Komatsu Introduces Parallel Link Undercarriage System for Mid-Size Dozers

Fri June 26, 2009
Aggregate Equipment Guide

Komatsu America Corp.’s parallel link undercarriage system (PLUS) on its D51EX/PX-22, D61EX/PX-15 and D65EX/PX/WX-15 crawler dozers can increase wear life, reduce machine downtime and lower repair and maintenance costs, according to the manufacturer.

With PLUS, undercarriage wear is more balanced across all components. Bushings will no longer wear faster than the rails. The system is designed to wear evenly so that the machine provides close to 100 percent usage of undercarriage components, lowering undercarriage maintenance costs by up to 40 percent.

Other advantages of PLUS include no maintenance between track changes other than track tension adjustments and no more bushing turns. The PLUS undercarriage is suitable for all applications including high impact applications and applications where the AR (abrasion resistant bushing) track assembly was previously required. Should service be required, the master links allows quick access to undercarriage components. PLUS also reduces noise heard by the operator, improving operator comfort.

PLUS’s strutted link provides a solid base for the box section type track and a taller, hardened link height provides longer wear. Because individual links can be replaced in the field, down time is minimized. Segmented sprockets are designed to shed material, which minimizes packing. Carrier rollers have a larger diameter to increase their wear life, while track rollers with larger flanges and track roller guards that contact the link instead of the pins help maintain track alignment, according to the manufacturer.

Building on Komatsu’s track frame design, PLUS can be interchanged with a conventional undercarriage, which makes retrofitting an existing machine simple and fast.

Machines equipped with PLUS have undercarriage replacement options which include using the conventional undercarriage or using PLUS.

For more information, visit www.komatsuamerica.com.

This story also appears on Construction Equipment Guide.

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