40c 4 roller track alignment

[fundytides]

OK, I am confused (which is nothing new). I installed a new to me track on my crawler and am trying to align it properly. According to the Service Manual, I should "tighten the adjusting nut on tension bolt at side of track frame that shows the most clearance between the idler flange and track link" Since the track tends to work towards the "high side" and thus increase the clearance that is mentioned, won't tightening that adjusting nut push that side further ahead just making it worse. What am I not understanding?

[gus]

Not something in the book, but tie a string on the back of the sprocket and pull it tight across the front idler. See if it shows an alignment problem.

[fundytides]

Sounds good Gus. I'll give it a try. Thanks.

[gus]

The string needs to be tight across both sides of the sprocket and idler. Then, if you put a nail under the string at the back of the sprocket and at the front of the idler, you should have an equal gap at both (sprocket & idler) on the side opposite of the nail. Any other way And the string might just be resting on a high spot.

This is an old trick for laying a straight block\brick wall. Works for other things too!

[fundytides]

Makes perfect sense but would never have thought of doing it that way. Should patent that tool-a string and a nail