weak right steering clutch on 350

[dabear3428]

After using my new to me 350 straight the right track became lazy, when i engage the left track brake the dozer stops or slows down and if I'm pushing straight it tends to drift right.
I'm going to try adjusting the brakes/clutches (it is off in that i have to wail on the right brake to make it turn) and i hope that fixes it, if it does not I'm assuming that i will need to replace the clutch/brake.
I also need to make sure that it is not contaminated with oil (have not gotten there yet and will do it when i try to adjust clutch/brake)
is there any value to using the bronze clutch disks over the composite?
I have the ability to change the clutch but want to do it one time so any pointers?

[bulletpruf]

Did you drain the clutch/brake compartments? There should be a plug at the bottom of both.

I doubt that will fix it, but it's easy enough to do.

Scott

[Jim B]

Your description (steering issue and the drifting right when pushing straight indicates a bad right steering clutch. If you have done a full adjustment step by step as in the manual and it still acts the same, it is most likely you need to rebuild that steering clutch and brake.

[Jim B]

I will suggest if and when you get to rebuilding a steering clutch you call and talk to Lavoy. His business if rebuilding and selling parts for these early crawlers. He uses the parts in his business and will have quality parts and can give you advice if you need or there are problems. Try getting that from most selling parts, they are often just peddlers who never laid hands on a crawler.

[Jason37756]

I like the bronze disks. They’re an upgrade to the fibers and will preform better overall. If they get soaked in oil they can be removed, cleaned, and reused. Those fiber disks will swell and become oil soaked and will have to be replaced if too much oil gets on them.

The teeth won’t break as easy and they won’t absorb moisture or rust. They should also handle heat a little better than the fibers but I’ve never considered that a buying option. I’m not sure of the price upgrade now, but a few years ago the bronze were well worth the extra cost to me. They’re a little more aggressive so keep that in mind and you may want to back the break off a little more than normal to compensate for that.

The mad mailer on YouTube has the best videos for help with rebuilding a clutch pack. It’s pretty straightforward to do the rebuild…only two tips I would give is drill holes in the heavy duty retainer clip and absolutely buy or make a “go/no go” gauge to set the pressure plate correctly. The best deal I ever got on a 350 was because a guy rebuilt a clutch and didn’t have the gauge to set the pressure correctly. Out of exasperation he sold his crawler.

Have you tried sinking the blade to see if the right track has enough power to spin the track? This will tell you a lot.

[dabear3428]

thanks for the responses, I will work my way thru them and report back.

[dabear3428]

well i got some time and pulled the steering clutch adjustment covers off, the right and left clutches were too tight, adjusted them and steering works great, from the looks of things both clutches were recently redone, nice shinny parts with a few spots of corrosion due to sitting but nothing that will affect anything. i took it out and ran it for an hour pushing brush and popping out stumps and good oil pressure, good temps and the engine provided good power.

[Jason37756]

The simplest things

[jimmydiesel]

Nice it was the simple fix. I’ve done 2 sets of steering clutches in the last 9 months. About to do an engine clutch. Fun fun.

[dabear3428]

yes it was a simple fix but as usual the first thing i did was knock a cover bolt off and into the clutch assembly, then after I finished cussing at myself i remembered that i had bought a chinesum bore scope, that made it not easy but doable in finding that bolt under the brake drum, it probably would have been fine but i would have always been waiting for the other shoe to drop. anyway all is bolted back together and running, almost ready for work, i have some corn head grease coming in this week and have all the service gear to tension the tracks as well as grease all the fittings.
after using it i'm rethinking light placement, i was planning on putting one on all 4 sides of the cab just below the top bar of the rops cage, but i would have already taken 3 out in an hour so back to the drawing board. the rear facing light will be fine, i'm putting that one in the original rear light location so it is protected.

[dabear3428]

btw i did try as suggested and buried the blade, the dozer stopped moving but the track just started digging holes, so i think all is good.
just need to redo the seat and maybe some plastic handles for the controls.

[Jason37756]

Nice it was the simple fix. I’ve done 2 sets of steering clutches in the last 9 months. About to do an engine clutch. Fun fun.

Pay attention to the protrusion on the clutch disc itself. It only goes one way if my memory serves me. In or out I can’t remember but certainly one or the other.

[Jason37756]

btw i did try as suggested and buried the blade, the dozer stopped moving but the track just started digging holes, so i think all is good.
just need to redo the seat and maybe some plastic handles for the controls.

Sounds like you got a good machine.

[dabear3428]

"Sounds like you got a good machine."

thanks! i hope so, my wife did not like me buying another toy, but i told her it was too good of a deal to pass up. if it does not turn out that way i may have a hard time getting her permission for the next good deal lol.