Idler won't move 350B

[doug]

After installing new tracks haven't been able to move the track adjuster on one side of the crawler. I am trying to lessen the tension on the tracks but I cant get it to budge. Tension adjuster worked fine getting the old tracks off and pumping grease into the adjuster after installing the tracks. Now it won't back off.
Is the problem in the tension adjuster or is the idler stuck?

[jdemaris]

After installing new tracks haven't been able to move the track adjuster on one side of the crawler. I am trying to lessen the tension on the tracks but I cant get it to budge. Tension adjuster worked fine getting the old tracks off and pumping grease into the adjuster after installing the tracks. Now it won't back off.
Is the problem in the tension adjuster or is the idler stuck?

Did you loosen the bolt that holds the check-ball in . . . or did you just back out the button head grease fitting?

I doubt it's idler-slidet that's stuck. Loosen the bolt behind the check-ball, and jam a piece of wood between your front bucket and end of track when all the way up. Then power it down -and something will give (and the grease might fly a bit).

[doug]

I loosened the button grease fitting and the pressure release bolt.
What is the bolt that holds the check ball in?
I did try putting wood between the 6way blade and the end of the track. The wood split but nothing moved.

[jdemaris]

I loosened the button grease fitting and the pressure release bolt.
What is the bolt that holds the check ball in?
I did try putting wood between the 6way blade and the end of the track. The wood split but nothing moved.

The pressure-release bolt is what I was referring to. It has a steel ball in front of it - it's the ball that holds the grease in.

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.

[doug]

With the bolt removed, can the ball be depressed someway to clear hardened grease?

[dale]

There's a hole on the opposite side of the cylinder from the bolt. If you pull the bolt all the way out be sure and get the ball when the grease comes out. Probably a standard ball bearing but........I know someone who got awfully messy looking for one

[Hartlyboy]

I have a similar problem on one side on my 450C, only mine won't extend to tighten the track. Pulling out the check bolt and the grease fitting and compressing the [or trying to] the idler backwards to see if that would loosen things up produced the same results you got -Nada. The spring actually compressed and nothing gave in the grease cyclinder. Figuring the adjuster was shot anyway, we tried heating it with a torch to see if the grease would maybe flow better, but that didn't work , either. We've had some strange rigs on that little dozer today trying to get that adjuster freed up but so far so luck. I'm resigned to the expense and down time for another adjuster -unless I can get the 4 bolts off that hold the adjuster yoke to the idler and put in a bigger shim. Two loosened up but the ones in the back won't. [sigh]