from the owner:It has been our pleasure to work with you Cori, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need anything in the future!
Mustafa Elsherif
5 months ago
Josh was great to work with, He made everything easy and smooth. Highly recommend.
Mustafa Elsherif
5 months ago
Josh was great to work with, He made everything easy and smooth. Highly recommend.
Homer Brinker
5 months ago
Ethan Uphaus
6 months ago
josh was amazing salesman and was very patient with us through the entire process of getting a new machine and went above and beyond for us in all of our needs for the best price possible thank you again
Matthew Walth
6 months ago
Randy is my salesman and is always great, quick to answer a phone and always calls back if missed. The inside staff is always great to dealw with and full of knowledge while willing to work things out with you in a pinch.
Daryl Tibbs
6 months ago
Thanks for the very good quality and services yall have provided josh is a great guy
Doug Toops
7 months ago
Worked well with getting the job done
darren roberson
8 months ago
Bill Silzell
9 months ago
Your parts man is a great man extremely knowledgeable.
Mike “Mob” O'Brien
9 months ago
bros yolo miller
10 months ago
Kaitlyn Killy
11 months ago
Luke in parts took care of my father and his business for so many years. He gave phenomenal service. Professional and very knowledgeable. He went above and beyond without thinking twice every time. He’s a true asset to your company.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Kaitlyn! I will make sure Luke sees this.
Christopher Lair
11 months ago
Will definitely be checking there for parts in the future got what I needed fast!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind words! We know how important it is to keep your equipment running, and we’re glad we had the parts you needed in stock and could get them to you quickly. We appreciate your business and are always here to help!
Meaka Anne Knight
1 year ago
Robert Rodgers
1 year ago
Jenny was awesome! She was very informative and made the process very easy. Got a great deal on a nice machine. Will definitely be back for any future purchases.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the great review Robert!
Mark and Elizabeth Davidson
1 year ago
Great service... I will be back!!
Response from the owner:Thank you!
Asa Hutchins
1 year ago
They have been really helpful.
Response from the owner:Thank you Asa!
Chris and Holly Hughes
1 year ago
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5 star review!
Cody Skinner
1 year ago
Response from the owner:Thank you Cody for the 5 star review!
Victor Dragan
1 year ago
Great place to deliver.
Facility have 2 ramps for low pro and flatbed.
Nice people. In and out 20 min
Response from the owner:Thank you Victor!
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!
