450C 1976 Steering Brake Band Replacement

[NIKinNZ]

Hello all, i am at the stage where i am replacing the brake bands on my 76 450C , my rear bands are not the ones with the loops on the but rather the wedge shapes on them that grip on to the adjuster, and my clutch/bands are sitting in a wet sump.

I have looked at the manual i have and it shows adjustment for what looks like a dry band, i cant seem to find the one for my model, and my next question is are there any good aftermarket brake bands? or is it worth getting the JD original ones, my bands are T41477

[Jim B]

This sounds like you do not have the correct manual for your crawler. WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR A MANUAL (Publisher, title and any identifying numbers)? I have posted several times that John Deere publication TM1102 is the technical manual for a North American 450C (and at least once suggested you check with your dealer to see if that is the correct one for your crawler). It will have the wet steering system information as the 450C did not use dry steering. The set up and adjustment of wet steering systems is entirely a different thing than the dry systems. Working on this steering system is not a paragraph on a forum, type fix.

It appears T41477 may be a casting number. When I search that number in the JD parts system it comes up in red letters as "No Results Found".

You could cost yourself a good bit of money and aggravation if you don't get the correct manual. The wet steering system is mostly self-adjusting and wearing out is generally not an issue with them running in oil. Sorry to be harsh here, but you need the correct manuals (Technical, Parts, and Operator's) for your crawler, so you at least are looking at and asking questions based on correct information.

[NIKinNZ]

Thanks Jim, i have figured it out, i have 2 manuals, got the right one now, as for the brake band if anyone on this forum knows how much 'brake liner' should be on it i would like to know, i cant find any wear tolerance but if you look at these pictures, i would imagine the criss crossing at the start of the bank would be wear indicators? do these bands look OK, or are they worn? i cant find how many mm should be on them (cant find that in manual). Please see the attached pictues sorry thats the only way i knew how to attach a picture.

[Jim B]

I do not have any specs on the thickness. You would need to find someone, preferably a dealer, with a new band to check. The image in your post that I get to open looks like a used band from a parts supplier. What is thickness of your band lining? Is it reasonably the same thickness all around the band?

How did you decide to pull the brake band? What was the issue? Did you go through all of the steering and brake adjustment tests and adjustments in the order given in the proper manual first?

[NIKinNZ]

Images are at this link, i dont know how else to post them https://pyramidpartsstore.com/products/jd450-c

[Jim B]

To post pictures here you have a couple choices. Email Lavoy (postmaster@jdcrawlers.com) and set up an account on the sites dedicated picture server the server is explained on the Messageboard Q&A and Announcements. Down the list a ways you will see ***New JDCrawlers Dedicated Pic Server***, info about it is there. Or you can use a third party hosting site. Imgur, imbbb, and Postimages are thre I know of and I think are free to use.

Those are the same pictures I opened in your previous post. Did you stick pictures of your band into a motorcycle parts vendor's page?

As I posted before: "I do not have any specs on the thickness. You would need to find someone, preferably a dealer, with a new band to check. The image in your post that I get to open looks like a used band from a parts supplier. What is thickness of your band lining? Is it reasonably the same thickness all around the band?

How did you decide to pull the brake band? What was the issue? Did you go through all of the steering and brake adjustment tests and adjustments in the order given in the proper manual first?"

[NIKinNZ]

Thanks Jim,

Yes i did all the checks, i discovered that the adjuster mechanism (under the big cast plate) has a spring detached with would not allow adjustment, but while i was in there i thought i may as well replace the bands with new ones, but on removal i did notice that there was about 5mm of material evenly around the band, so looked OK to me, those pictures i tool are of one of my actual bands that i removed.

I have decided to buy two new ones just to be sure, im still strugging to get those two bolts (the obscured ones) that go from the back of the machine in into the engine housing) the ones you can only access from underneath the crawler. My crowfoot wrench nearly snapped under the pressure i was putting on it to undo it! its almost like it is a reverse thread or something??

[NIKinNZ]

OK, next question, does anybody have any recommendations for aftermarket brake bands for a 1976 450C (wet clutch). I have heard horror stories of aftermarket ones, i think my steel bands (see picture in previous post) are original steel bands? reason i say this is they are made of quality steel with more like moulded grabbers/wedges rather than the crude welded ones i have seen on the aftermarket stuff. I have a local company that can re-line them but im unsure of what the lining thickness should be? cant see any tolerances for this.

[Jim B]

The 4 each 5/8 bolts around the clutch housing are all common right-hand thread.

You can contact Lavoy (postmaster@jdcrawlers.com) and see if he can help you with brake bands. He repairs and sells parts for many of the earlier JD crawlers. He may have a source, I don't know what would be involved in getting them to you in NZ. Have you checked with your JD dealer?