Track tension
Track tension
Just notice today that my tracks are getting loose
How do I adjust them ?
Any pics or video out there that I can go see
How do I adjust them ?
Any pics or video out there that I can go see
The whole process is laid out in the service manual, read through it first before you try to adjust them.
Lavoy
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com
- Stan Disbrow
- 350 crawler
- Posts: 2898
- Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 3:13 pm
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Hi,
You really need the manual and follow the steps outlined in it. But, for now here is the gist of it:
You have to keep each side (meaning inside and outside adjuster on each track) adjusted the same or you will twist the idler. So, I count flats on the nuts.
The rest of it depends on 4-roller vs 5-roller, but essentially you measure the track sag using a straight stick laying on top of track with a rule.
Setup is important. You have to ensure the pins and bushings are tight along the bottom first. Then the stick. Then crawl under from the front to loosen the lock nuts and work the adjusting nut for both inner rods. The outers are easier, of course, but the same. Loosen lock nut, turn adjusting nut.
I go one flat at a time, then remeasure. Do not make them too tight or you will greatly accelerate pin and bushing wear. By going one flat at a time, if I wind up one too many, is easy to tell and back one flat back off. Then, do not forget the locking nut....
Make damned sure you support the blade or bucket very, very well. Lest a hose split and drop something on you which will then make you split. In half.
I kid you not. There is a local debris landfill near me. Two months ago they got a brand-new Cat. One month ago, the operator went to pull out a tree limb stuck under. From the front. Raised the loader. No support. Brand-new line split. So did one of his legs.
Stan
You really need the manual and follow the steps outlined in it. But, for now here is the gist of it:
You have to keep each side (meaning inside and outside adjuster on each track) adjusted the same or you will twist the idler. So, I count flats on the nuts.
The rest of it depends on 4-roller vs 5-roller, but essentially you measure the track sag using a straight stick laying on top of track with a rule.
Setup is important. You have to ensure the pins and bushings are tight along the bottom first. Then the stick. Then crawl under from the front to loosen the lock nuts and work the adjusting nut for both inner rods. The outers are easier, of course, but the same. Loosen lock nut, turn adjusting nut.
I go one flat at a time, then remeasure. Do not make them too tight or you will greatly accelerate pin and bushing wear. By going one flat at a time, if I wind up one too many, is easy to tell and back one flat back off. Then, do not forget the locking nut....
Make damned sure you support the blade or bucket very, very well. Lest a hose split and drop something on you which will then make you split. In half.
I kid you not. There is a local debris landfill near me. Two months ago they got a brand-new Cat. One month ago, the operator went to pull out a tree limb stuck under. From the front. Raised the loader. No support. Brand-new line split. So did one of his legs.
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)
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)
- mapaduke@yahoo.com
- 1010 crawler
- Posts: 420
- Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:27 pm
- Location: Rochester N.H.
- Stan Disbrow
- 350 crawler
- Posts: 2898
- Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 3:13 pm
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Hi,
They probably did. It is a little fussy using a bog-standard open end wrench, but it does get the job done.
Stan
They probably did. It is a little fussy using a bog-standard open end wrench, but it does get the job done.
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)
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)
Yeah, they had them, real spendy last I was able to get a price on them. I had some made up years ago, still have some left. Lot like a crowfoot, but shaped a little different.
Lavoy
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com
- Paul Buhler
- 350 crawler
- Posts: 991
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 6:25 pm
- Location: Killington, VT
Yeah, it's a pain to get the track adjusters to work properly if they haven't been used in a while. When I first started on mine, I raised my crawler on wood blocks so I could get under it somewhat comfortably, and used an assortment of 1-1/2" wrenches - some bought at yard sales and cut down, pipe wrenches, and wire brushes, along with swearing, a bottle jack and lots of various oils and greases to get the threads cleaned up and the nuts loose enough to move by hand. My goal was to make it easy to adjust the tracks so that if I threw one in a nasty place, at least I could loosen things easily to get it back on. I considered it time well spent. Now it's easy to tighten or loosen them as Stan already described. I keep the threads near the nuts covered with a sticky moly grease to keep things easy to clean up and adjust. Hope your project goes well.
BTW, I eventually bought a wide faced crows foot wrench and with a breaker bar or ratchet, it works well, but I usually just use my standard 1-1/2" combo wrench now that things are loose.
Paul
BTW, I eventually bought a wide faced crows foot wrench and with a breaker bar or ratchet, it works well, but I usually just use my standard 1-1/2" combo wrench now that things are loose.
Paul
Paul Buhler
Killington, VT
420c 5 roll with 62 blade, FOPS, and Gearmatic 8a winch
Killington, VT
420c 5 roll with 62 blade, FOPS, and Gearmatic 8a winch
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