Lubing Roller

[Cle Elum John]

Hi
I was looking to lube the rollers on JD450. They don't look much like the pictures in the manual. I am not sure they are originals or replacement. Any ideas?
Thanks
John

[Cle Elum John]

Sorry Image did not go through. I will give it another try.

[Cle Elum John]

Another try.

[gregjo1948]

Is that a roller or maybe an idler?

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

That is a sealed roller. Are they all like that? I have only two, both rear ones, on my 350C. The rest have button head zerks.

Stan

[Cle Elum John]

All 10 are all like that. The item on the center of the bolt is a plug, not a button head grease fitting. By sealed do you mean that they require no maintenance? I was thinking that center plug needed to be replaced with a button head and the allen head plug was for relief when greasing. The center plug may come out with an easy-out. I want to understand how it works before pulling it apart, not my normal process.

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

About 1984 the roller design changed to being lifetime sealed and loaded with oil when manufactured. So, no grease fitting and the plug in the hole. You don't need to lube those. The reason for the change is that far too many owners (a) never lubed the rollers or (b) did but with the wrong grease and gun and blew the seals out.

On a machine made prior to the design change, it means someone has replaced those rollers already. So, that would be good news.

I downloaded the pic so I could see it full size and zoom in a bit. Now, I am unsure if that is a plug or a button head. The shot is straight-on, so I can't see if there is the necked-down part which would be on the button head grease fitting. I also don't see the ball which is in the center hole on a button head. But, they sometimes get lost and leave a hole, so that doesn't mean a whole lot by itself. So, now I am second-guessing what it is I am seeing.

Edit: I just went and looked since I have both kinds. This is a sealed roller. The plug does have a center hole which looks a lot like a button head missing a ball. Or, even a busted off button head. The kicker is the 'eyebrow' under the plug. That sticks out quite a bit further on a roller meant to have a button head zerk grease fitting.

So, yes, a pic of a sealed roller for sure.

Stan

[Cle Elum John]

It is definitely a plug, there is no rim like on a button head fitting. No evidence that it was worn or sheared off either. That is good news. They do look a lot newer than a lot of stuff on the dozer. The "under brow" is not very pronounced. Not high enough to protect a fitting. I like your call.

Thanks for the help
John

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

You are welcome. I am always happy to try and help. I am happier when I get it right. After I downloaded your pic onto my tablet, I wandered out to the equipment shed and eyeballed one of my sealed rollers. Identical. And, once there, the differences with the older rollers was very obvious even from the same straight-on perspective. Much better than sitting inside the house second guessing myself!

I am not big on the whole Tablet and Phone way of things, preferring an actual notebook computer. But, in this case, the tablet was perfect for the job.

Stan

[Rincon]

I thought I had a 78 450C, No serial number to be found. Only on engine, and dont know if that is correct. So, you said the rollers were changed to sealed around 84 ?. All my rollers are sealed. Can this hold true?, maybe I have an 84ish. is there anything else on 450C to tell if it is later than 78.
Guage panel, ROP, etc.?

[Jim B]

Stan has a post in the FAQ section about 450 serial numbers and changes. According to that the engine will be turbocharged and it will have wet steering clutches if you have a C model. Some late B models apparently had wet clutches also but were not turbocharged.

It is possible the undercarriage has been replaced and sealed rollers were installed at that time.

[Rincon]

Im almost positive the under carriage wasn't replaced. It is turbo charged.

[77 Ford]

Stan has a post in the FAQ section about 450 serial numbers and changes. According to that the engine will be turbocharged and it will have wet steering clutches if you have a C model. Some late B models apparently had wet clutches also but were not turbocharged.

It is possible the undercarriage has been replaced and sealed rollers were installed at that time.

I have an very early model C and it's web clutches non turbo charged, FYI.