Ground engaging tools on the job site: types, selection, maintenance & best practices

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In the world of heavy construction, the components that suffer the most wear are often the easiest to overlook. Ground engaging tools (GETs) are the teeth, edges, shanks, and adapters that physically contact the ground. How efficiently your machines cut, dig, and move material depends on these components, so when these wear parts dull or fail, performance drops, fuel consumption rises, and downtime follows fast.

Even though GETs represent a small fraction of total equipment cost, they have an outsized impact on your bottom line. Choosing the right tools for your conditions and maintaining them properly can extend machine life, improve productivity, and reduce wear on expensive components like buckets, blades, and undercarriages.

This guide breaks down everything fleet managers and operators need to know about ground engaging tools: what they are, how they work, how to select the right ones for your site, and how to keep them in peak condition.

What Ground Engaging Tools Do

Every time a bucket breaks ground, the tools welded or bolted to its edge absorb the impact and abrasion. GETs form the critical connection between your machine and the material it’s moving, whether that’s loose soil, compacted clay, or solid rock. Their primary function is to absorb impact and abrasion, preserving the bucket or blade’s base metal and maintaining optimal digging performance.

A sharp, properly matched set of GETs allows for clean cuts, smoother operation, and less resistance. The machine runs cooler and uses less fuel because it doesn’t have to fight against worn or dull metal. But when GETs are neglected, worn beyond profile, or mismatched for the terrain–your machine will work harder than it should. Fuel use climbs, cycle times slow, and the extra vibration and stress begin to wear down other structural components.

In short, well-maintained GETs don’t just dig better, they also protect your investment in every other part of the machine.

Types of Ground Engaging Tools

Ground engaging tools come in several forms, each designed for specific materials and job conditions.

Bucket Teeth: 

These are the most recognizable and frequently replaced components in a machine’s ground engaging tools lineup. Positioned along the bucket lip and mounted to adapters, bucket teeth are essential for penetrating tough ground surfaces. Because they are the first point of contact with the material, they experience the most direct impact and abrasion and are more prone to wear and tear.

The shape and style of bucket teeth can also directly influence digging efficiency and wear life. For example, narrow and chisel-shaped teeth are designed to cut through compact soils and clay while wide, blunt teeth are better suited to handle abrasive sand and gravel. Attachment methods also matter. Weld-on teeth offer a permanent, robust solution that is valuable for high-impact environments where durability is a top priority. However these must be cut-off and re-welded when they wear down, which increases downtime. Pinned or twist-lock systems are an alternative to these and use adapters that allow teeth to be quickly removed and replaced. This can be a major advantage in operations where speed and convenience are essential. These systems can also reduce the risk of losing a tooth during operation.

Regular inspection and timely replacement of bucket teeth not only improve digging performance but also protect the structural integrity of the bucket itself, which can prevent expensive repairs or downtime later.

Cutting Edges and End Bits: 

On dozers, loaders, and graders, cutting edges play a crucial role in both performance and protection. These components form the front line of contact with the ground or material being moved and are designed to shield the bucket or blade from direct wear. This can extend the lifespan of more expensive base equipment. Cutting edges slide into materials like soil, gravel, or rock and make it easier to push, lift, or grade surfaces efficiently and without extra wear on your machine.

Many machines use bolt-on cutting edges, which are replaceable and reversible. When one side becomes dull or worn, it can be flipped to expose a fresh side and effectively double the service life without a full-service replacement. For more demanding, high-abrasion tasks, through-hardened or heat-treated cutting edges are often used due to their superior strength and resistance to wear.

End bits, located at the outer corners of the blade or bucket, reinforce and protect these high-wear zones, which often bear the brunt of impact and abrasion during turns or when operating in rocky terrain. They not only improve structural integrity but also help maintain a clean, precise cut at the edges of the working surface. Like cutting edges, end bits can be replaced independently which allows operators to maintain optimal performance with minimal maintenance.

Ripper and Ripper Shanks: 

Rippers are powerful ground engaging tools mounted to the rear of dozers or on select excavators, designed specifically for breaking up hard, compacted, or frozen ground before it is moved or graded by other equipment. They act like heavy-duty claws that penetrate and fracture dense material so that the bucket has an easier time handling the load efficiently.

Each ripper consists of a ripper shank, which is a curved or straight arm made from high-strength alloy steel that delivers concentrated force into the ground. At the tip of the shank is a replaceable ripper tooth, which absorbs most of the wear and can be swapped out when it dulls. These tips are often made from heat-treated materials to withstand repeated impact and extreme stress in rugged terrain.

