Frozen track adjuster JD 350

[doug]

Recently had new tracks installed, idler rebuilt, replaced worn rollers. The mechanic greased everything but I felt the tracks were too tight so asked to loosen them. One side released fine but the other wont release. Any ideas why it wont slacken?

[tuney443]

Because the grease has probably hardened enough that it won't bleed out the hole in the adjusting bolt.If you have a 6 way blade,simply keep the bolt backed out and use a board between the back of your blade and the front of the track to compress the adjusting cylinder some.Go easy--once I shot grease up onto a customers siding doing this.

[jdemaris]

Recently had new tracks installed, idler rebuilt, replaced worn rollers. The mechanic greased everything but I felt the tracks were too tight so asked to loosen them. One side released fine but the other wont release. Any ideas why it wont slacken?

As I wrote in response to your other post - sounds like this to me. With the old worn track - the adjuster piston was running way out for a long time and got rusty. That is very common. Then, when you pin and bush, or try to install new tracks - the piston has to be shoved back in. That usually cannot be done unless it gets cleaned off, wire brushed, etc. If you tried to collapse it without doing that - it is likely to be your problem.

[jdemaris]

If the tracks were just off - this probably is not relevant - but . . . 350s sometimes break the stop bolt inside the big shock-absorbing spring that sits behind the adjuster. If that bolt broke, the spring pressure goes against the track - and you'll never get it loose without repairing it.

Seems though if someone was running around with a grease-gun, your track just got pumped too tight and you have a jammed adjuster piston.

[doug]

If the adjuster piston is jammed, is there a way to unjam it?

[jdemaris]

If the adjuster piston is jammed, is there a way to unjam it?

Yeah, take it out. That won't be easy with a tight track - but it can be done. Unbolt it from the front idler-fork. Then it can be pulled out - there is nothing else holding it except for the track tension. Then try to pump it apart with a grease gun. We had several that we had to hook to dozers to the assembly - one at each end -and pull. Sometimes they break -but that's just the way it goes.

Adjusters that were run for a long time - all the way out - often get so rusted they are ruined. You'll just have to clean it up and see.

While you're at it, if not done already, you should recut the seal-groove on the piston and update to the 350C style.

[doug]

Thanks for your advise. I'll see how it goes pulling it out.

[doug]

Do you think I can expect sufficient slackening of the track from using the machine. Again these are new tracks.

[Gil]

Once you get the piston out, if you cannot pump it apart with a grease gun, try pushing it in instead. First clean the rod where it will go into the barrel. Then put it in a 10 or 20 ton press. Be sure to open the relief value! Then see if you can press it in to move just a little to break the grease seal. Then you may be able to pump apart out with a grease gun.

Question for jdemaris: when you pulled pistons apart with two crawlers, how did you hold the rod end? I designed a clamp but it slipped. I was considering drilling a hole through the tube and putting in a pin to pull on. Did you find a better way?

[doug]

What I am wondering is if I do nothing to the adjuster as far as freeing it, can I expect to get 1.5 - 2 inches of slack as the new track wears in?