1. Plan your pattern

When working with tough material such as rock, plan your ripping pattern based on the grain of the material. Cut with the grain for more ease; cutting against the grain is more difficult and the rock falls apart. The same concept applies to the strata in the ground. You may have to make multiple passes to determine your best pattern. 

Depending on the material, you may find that cross ripping — running a series of passes in a grid pattern — is best to break up hard spots and reduce material size. Consider performing material analysis to determine if the benefits of cross ripping are worth the additional cost.

Avoid ripping on slopes that your dozer cannot climb and avoid sideslopes; remember, your dozer has less traction on rock than it does on dirt. 

Don’t turn with your ripper shank in the ground. Ripping is a straight-line procedure. Make sure that the shank is up and clear of the ground before you put your dozer in reverse.

2. Determine your ripping depth

The grain and density of the material will determine your ripping depth. Use a longer shank for softer ground and a shorter shank for harder ground. When possible, it’s best to rip at the maximum depth that penetration and traction allow to get the most out of your fuel and shank tip wear. But it may not always be possible to rip at the maximum depth. An initial pass at less than full depth can help break difficult material loose for a second pass at full depth.

3. Find the best shank angle

Start with the tip out and adjust it for optimum penetration of the material. Use the correct machine speed, and rip in first gear. The optimum speed is 1-1.5 miles per hour (1.6-2.4 km/h) at about 2/3 throttle.

Excessive speed can result in track slip and generate enough heat on your shank tip to shorten its life. Rip downhill if possible; gravity helps your dozer take advantage of its weight and horsepower. 

You may need to experiment to find the best angle for your shank. Raise the shank and take a shallower cut at a different angle if your track starts to slip or if the machine leans forward as the ripper tries to work its way out. Keep your undercarriage level so you get maximum traction from your track.  
 

4. Use your decelerator

Use your decelerator to match your drawbar pull to available traction and ground conditions. Too much power when ripping can result in track spin, reduced life span of your shank tip and potential damage to the undercarriage. Keep a steady pull with your decelerator to maximize production and apply just enough power to be on the verge of track spin. This allows you to take full advantage of your dozer’s horsepower, especially when making initial cuts on a smooth or hard surface.