Rippers are especially valuable in applications like site preparation, mining, and winter operations where frozen soil or rock-hard surfaces would otherwise cause excessive wear on standard digging tools. By pre-fracturing the ground, rippers help reduce strain on other GET components and improve efficiency.

Side Cutters and Wing Bits: 

Side cutters and wing bits are critical GET components that are mounted along the sides of a bucket, extending the bucket’s width slightly and providing extra protection to the sidewalls during digging and loading operations. These tools are often overlooked but they play a significant role in extending the life of buckets and improving machine productivity.

Functionally, side cutters help protect the side of a bucket from abrasive wear, especially when operating in rocky or high-impact environments. Without them, the bucket walls would take the brunt of the force during trenching or excavation which can lead to costly damage and premature wear. Wing bits are extensions at the upper or lower sides of the bucket and enhance cutting efficiency by slicing through material at the outer edges to reduce drag and make each pass more effective.

Beyond protection, these components improve performance. With more width due to the extension, there is reduced side spillage and increased material retention during loading that allows the operator to move more material per cycle. This is especially beneficial in tight trenching operations where clean trench walls and maximum bucket fill are essential.

Adapters and Retention Systems: 

Adapters are the essential interface between the bucket lip and bucket teeth, as they play a key role in transferring the digging forces from the teeth into the bucket structure. Typically welded or bolted directly to the bucket edge, adapters act as sturdy anchors that absorb impact and distribute that stress evenly, which helps prevent structural damage to the bucket itself.

A tight, secure fit between the tooth and adapter is critical. Not ensuring this connection can lead to misalignment, excessive vibration, and stress concentration. This is also the most common cause of cracked bucket lips, broken teeth, or tooth loss during operation. Over time, these failures can not only damage the equipment, but also pose significant safety risks on the job site. This is where retention systems come in. Designed to lock the tooth firmly onto the adapter, these systems prevent teeth from shifting or detaching during high-impact digging.

High quality retention systems minimize downtime and reduce the risk of “throwing” a tooth. “Throwing” a tooth refers to a situation where one of the bucket teeth becomes dislodged or breaks off during operation, which can reduce digging efficiency and potentially cause damage to other components if not addressed promptly. Regular inspection and maintenance of adapters and locking mechanisms help ensure optimal performance, safety, and cost-efficiency during the equipment’s lifecycle.

Track Shoes and Undercarriage Components: 

Though not traditionally classified alongside bucket teeth or cutting edges, track shoes and other undercarriage components are vital ground-engaging parts, especially on tracked machines like dozers, excavators, and track loaders. Because they are in constant contact with the ground, these components directly influence the stability, traction, and overall performance of your machine in various terrain types.

Track shoes are the metal plates bolted to the track chain links, forming the surface that grips and moves across the ground. The design, width, and tread of these shoes can drastically affect how a machine performs in varying conditions.

The track shoes work in concert with the rest of the undercarriage system which includes rollers, sprockets, idlers, and track chains. Improper track shoe selection or excessive wear can accelerate deterioration across these components and lead to costly downtime and reduced efficiency. For example, shoes that are too aggressive for the terrain can cause early wear on rollers and links while shoes that are too soft can reduce stability and power. Routine inspection is crucial to preserve the integrity of undercarriage parts, which often represents up to 50% of a machine’s total maintenance costs.

Each of these parts works together as a system. Replacing one without considering the others can create imbalances that shorten tool life and reduce digging performance

Understanding Materials and Wear

GETs wear down because they’re doing their job by taking the friction, shock, and abrasion meant for your machine. But not all wear is equal, and understanding how it happens can help you prevent premature failure.

Abrasion is the most common wear type. Sand, gravel, and rock particles act like sandpaper, steadily grinding away the metal surface. Impact wear occurs when the tool strikes large rocks or other hard objects, causing chips, cracks, or deformation. Fatigue results from constant loading and unloading cycles that slowly form cracks in welds or around adapters.

Different materials resist these forces in different ways. Standard carbon steel is cost-effective but wears quickly in abrasive soil. Through-hardened boron steel lasts significantly longer and resists deformation. Alloy steels with added nickel or chromium provide extra toughness for high-impact environments, while tungsten carbide overlays deliver extreme abrasion resistance for mining or quarry work.

The shape of a GET also affects how it wears. A sharper tooth profile cuts easily but wears faster. A wider, thicker tooth lasts longer but requires more hydraulic power to dig. The best setups balance penetration and durability for the material being worked.

Matching GETs to Jobsite Conditions

Selecting the right GETs starts with understanding your soil and operating environment. A setup that performs perfectly in loose soil will fail quickly in granite or caliche.

