350 pads

[lp14255]

i have a 350 crawler and i was wondering if i could weld a few passes on each of the pads to build them up instead of replacing them . is that a good ideal or should i just get new pads.

[Lavoy]

Welding a few passes really doesn't get you much height. Better option is grouser stock, then you will be back to almost new height.
For the time and effort involved, I guess personally, I would just replace the pads.
Lavoy

[lp14255]

Welding a few passes really doesn't get you much height. Better option is grouser stock, then you will be back to almost new height.
For the time and effort involved, I guess personally, I would just replace the pads.
Lavoy

what is grouser stock? what would new pads cost.

[Lavoy]

Grouser stock is a bar in the shape of a grouser with a beveled edge on the bottom for welding. It comes in many sizes, heights, and widths. 350 would use the smallest, I think it is about 1 1/2.
Pads depend on style and width.
Lavoy

[Rick Kr]

I had an old Hein Werner excavator with smooth grousers. Being cheap and having a lot of 1.5" angle iron laying around, I cut sections to make grouser edges.

The pads had holes drilled already, after drilling a few (long time), I found it much easier to just weld them to the pads. I did every other pad, and it still took a while. A lot quicker than drilling though. Idler to drive sprocket was 11', so it should go about twice as fast on a dozer.

The angle iron did bend a little, if grouser stock is hardened, I would use that instead.

Rick

[lp14255]

thanks for the info , i geuss i"ll be doing alot of welding this winter.

[lp14255]

i've been looking around my area and cant find any grouser stock available , where does everyone else get theirs.

[DBCSteve]

i've been looking around my area and cant find any grouser stock available , where does everyone else get theirs.

In my area -- northern California -- the local Berco supplier (Industrial Tractor Parts) had a wide variety of grouser stock. Even if your labor is free, there are other considerations although they add a lot to cost. You did not mention the condition of the pins and rails. If they are badly worn, as mine were, it may not make sense to go to all the work to build up the grousers if you need to replace the chains. And if you do that, getting new pads also may make sense.

If you replace the pads on the existing chains, be aware that many of the older dozers used 1/2 bolts rather than the more universal 9/16 bolts used today. This will affect which pads you get.

Industrial Tractor Parts has an outlet in Memphis, and I assume they sell both grouser stock and full undercarriage parts. Here is a link to their web site showing office locations: http://www.industrialtractorparts.com/Locations600.html

I have no connection to ITP other than being a very satisfied customer. Good luck with your project.

Steve