440 pins and bushings

[RacinJason]

From what I've been reading lately, you should get a lot of response on this. I'll be checking, also, for my 420 I'll be getting this weekend. Hopefully Lavoy will explain the pitfalls of non-JD P&Bs.

[Lavoy]

If made correctly, nothing wrong with non-Deere pins and bushings, I have put in many times more aftermarket than I have Deere. Deere undercarriage since some time in the 80's has been Berco anyway.
Lavoy

[JimAnderson]

Berco P&B sets are fine,and my dealer agrees with Lavoy about Berco supplying Deere with track components.If I could get Berco sets again
I'd jump at the chance.Other than Deere replacement parts the only
thing my dealer has been able t get me were sets made in Korea.The
pins were the correct size but the bushings were made to the original
specs for new parts.That can lead to looseness when rebushing old
rails.I had the dealer ask his supplier about this and was told that
that thats the only way they were going to produce them.I didn't buy
anymore of that batch.For the price I probably should buy more sets,
trash the bushings and get Deere bushings.Even doing that would be
less expensive than all Deere components.Luck,JimAnderson

[Lavoy]

I should probably qualify that, up until a few years ago, Berco was the primary supplier of Deere undercarraige. Now they are a minor supplier, or not a supplier at all from what I hear.
Lavoy

[DukeofDeere]

I have worked with several track shops to get these pins and bushings to where they need to be.
I got specs from Deere and Berco and worked with their recommend materials and requirements.
Quantity production sure brings the costs down.
Any interest would be appreciated.
Let me know.

Thanks,
Duke

[Captainjoe]

So i have a 440 ICD that's going to either need new 350 tracks and sprockets, or new pins, bushings and a place to get them pressed in..

my sprockets are currently good, but someone welded both sides of the pins in and there is probably 6" of snake in track when one end is pushed
with loader on ground



old tracks are 3/4" tall from top with slightly rounded corners....

Thinking the newer tracks would be taller
and the links would be taller also with the added hardened portion of link which currently is less than 3" in height..

Am I correct in thinking just buy new tracks and sprockets?

[JimAnderson]

From what I've seen, anytime the pins are welded into the rails means that they have been repinned and bushed many times before.If not then
then someone turned both pins and bushings and the rails stretched
enough to not retain the stock sizes.I think you will have a difficult
time finding someone with a press who will be willing to deal with welded
pins.I know I won't.If you're going to use the crawler and not show it
then 350 track componenets are the way to go.New rollers,rails,pads
and sprockets and the machine last most users a lifetime.
JMHO,Luck,JimAnderson

[DukeofDeere]

Assuming the 3/4" tall is your pads and grousers,
They still will work.
Rails worn to 3" are shot with the welded pins and bushings unable to press those out.

Haven't found a source for new rails yet other than going to 350 rails and sprockets.

Good used is possible.
I have a similar welded set on a late 440IC and will run them till they are shot.

Duke

[Captainjoe]

Do they (pins) break or what can I expect when they are about to go as I'm working on some pretty steep hills...

I have good rollers will probably run the tracks till they quit... LOL


then change over to 350 tracks and sprockets...

understand I will need to cut center out of my 440 sprockets and use on the 350 sprockets

[DukeofDeere]

Usually the bushings wear out-of-round and the track gets to maximum adjustment due to the pin wear and the id ware of the bushings.
Haven't seen any pins break.

Duke

[jtrichard]

if the links get to thin they will start breaking ,bushings will wear through to the pins where the sprockets ride , eventually you wont be able to adjust them and the worse they get the faster the sprockets wear i have a friend that has a CAT D6 and his tracks were so bad that there were no teeth left on the sprockets and he was welding chunks of steel in place of every other tooth on what was left of the sprockets ....you said 6"? of snake don't sound like your tracks are that bad ....can you put some pics up?

[Captainjoe]

Thanks for the responces...

Right now you can just barely see/feel flat spots on the bushings... the spockets are showing contact with bushings on the bottom and both sides .

The sprockets are basically new(one is and I can't tell the difference with the other one).

Will try to post some pics (if I can figure it out) lol

The prior owner liked to use a welder to "FIX" everything and I had to literally cut the rails off of the dozer because all four bolts had broken off /stripped out on both sides.
He had welded the axel flange to the cast steel?


made two piers out of 16 concrete blocks yesterday and slid the drill press under the rail and took a 5/8" drill bit and bored holes all the way thru. Bought 8 - 6", grade 8, fine thread bolts, lock washers and locking nuts.

[Paul Buhler]

Hi: With enough snake, you'll have a difficult time finding a good adjustment. With them adjusted as recommended and loose enough for some shock absorption, you may (probably will) walk out of them on a side hill or when in a tough working situation. Tighter, and you increase wear on the drive train. I'd wait and get your machine up and running and see how your undercarriage performs on the flats and go from there. I ran this set for two years before doing a pin and bushing job and didn't throw a track, but I knew it was just a matter of time. Good luck.

[jtrichard]

feel on the off wear side of the bushings and see if you feel any wear there ... if so then the pins and bushings have been turned if none then i would guess that someone has done a pin&bushing replacement and did not like the press on the pins and welded them..... sounds like you have very good pins bushings and sprockets