Yuezhong analyzes a failure case: Lessons from project delays due to excavator teeth problems

In construction projects, mining and earthwork operations, excavator teeth (Digging teeth) are key components that come into direct contact with hard materials. Their quality and use status directly affect construction efficiency and equipment life. However, many project managers often ignore the maintenance and selection of bucket teeth, which ultimately leads to equipment damage, construction delays, and even additional costs. In this article, Yuezhong will analyze the project delays caused by bucket tooth problems through a real failure case, and summarize key lessons to help practitioners avoid similar mistakes.

A large open-pit mining project was originally planned to complete 500,000 cubic meters of earthwork excavation within 3 months, but due to frequent problems such as bucket tooth breakage and excessive wear in the excavator, the equipment downtime increased, and the final construction period was delayed by nearly 1 month, with additional losses exceeding 2 million yuan.

In order to save costs, the purchasing department selected low-priced non-original bucket teeth, which had insufficient hardness (HRC) and wear resistance. They wore out quickly when excavating hard rocks, and their average service life was only 1/3 of the original bucket teeth. Frequent replacement of bucket teeth not only increases the cost of accessories, but also leads to longer equipment downtime.

The mine mainly excavates basalt and granite, which are high-hardness materials. Reinforced types (such as rock teeth) should have been selected, but ordinary earthwork teeth were used on site, resulting in cracking of the tooth tip and deformation of the base.

Some bucket teeth were not locked correctly, and they fell off due to vibration during operation, even causing the bucket body to wear, further increasing maintenance costs.

The operator did not check the wear of the bucket teeth according to the standard, and did not replace them until the tooth tip was completely worn out. At this time, the Excavator Bucket Cutting Edge was severely damaged and required additional welding repair.

二、 Chain reaction caused by the failure of bucket teeth

Bucket teeth with severe wear will lead to a decrease in digging force, and the amount of shoveled each time will be reduced by 20%-30%, which will directly affect the overall progress. Frequent shutdowns to replace bucket teeth will reduce the average daily operating time of a single device by 2-3 hours.

Due to the rapid wear of excavator teeth, the Excavator Bucket Cutting Edge was also worn, and the maintenance cost was 40% higher than expected. Some excavator teeth were not replaced in time after breaking, resulting in deformation of the Bucket structure, which eventually required overall replacement, with a single maintenance cost of more than 50,000 yuan.

The project originally scheduled for 3 months was extended to 4 months, and the owner claimed a penalty for delay according to the terms of the contract. The project team was forced to increase nighttime construction and additional equipment investment, further pushing up costs.

Earthwork → Standard bucket teeth (economical type)

Mixed materials (including crushed stone) → Reinforced bucket teeth

Hard rock mining → Rock teeth/alloy teeth (ultra-high wear resistance)

Although the initial cost is higher, the service life is extended by 3-5 times, and the overall cost is lower. Recommended brands: YueZhong, CAT, Komatsu, ESCO, Hensley, etc.

Use locking pins or bolts to fix to avoid loosening and falling off. Check the wear of bucket teeth every 8-10 hours, and replace them if the wear exceeds 30%.

Record the bucket teeth replacement cycle, predict the next replacement time, and avoid sudden downtime. Use wear-resistant coating or replaceable tooth tip design to reduce long-term costs.

Small parts affect big projects. Although the bucket teeth are small, they are the core components of the efficient operation of the Excavator. The root cause of the project delay and additional losses in this case is the neglect of bucket teeth selection, maintenance and quality management. Through scientific tooth selection, standardized installation and regular inspection, the equipment failure rate can be greatly reduced, construction efficiency can be improved, and unnecessary economic losses can be avoided.

Yuezhong is a professional excavator bucket teeth manufacturer that can customize excavator teeth solutions according to 

your specific needs.

Have you encountered similar problems in your project? Welcome to share your experience or ask questions in the comment area!