storing a 450B

[450c]

I read a post somewhere that stated when storing a 450B for any length of time you should tie a rope to the steering levers to keep the clutches disengaged. This will help to prevent the clutch discs from rusting together.
Any thoughts.
Thanks

[jdemaris]

I read a post somewhere that stated when storing a 450B for any length of time you should tie a rope to the steering levers to keep the clutches disengaged. This will help to prevent the clutch discs from rusting together.
Any thoughts.
Thanks

Yes, it's a good idea and it works. Also pull the drain-plugs from the bottom of the steering clutch housings and make sure there's no water inside.

Many European crawlers and tractors have little lever-locks built in - to keep clutches disengaged during long storage.

[Tigerhaze]

When I first bought my 2010 crawler, I didn't know much about dry steering clutches and let the machine sit out in the weather without a cover or tying back the steering levers. I started having problems with the steering clutches sticking- even after keeping it covered I would still ocassionally have the clutches stick a little until I used the machine for a little bit as I am in a humid area of the country. Now I prop the levers back with short 2"x4"s and no longer have that problem.

Maybe you can answer one question for me Jdemaris- have you ever seen failure of the pressure plates by doing this?

[jdemaris]

Maybe you can answer one question for me Jdemaris- have you ever seen failure of the pressure plates by doing this?

I've seen a couple of crawlers over the years get the levers tied back in the fall, get parked all winter, and then- when time came to use in the spring - the pressure-plate fingers were stuck in a dis-engaged mode.
But . . . that's not what I'd call a failure. That happened because the steering-clutch housings never got drained and aired out. The pressure-plate fingers rusted in place, they didn't fail. Those that got stuck like that were an easy fix. Just carefully oiled the finger-pivots a bit, pried them back with a screwdriver - and all got free.

Some other crawler companies had self-venting and draining steering-clutch housing plugs. Allis Chalmers had them for the H3, HD3, H4, and HD4s. Deere never offered them. Some guys used to just pull the plugs from their Deere crawlers - and leave them out permanently. Problem is - if you forget - and then go to work in deep water, or cross a creek, the housings fill with water from the bottom up.

In regard to a an actual failure - i.e. I guess you mean the springs getting tired from being compressed for a long time? I've never known it to happen. Seems part of the engine's valve-springs are also going to be compressed when sitting and they don't prematurely fail. I've thought about it and tend to tie my levers back just enough to take some pressure off, but not all the way back. I can say with scientific certitude if that makes a difference, or not. But, I havn't had any problems no do I know anybody else that has.

[Tigerhaze]

Hi JDe-
Thanks for the feedback- I figured that the springs were a lot less likely to fail in compression than tension and had heard other's opinions on that, but I wondered if that would cause problems later with spring strength when they were finally put in tension Iif dtored a long time). Doesn't sound like they are an issue. Thanks again.