Safety Notice 10364/0 - EN

Date: 11/11/2014
To: Dealers Service Managers

Equipment: Large Diameter Piling rigs

Subject: Undercarriage track maintenance
Undercarriage tracks should always be maintained in good condition. Set concrete, hard-core & debris should be
routinely cleaned out of the track chain.

Particular importance must be given to all parties interested in the motion of the track: front idler, intermediate
rollers, chain links in the drop zone, sprocket.

Objects or residues that result in these areas modify the perimeter of the rolling of the chain, with consequent
value of tension that can increase in an uncontrolled manner.

To verify if a tensioning or a detensioning action is required you can check:

If the chain and the rotating parts of the undercarriage (sprocket, idler, rollers) are not cleaned:

At below you can find some pictures of “dirty undercarriage”:

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in order to receive any additional information relevant to this Safety Notice please contact us:
SOILMEC S.p.A. 5819, via Dismano - 47522 Cesena (Italy)
aftersales@soilmec.it
tel. +39 0547 319374 (Safety Notice 10364/0 – EN)
fax +39 0547 318544
 At below some pictures of “cleaned undercarriage”, even if used:

If a sag in the upper part became too wider or became proximal to zero:

At below some pictures of sag too wider (possible risk of chain derailment)

2/5
in order to receive any additional information relevant to this Safety Notice please contact us:
SOILMEC S.p.A. 5819, via Dismano - 47522 Cesena (Italy)
aftersales@soilmec.it
tel. +39 0547 319374 (Safety Notice 10364/0 – EN)
fax +39 0547 318544
 At below a pictures of sag too lower, it mean proximal to zero (possible risk of too high pressure on the
undercarriage tensioning system and excess of wear on moving parts)

If the idler / sprocket matching surfaces are not in contact with the chain and between them is
formed a gap:

Example of a too wider gap between matching surfaces

3/5
in order to receive any additional information relevant to this Safety Notice please contact us:
SOILMEC S.p.A. 5819, via Dismano - 47522 Cesena (Italy)
aftersales@soilmec.it
tel. +39 0547 319374 (Safety Notice 10364/0 – EN)
fax +39 0547 318544
 To check and adjust tension track (when needed or at max every 500 hours), place the machine on a flat ground,
place a straight edge A on the top of track B and measure the maximum amount of the sag C (see following
pictures). If the measure is above the admitted max value than you must tension the track (track chain is too
loose). When the measure reaches the correct value you must stop tensioning (track chain becomes too tight). If
measuring the sag C, the measure is below the correct value (due to a non-correct maintenance of the track, i.e
dirty condition), you should detensioning, opening the loosen valve F. Please note, doing this operation, that only
½ turn required, and let grease flow out, check the track chain is released and correct value of sag is achieved.
Check also the moving parts and cleaning the track.

Attention:

Before starting tensioning, tram forward and backward for 3-4 times in order to correctly match the chain on the
drive sprocket and on the idler and rollers.

Loosening the valve F is possible taking all the safety measure (wearing gloves, do not stand in front of the
valve, rotating only half turn the valve, …). At the end of the detensioning, tighten again the valve F.

When tensioning the chain do not stand in front of the greasing point due to a possible high-pressure fluid
exposure risk. Grease at pressure coming out of the grease valve can penetrate the skin and cause serious or
lethal injury. Use the greasing pump D to remotely pumping the tensioning cylinder.

Important:

Check the sag between the two main upper rollers when this distance is greater than the distance between the
roller and the idler or the roller and the sprocket.

Example of case in which is necessary to measure the sag:

between wheel and upper roller between the upper rollers

4/5
in order to receive any additional information relevant to this Safety Notice please contact us:
SOILMEC S.p.A. 5819, via Dismano - 47522 Cesena (Italy)
aftersales@soilmec.it
tel. +39 0547 319374 (Safety Notice 10364/0 – EN)
fax +39 0547 318544
 Tensioning valve and grease gun pictures:

Max value of the sag C: 30mm (c/w approx. 1,5m distance between rollers)

Correct value of the sag C: 10mm (c/w approx. 1,5m distance between rollers)

Slow moving tracked piling rigs are more susceptible to this debris build up, as concrete can set quickly.

If a build-up of concrete occurs (due to a non-correct maintenance), it is possible, whilst tracking, for the
sprockets to dis-engage/ jump out of the chains erratically. A loud noise is usually heard at this point.

This could cause damage to sprocket teeth and track chains, internal damage to the final drive assembly and
hydraulic drive motor. The front idler assembly would be unable to work correctly and therefore correct track
tension cannot be maintained. Track tension may become loose or if the recoil spring has become coil bound the
tracks will become too tight rather than too loose.

It is important to ensure correct engagement of sprockets to track chains at all times.

Therefore, it is recommended that all debris should be removed from the track chains, ensuring the sprockets are
correctly engaged with the chains. (see photos above)

If, in extreme cases of concrete build up, the front idler assembly spring becomes coil bound – we would also
recommend you inspect the integrity of the idler tensioner cylinder and also replace the greasing coupling. These
could have been subjected to higher pressures than normally encountered.

We recommend that you check all your piling rigs and that this instruction is considered as part of your standard
routine maintenance checks.

5/5
in order to receive any additional information relevant to this Safety Notice please contact us:
SOILMEC S.p.A. 5819, via Dismano - 47522 Cesena (Italy)
aftersales@soilmec.it
tel. +39 0547 319374 (Safety Notice 10364/0 – EN)
fax +39 0547 318544