I used to think a quick visual check on the tracks was good enough before moving the dozer

I was working a site in Spokane last month, moving a D6 across some muddy ground. I gave the tracks my usual once-over, thought they looked fine, and started to roll. About twenty feet in, I felt a weird bump and heard a loud pop. Turned out a track pin was about halfway out, and the stress of the turn finished the job. The foreman came over, didn't even yell, just said 'You know, a pry bar and five minutes saves a five-hour repair.' He was right. I was so focused on the big picture of the job that I skipped the simple step of actually prying up on the track to check for loose links. Now I do that check every single morning, no matter what. Anyone else have a basic check they started doing after a close call?

3 comments

3 Comments

val40628d ago

My buddy had a close call with a backhoe bucket pin. He just gave it a kick, but it was barely hanging on. Now he actually grabs a hammer for the tap test.

adam_anderson627d ago

Imagine kicking something that heavy and expecting it to hold. That's a good way to lose a foot or worse. Glad he learned to use the right tool.

terry_martinez11d ago

Lose a foot or worse" feels a bit dramatic, @adam_anderson6. A solid kick to something stuck is usually just a dumb shortcut, not a trip to the ER. Most guys walk away with just a sore toe and a lesson learned.