350 snow calk questions

[Andy B]

My 350B loader has the snow calks on the track shoes (Deere part number M3950T). They are all still installed except one that is missing.

When running around the lawn and making a turn, they do tear things up more than just the plain loader shoes.

I am debating taking them off. Is this a bad idea?
I'm not sure if they are original to the machine, but they definitely have been installed for a LONG time. Are these meant to be installed and basically never removed? If I get them removed, will it be a giant pain attempting to reinstall them in the future?

I kept them installed to use in the winter, but we never got enough snow this past year for me to even use the crawler for moving snow, let alone needing the extra traction of the calks. My driveway is gravel, and other than tearing up the lawn, my other fear is that I will end up breaking a bunch of the calks off when I regrade the driveway this summer.

If anyone has a crawler with the calks and has experience with them on a general purpose machine, I'd be interested in hearing about it.

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

My 420c has had calks on since, oh, 1966 when Dad put them on. They don't do anything but poke little holes. The grousers do more tearing up. Well, dozer grousers. Not loader ones. The calks will save you in the winter plowing snow on the driveway on a hill. That is for certain. And why Dad installed them.

Stan

[Andy B]

I think that's what spoiled me, the loader grousers. I used to have an old Oliver crawler loader with loader grousers, and this 350B is a loader with the loader grousers. I used to be able to run the old Oliver all over the lawn and you barely would know where it went unless it was wet. These snow calks tear things up pretty good when I turn on the lawn.

Did you ever have any trouble running over gravel or pavement in the summer with the snow calks?

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

I have only had dozers with the higher single grousers. They do tear the ground up a bit. The calks don't do anything worse. Just poke holes. Gravel isn't an issue but I stay off pavement unless I want it to become little bricks. I can see where the calks will matter more with low loader grousers.

As I mentioned, Dad added calks to the 420c. They really helped on the steep driveway in winter. My 350 without calks loved to slide around because the grousers didn't bite the frozen ground. The calks poked little holes. You would think that wouldn't be enough to help, but it did. And that even though he used half the number. He only replaced one bolt per pad with a calk.

Stan

[Cle Elum John]

Can you post a picture, a part number or a better description of the calks? My 450 gets scary on any side slope on snow. I was thinking welding extended grousers but I am wondering if there is a better solution.

I know this does not help answer your question but I appreciate the help.

Thanks
John

[Jim B]

Hi John,

There have been several posts about the pad calks (part number M3950T up through the 350C) over the years. My understanding in the past has been they are no NLA at JD and if you find some elsewhere, you want to be seated when you get the price. For fun I just looked at the JD Construction dealer's website I use, and the part number shows up as available to order. M3950T show as 9.21 each and the locknut for them B30434 is 3.08 each. I don't know if the online info is correct or not, you would need to contact a dealer to confirm. If have seen some things showing as available online that are not when you check at a dealer. Several series of the 450 model, triple grouser loader shoes, show a stud part number T29657 and the same nut (B30434) to secure them. The T29657 price shows as 159.75. They don't say that is for one or a package of several.

Bolts have been used as calks before. Threaded end up, with the nuts on top of the pad, some people put two or three nuts on the bolt to make the calk heavier. If you run it much you may end up burning them off. Do your pads have the extra holes, outboard of the holes where the pads attach to the chains, in them to accept such? I have welded nuts on top of single bar grousers before, for winter work in the woods.

Jim

[B Town]

http://www.jdcrawlers.com/messageboard/ ... alk#p78702

[Cle Elum John]

Hi Jim

My original plan was to weld a short piece of hardened grouser on top of the existing grouser but never got to it. An inch wide piece of hardened steel of 3/4" extension seemed appropriate. Not sure how much it will help. I will try to get to it this summer. It will tear up the roads more.

The most of the snow is finally gone. There will be a couple of dozer projects this summer.

John