Lets talk about tracks

Dieselfume · Post by **Dieselfume** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 8:41 pm

Hi all,

I have what I believe to be a 1950 MC crawler, bought new by my grandpa.

It's done everything from farming, to running a sickle mower, and now it's current use for cleaning bedding out of sheds with the bulldozer blade.

My main question is about the tracks. I was just into the LH steering clutch system to replace the linkage, and I noticed how much slop the tracks seem to have. The master link didn't seem to be bad, but I'm not sure?

When I was a young boy, I can remember my grandpa and my dad rolling a track off in reverse from time to time or when turning. When I got older and became a mechanic I found out how to tension the tracks and now have them tensioned to specs. I haven't had a track roll off in 10 years in this fashion.

I have the MC owners and tech manual, but it says nothing about when to replace the tracks or the pins/bushings. it does say that a person can rotate the bushings 180 degrees and run them, but not much else.

Since I imagine only a track shop would be up to such a task as pin/bushing replacement, I wouldn't guess that it would be cost effective to pay them to do that job? I imagine it would cost close to what the crawler's worth?

When I had the last track off, the bogy wheels had quite alot of slop in them. I'd say an easy 1/4 inch of up/down play. I just pack them full of grease and keep using it.

I'm hoping that in a year or two we have a skid steer on the place and can retire this old girl, but in the meantime, I'd like to keep it in good working order.

What suggestions would you all make for me to do? What would you do?

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 5:10 am

Hi,

Well, every piece which makes up a rail wears with use. The OD of the pin to the ID of the bushing. The OD of the bushing to the sprocket. The faces and sides of the links to the rollers and idler wheel. The rails lengthen and everything gets looser over time.

Turning the pins and bushings does act to reshorten the rail, but the wear remains and so the sideways snake remains. It is a stopgap at best, but is probably all you can do on an MC these days. I do not think any rail parts are still available for those.

You need a track press to do the work, and good luck finding a shop nearby with a press small enough to fit. I don't think you can do the trick we do on the later machines and put 350 rails on using a rim sprocket (cut the teeth off the 420 sprocket and weld the new rim on).

But, Lavoy and others will be along before long and might have happier news of things I have not come across.

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 5:13 am

Hi,

Here is a link to a PDF from Dresser on how rails wear. It is really good.

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www. ... 11T3PZOA8w

Stan

Post by **Lavoy** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 7:45 am

Turning pins and bushings in these crawlers is a waste of time as far as I am concerned. You will shorten the track back to about 80% of new, but will do nothing to correct the "snake" which is where most derailing comes from. The labor cost to turn is higher than to replace because it is a much slower process. If you want to gauge internal wear, measure across 5 pins, 23" is new, 23.26 is 100% worn.
Bottom rollers on an MC are somewhat sloppy when brand new, grease liberally with a heavy grease every 8 hours.
Lavoy

original possum · Post by **original possum** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 8:44 am

You can remove the rollers and build up the "cones" with weld and turn them down to match the roller body AND each other. Having machinist kinfolk helps. You can also turn the cones 180 degrees, but then they won't necessarily match the roller body. Grease heavily regardless.

Dieselfume · Post by **Dieselfume** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 3:38 pm

so I measured it and 5 links measure 23 5/8 inch. Looks to be fully shelled out based off of your guys's measurements.

So, if I can get new pins/bushings, is it impossible to take these out without a track press?

jtrichard · Post by **jtrichard** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 5:35 pm

Really need a press..... you-tube track press and you can see some home made ones

Post by **Lavoy** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 5:54 pm

Yes, you are at 125% wear. I suppose it is possible to build one, I know people have done it. I have also seen dental work done with a needle nose pliers, but that doesn't mean it is the right way. All of the homemade presses I have seen, including the one I made and gave up on immediately have no ability to hold the links at the correct width, and/or shim for wear on the links.
Pins and bushings are available, in the $1600 range for an MC last I knew.
Lavoy

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 6:01 pm

Hi,

Oooh. Can get MC pins and bushings. I thought they had been orphaned. That is good to know.

Yes, a track press is its' own thing and I would not go near a rigged up one. Lots of force there, and if anything flies apart....Not Good.....,

Stan

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