Single Sprocket
It is needless to say that a worn excavator drive sprocket can significantly damage the tracks and other undercarriage components. It is attached to the final drive motor so that when the drive motor and the sprocket rotate as well. Its teeth then mesh with the links on the track and make the track move. Much like a sprocket on a bicycle catches the chain, causing the wheels to turn.
How to check the wear of the excavator drive sprocket?
Despite the fact that sprocket wheels do not wear out frequently, they should be checked for symptoms of damage or wear on a regular basis. The teeth that mesh with the machine track are the important area to inspect. The teeth of a worn drive star will be more pointed and sharp, whereas the teeth of a good sprocket will be more rounded.
The diameter of the wheel decreases when the teeth begin to wear down. The teeth of the drive star no longer contact as efficiently with the track connections, resulting in a pitch mismatch.
Checking the wear condition of the sprocket wheels is particularly important when replacing the tracks in the excavator. This is because a worn sprocket wheel accelerates the wear of the track links, which in turn results in wear on the tracks in a much shorter time. It is always recommended to replace the drive stars when installing a new track set on the machine. This saves time and costs of their assembly and prevents premature wear and extends the working time of the excavator.
How to prevent wear?
Checking the track tension on excavator driving sprockets is one of the most critical measures to prevent premature star wear. Too much stress will wear the teeth of the sprocket wheel. It's also crucial to keep the undercarriage clean, as the state of the undercarriage might alter the tension on the rails. Particularly in the presence of dried mud and debris.
The track drive will not be able to propel the machine without a working excavator drive sprocket. Drive sprockets must be replaced before they begin to wear down the tracks or damage the final drive's performance.