In sandy or highly abrasive conditions, choose wide, wear-resistant profiles with through-hardened or carbide materials to combat surface erosion. For compact clay, sharper penetration teeth or edges help break through dense material without excessive power draw. Mixed gravel demands a balanced profile that has enough width for wear life but sufficient sharpness for efficient loading. In frozen or rocky ground, narrow, chisel-style teeth paired with impact-tough alloy tips deliver the best results.

Machine size and hydraulic power also matter. Larger excavators and dozers place more stress on edges and adapters, so thicker profiles and reinforced designs are essential. Smaller machines benefit from lighter, easier-to-replace systems that reduce downtime and prevent overstressing the hydraulics.

Choosing GETs isn’t just about performance, it’s also about cost. Standardizing wear parts across similar machines simplifies inventory and ensures replacements are always on hand. And by calculating the true cost per hour or cost per ton moved, fleet managers can make informed choices between “economy” and premium options based on actual return on investment.

GET Installation and Maintenance Best Practices

Even the best tools won’t last long if they’re installed incorrectly or left unchecked. Proper installation and regular inspection are the foundation of GET longevity.

Start by ensuring all surfaces are clean and properly aligned before mounting teeth, adapters, or edges. For bolt-on edges, always use manufacturer-recommended torque values. For weld-on parts, follow OEM welding procedures and preheat requirements to prevent metal fatigue around the weld zone.

Daily walkarounds should include a quick inspection for loose or missing teeth, cracked edges, and worn hardware. Weekly checks should measure wear, confirm torque, and inspect the bucket lip or blade for signs of deformation. Teeth showing more than 50–70% wear should be rotated or replaced before performance begins to drop off sharply.

Operators play a major role in wear prevention. Over-prying or side-loading a bucket accelerates wear on edges and adapters. Training operators to cut with the correct angle and load helps extend component life and reduces fuel burn.

Keep accurate records of part replacements and wear rates. Logging this information allows maintenance teams to predict when replacements will be needed and plan ahead instead of reacting to failures.

Evaluating Performance and Cost of Ground Engaging Tools

Measuring the effectiveness of GETs goes beyond counting how many hours a set lasts. Performance metrics should include fuel efficiency, machine productivity, and downtime related to replacements.

For example, if a set of economy teeth costs $1,000 and lasts 180 hours, but a premium set costs $1,300 and lasts 300 hours while reducing fuel use by 7%, the higher upfront cost pays back quickly. The second option delivers lower cost per hour, higher uptime, and better fuel economy. These are all factors that translate directly to profitability.

Tracking these metrics across your fleet helps identify patterns in performance and pinpoint opportunities for improvement. Many telematics systems can log operating hours and load cycles, making it easier to schedule replacements during planned maintenance windows.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

One of the most common errors in GET management is under-specing—using lighter-duty parts in abrasive conditions to save on cost. While the initial expense is lower, the shorter lifespan and increased downtime quickly erase any savings.

Another frequent issue is improper installation. Teeth that aren’t torqued or pinned correctly can loosen, fall off, or cause lip damage that’s costly to repair. Neglecting regular inspection often allows small cracks or uneven wear to escalate into structural damage.

Inventory mismanagement is another pitfall. Stocking multiple, incompatible systems creates confusion and delays. Standardizing GET systems across your fleet reduces replacement times and simplifies purchasing.

Each of these mistakes has a simple fix: follow OEM guidelines, inspect regularly, and treat GETs as critical wear items rather than disposable parts.

The Future of Technology

Innovation is changing even the most rugged parts of the jobsite. New alloy compositions and heat treatments extend wear life far beyond traditional steels. Coatings and hardfacing processes now reduce surface friction, improving penetration and fuel efficiency.

Some manufacturers are experimenting with sensor-enabled GETs—wear parts embedded with small monitors that detect vibration, temperature, or impact. These sensors send real-time data on wear status, allowing maintenance teams to replace parts before failure occurs. Modular and 3D-printed GET systems are also gaining traction, enabling faster changeouts and more efficient material use.

As sustainability becomes a greater focus, expect to see recyclable alloys and longer-life components designed to minimize waste and reduce the environmental impact of frequent replacements.

Final Thoughts on Ground Engaging Tools

Ground engaging tools may be small, but they’re the frontline of every earthmoving operation. The right combination of selection, installation, and maintenance can dramatically improve your equipment’s performance and reduce operating costs.

Inspect your GETs daily, replace or rotate them before they reach end-of-life, track performance data to make informed purchasing decisions, and train your operators to dig smart, not hard.

With the right management practices, GETs can last longer, perform better, and protect your machines where it matters most—on the job site.

Need replacement teeth, cutting edges, or adapters? Visit the EquipmentShare Shop to find OEM and high-quality aftermarket options or talk with a parts expert to get the right fit for your fleet.

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