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Komatsu excavator track speed decreases

K-TEC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2016
Messages
49
Location
Dominica
Occupation
Heavy Equipment Operator
Hello,
Growing up around around these things i keep hearing people say that one major fault komatsu has is that their track always loses power after a while.
My dad ownes komatsu excavators: pc120-3 a 1989 i think , a 1999 pc130-6, and a 2004 pc160-7. The all suffered from tracking power issues.
I'm using the pc160-7 right now and im beginning to notice a loss in tracking power. Does anybody know what causes this or is this just a myth/some kinda sterotype?
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
13,206
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
The load sensing functions of that brand of machine are generally controlled by springs in the various valves that drive pump output. Over time the springs will lose a little of their strength and the valves will need to be adjusted to get back to the factory specified performance. The Dash 3 and 5 models were open center load sensing and usually could be tuned up at 5,000 hour intervals. The Dash 6 and 7 models were closed center load sensing and shouldn't be as sensitive to needing tune up but still the performance issue was noticeable over time.

The other factor I ran into a lot was operators getting used to the machines and being able to operate faster than the hydraulics reacted. A quick test is to run a cycle time on the boom up function. Stretch the stick all the way out, open the bucket all the way and set it all the on the ground. Put your mode in the highest setting and engine at full throttle. You want a watch with a second hand or a stop watch with you. Now lift the boom to the top of the cylinder stroke as fast as it will go. It should take somewhere around 4 seconds to fully top out. If it is around 5 seconds the hydraulic system could probably use a tune up.
 

Bls repair

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2017
Messages
1,612
Location
S E Pa
Occupation
Equipment operator,mechanic
Is it the same all the time or does it change when it heats up
 
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