Put a large pin, like from the ripper, on the sprocket and back up until the track links are tight then measure the distance.

Alright once i deal with this pin, and get the ripper box back together i can start it back up again and check out these tracks.

Tracks look good, bushes are almost entirely round on the outside (can't feel any wear by hand) so i'm not sure how the inside can be completely worn when the outside isn't down at all. People manage to wear the external down, turn them, and then wear the external down again before they need new ones.

Ahh well, might be a while but i'll get the tape onto them and see. Only way to find out i guess.

Thanks fellas. Also found this track book that mentions wear limits for future reference. www.manualesdemecanica.com/images/files/...73614c6efcccc6f6.pdf

Got out for a measure. Not good. 1056 and 1060.

Links are only 35% worn and the Grousers have a fair bit of meat on them. Bushes are great on the outside.

Can't really budget a new set of tracks at this point. Anything i can do to help the situation and get a bit more out of them?

I've tossed up just replacing the pins to try and take some of the slop out and hopefully bring the wear into line with the links? Big job, probably have to go to town. Freight costs would be killer, plus replacing all the bolts to put the grousers back on.

Or worth putting a brand new roller on the sproket end to try and straighten it out as much as i can?

Or just take it easy and deal with it, the amount of damage in the last 12 months is fairly low in reality, might never be a real issue.

Thoughts fellas?

Hi, Misterskill.
From the only clear photo there, those bushes don't look like they have been turned yet. If they are not worn on the side facing away from the sprocket, there is a turn left in them, maybe also in the pins. That would give you quite bit more life.

Turning pins and bushes is pricey but not near as pricey as fitting new ones and, last time I looked, you don't have to remove the grouser plates.

Just a thought.

"Deas wrote:

Hi, Misterskill.
From the only clear photo there, those bushes don't look like they have been turned yet. If they are not worn on the side facing away from the sprocket, there is a turn left in them, maybe also in the pins. That would give you quite bit more life.

Turning pins and bushes is pricey but not near as pricey as fitting new ones and, last time I looked, you don't have to remove the grouser plates.

Just a thought.

Will turning them help the internal wear? external wear is almost non existent.

I'm probably up for $1000 to get them transported to a track press and back, that's the other joy of being remote.

Hi Team,
only one side (the bolts on only one side link) track plate bolts need to be removed--internal wear essentially remains the same due to the existing wear in the bushes and on the pins still being there--picture snaky tracks, but the track stretch wear dimension comes back to near new the track stretch.
It is likely that sprocket tooth root packing and high speed reverse operation are factors too to see wear on the sprocket tooth tips that we see in your picture--see scan above.

Descriptions of wear with causes and remedies are covered in this Cat Custom Track Service Handbook pdf.

www.manualesdemecanica.com/images/files/...73614c6efcccc6f6.pdf

I stand to be corrected as I am not an undercarriage trained person--just what I picked up reading and listening and observing over the years.

Lots to read on track wear to keep you occupied at night.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

An easy way of helping out things and getting a bit more adjustment is to fit a packing plate under the top roller pedestals, the thickness needs to be around 40mm to get the best effect, this will help with stopping the build up of dirt on top of the frame and make cleaning out easier, also it puts more load onto the rollers and stops them from getting flat spots from failing to turn, if you do this you will need to increase the bolt length as needed, as for a pin and bush turn this is a costly route to take and often ends up well past half the price of new assembly's, think hidden costs on this size chain plus the fact you will need new rim groups.
tctractors

Thanks fellas,

Tension adjustment is okay, it's the damage to the sprocket I'm concerned about.

Sounds like a pin and bush turn won't be viable or help much in this scenario.

Getting a few prices on track chains (Bare chains Vtrack brand SALT 8K each + freight). But i dare say I'll unfortunately end up running this one into the ground first. If it was bolt on sprocket segments maybe another story but if I'm going to do it, I'll do it properly. So pulling the sprocket and replacing it with a bolt on segment style or replacing the weld on. Not possible at this point unfortunately.

I'll take it easy, didn't think i was going too fast in reverse. Second with the decelerator all the way in is as fast as i would have gone, but i will be mindfull.

On a lighter note ripper box bushes turned up today, managed to get 5 of the 6 genuine CAT ones in AUS and the other is coming out of the states so i can get onto that and clean up that slop.

Well, back again. My work mate went on holidays and i figured it would be a good time to re-new all the O-rings on the intake pipes. I thought would give the turbo a wiggle while it was open.

www.instagram.com/p/CIRw9vgg4x0/

No good at all. Rang CAT, they don't normally rebuild turbos due to labour costs in Aus but managed to get a Re-man one, but it was in Singapore. $3800 for the turbo, $1700 core deposit and $630 freight. Got here in less then a week then another few days up here. So we installed it today.

Had to spin the orientation to fit



cleaned it up



Turbo on



And ready to go again (yes we attached the oil lines haha)



Give it a workout tomorrow with any luck, really cut down on the turbo whistle which i have to admit is a bit disappointing

Yep, works alright. Pushed a pile of dirt out of the way so we can mine underneath it.

Still amazes me how much dirt you can shift in a short time.

Before



After



And my mate finally got over his fear of horsepower and had a crack.