Reality check -Bottom rollers

[Hartlyboy]

A local shade tree mechanic told me that when I get ready to change the bottom rollers on my 450C that I needed to jack up one side at a time, let the track chain sag down under the roller, remove the roller axle and let the old roller drop down then reverse the process to replace it with a new one. Don't need to seperate the chain. It doesn't look doable to me but I've never changed one out so... Anyone replaced a bottom roller using that approach?

[jdemaris]

A local shade tree mechanic told me that when I get ready to change the bottom rollers on my 450C that I needed to jack up one side at a time, let the track chain sag down under the roller, remove the roller axle and let the old roller drop down then reverse the process to replace it with a new one. Don't need to seperate the chain. It doesn't look doable to me but I've never changed one out so... Anyone replaced a bottom roller using that approach?

Yes, it can be done - but usually there are other obstacles. One, being the roller-guards unless your's are missing. Taking then off is not easy, and often winds up with stripped and/or broken bolts.

We had some logger customers that would put a crawler off the ground, loosen the track, - and then use a torch and cut holes in guards big enough to get the rollers out.

From what I've seen - most of the time even some of the roller bolts will get stripped and/or break and that's pretty hard to fix with the track frame and track still on the machine.

[jdcook]

I may be replacing some rollers soon as well. If you jack it up and then loosen the chain as much as possible can you get enough sag to get the rollers off without taking the gaurds off.

Dave

[Fitter274]

Hi All, I just changed all the rollers in my straight 450 loader. I jacked it up and took off both inside and outside guards. I tried with just the outside off , and it would'nt make it. Soak all bolts with pb blaster or Kroil. Don't heat the bolts, I tried it and the bolt heads break off! Luckily I was able to work them out with oil and vise grips. I replaced all hardware with new, and used lots of neverseize. Good luck, Brian