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Get the Most from Ground Engaging Tools
9/23/2011
By Roy Brookhart
Product and Application Specialist, Caterpillar Inc.
Using the proper Ground Engaging Tools (GET) will help keep equipment productive and cost efficient, and protect buckets, blades, ripper shanks and other key components.
Here are some tips on how to make your GET work for you:
• Choose the right GET for the application. Selecting the proper size, shape or type will make a huge impact on performance, component life and operating costs.
• The operator should look for damaged or loose GET components during the daily walk-around inspection. Correct the issue or schedule the machine into the shop.
• Never operate with missing GET. Without the protection of the GET, other critical components will be forced to wear and this could lead to costly rebuilds and repairs.
• Check for wear on GET components. While some wear is expected, you should be on the alert for unbalanced wear. If some teeth or a certain portion of an edge wear faster than others, you may need to alter your operating style or change to a different GET.
• Rotate your GET. Swap higher worn teeth with lesser worn teeth or reverse cutting edges to balance the wear, maximize the life of the GET, and improve performance and profits.
• Inspect welds in areas such as cutting edges or bucket tooth adapters. If there is wear, make sure it’s balanced. Repair any cracks that you find.
• Check the “maintenance tips” section of the Operations and Maintenance Manual for information specific to the machine model.
• Consider maintaining a log for each job or jobsite to record material composition, type of GET, how many hours each lasts and production. This information will aid in determining how to improve GET selection and performance — and ultimately how to best manage costs.
•Records can also help eliminate the need to keep a large stock of GET parts in the repair inventory.
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