JD 350b track off problems

Post support questions about your JD350 and newer crawler here
Post Reply
jwiles58
40C crawler
40C crawler
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:41 pm
Location: Shawnee, OK

JD 350b track off problems

Post by jwiles58 » Fri May 04, 2018 8:43 pm

Track came off to the inside. I have tried a come-along on the front wheel to slide the tensioner but it doesn’t move a bit. Any ideas on moving that front wheel back? Track is wedged under the crawler. The master pin is on the bottom...of course. Any advise is appreciated

User avatar
gregjo1948
350 crawler
350 crawler
Posts: 1000
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 5:58 am
Location: Newark Valley,NY,USA

Re: JD 350b track off problems

Post by gregjo1948 » Sat May 05, 2018 4:48 am

Did you release the pressure/tension on the front idler?
JD 350B diesel 6way blade, Case 580B Loader/backhoe, Farmall 504 high crop w/ flail boom mower, International 404 , International 284 diesel w/belly mower, 1972 Ford F600 dump truck, Galion 3-5 roller, Allis Chalmers D17, 1620 Ford

jwiles58
40C crawler
40C crawler
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:41 pm
Location: Shawnee, OK

Re: JD 350b track off problems

Post by jwiles58 » Sat May 05, 2018 6:25 am

I pulled the plug and the grease zert both if that’s what you mean by releasing the pressure/tension on the front “idler” ( do you mean the front wheel?). Is it called an idler? I always called it the front wheel. 😁. I can’t get it to slide back. That has to happen for me to get the track back on, right?

User avatar
Stan Disbrow
350 crawler
350 crawler
Posts: 2894
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 3:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: JD 350b track off problems

Post by Stan Disbrow » Sat May 05, 2018 6:39 am

Hi,

Yeah, the front wheel is called an idler. As it it isn't driven and just idles away. ;)

I wish an had a trick idea for you, but I don't. Sounds well and truly jammed..... :(

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

Jim B
350 crawler
350 crawler
Posts: 2080
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2017 11:36 am
Location: western Maine

Re: JD 350b track off problems

Post by Jim B » Sat May 05, 2018 7:40 am

Be careful not to loose the check ball located under the screw beside the grease fitting, if that is what you are calling the plug you removed.

Don't know how big a com-a-long you have but it may not have pull enough for this job. Do you have a blade on your machine? If it is a hydraulic 6-way, you may be able to block between the blade and idler and use the angle function to push the idler back. If it is a straight blade you may be able to block and use a jack or port-a-power between the blade and idler to push the idler. these methods will likely provide more force than a com-a-long. The straighter the push the better. Be sure a pad(s) are not wedged solid between the idler and frame, preventing the idler from moving back. Also, Always be sure everyone stays out of the line of fire when jacking or pulling!

You may have to "jack" the machine up to get the weight off the track to get it freed up. Just plain no easy fix.

jwiles58
40C crawler
40C crawler
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:41 pm
Location: Shawnee, OK

Re: JD 350b track off problems

Post by jwiles58 » Sat May 05, 2018 8:05 am

Thanks for all the replies. I took a pipe between the six way blade and the idler and pushed. The idler will slide back about a 1/4 inch compressing the spring but no grease is coming out of the zert hole or plug. Can’t find the check ball??? Is it under
The plug? Shouldn’t it come out with the grease? Could it be jammed and not letting the grease out? Thanks again

User avatar
Stan Disbrow
350 crawler
350 crawler
Posts: 2894
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 3:13 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Re: JD 350b track off problems

Post by Stan Disbrow » Sat May 05, 2018 8:36 am

Hi,

The ball is a single ball bearing in the hole where the tension release bolt is. It sits in a seat in the bottom of the hole. You loosen the bolt, not remove it, and the grease pushes the ball off the seat (where the bolt normally keeps it) and grease then flows out of a hole.

This, of course, presumes the grease inside the tensioner hasn't solidified after fifty years.

When you remove the bolt to make this work better, the grease pushes the ball out, where it immediately gets sucked into the same time/space vortex portal incorporated into washing machines to suck away socks. :P

Rereading the first post, you say track is wedged under the machine as well. Sounds like you need to try and get that a bit straighter to gain some chain slack. You might be at the end of the back-off of the tensioner. May even be compressing the big spring some.

All I can think of involves big jacks, pry bars and porta-powers. The kind of tools the army has for tank tread work.

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

jwiles58
40C crawler
40C crawler
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:41 pm
Location: Shawnee, OK

Re: JD 350b track off problems

Post by jwiles58 » Sat May 05, 2018 11:44 am

All of your help was great. I put the plug back hand tight then backed it off a couple rounds. Used the blade and a pipe to apply pressure to the idler bracket. Tapped every so gently 😉 with a large sledge on the ram and grease came out the weep hole. An hour of pushing and tapping and the idler was far enough back to start working the track back on. All finished now and idler is tightened back up and we off to the races...so to speak as dozers go. THANKS for all your help and advise

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 45 guests