"Deas wrote:

Hi, Misterskill.
Progress. GOOD stuff. It's always nice when doing projects like yours and you have win, like with the pump.

Just my 0.02.

Gotta have a win sometimes

Pro-Active Fluid Power was the place

Had some really warm days lately (over 45c or 110f) so that's slowed us down a bit, only doing the morning shift.

Anyway, track adjuster back in, new trunion ball is on, blade is getting closer, idler yolk rubbers are replaced and the track frame built up where required, one more broken bolt to get out and the idlers can go back on, then the track back on.

We are going to have to split the track again to get to the rubbers that sit below where the equalizer bar rests on the track frame, but we need the blade back on and hydraulics to lift it up to get clearance. A pain, but once it's done we won't have to worry about it again.

found 2 track bushes that need replacing too. The rest of them are really good, just one has shattered somehow and so it needs to be done, plus it's mate is worn so i'll do that one at the same time.

Hydraulic bloke should be back in town end of next week so i'll hopefully be able to get some hoses done. And when this shaft finally gets here i can tick off the hydraulics as being done.

One day at a time.

Looking good! Are you going to replace the wear strips on the track frames for the idler guides?

Hi, Misterskill.
Progress seems to being made. I can appreciate only working the morning shift in that heat.

I yaint absolutely 100% sure but I don't think you need to break the track to replace the rubber pads under the equaliser bar saddles. I seem to remember that those ribbers were replaced on a D8H that I operated on the Mount Newman Rail Project in 1968 and they only slacked the track right off. jacked the front of the tractor up on the blade, blocked it and used a front end loader to hold the track up while they removed the carrier roller and pedestal to get at the saddle and rubbers underneath.

I am pretty sure that edb, Old Magnet or somebody will come along and jump up and down on me if I am wrong.

Just my 0.02.

"Rome wrote:

Looking good! Are you going to replace the wear strips on the track frames for the idler guides?

The sneaky ones under the bottom have been done. The one pictured was okay. we have touched up the bottom of the idler guides as well. reading the service book it says the gap should be .05 inches which is only 1.3mm? is that right? seems pretty close?

Hi, Misterskill.
Progress seems to being made. I can appreciate only working the morning shift in that heat.

I yaint absolutely 100% sure but I don't think you need to break the track to replace the rubber pads under the equaliser bar saddles. I seem to remember that those ribbers were replaced on a D8H that I operated on the Mount Newman Rail Project in 1968 and they only slacked the track right off. jacked the front of the tractor up on the blade, blocked it and used a front end loader to hold the track up while they removed the carrier roller and pedestal to get at the saddle and rubbers underneath.

I am pretty sure that edb, Old Magnet or somebody will come along and jump up and down on me if I am wrong.

Just my 0.02.

Interesting. It's the newer style track with the teeth, not the old master pin. Depending on how easy it goes back together we might end up giving that a go.

Thanks

Yes close, you want the strips to be good and straight so when the idler does move back and forth it doesn't wedge on the newer surface. If allot of play is left between the shims she'll play basket ball and dribble all the time.

Tracks back on. Will have to take the right hand side one off again to do the pin and bush once the blade is back on but that's just unfortunate. Go together pretty easy actually.

We ended up putting them together with no grouzer plate and getting all the bolts started, then a tack weld, then take the bolts out (carefully!), put the plate and bolts on and then grind the weld off and rattle it up.

New rubbers under the equalizer bar (under the tractor), one looked okay but the other was completely shot. Other rubbers turned up, just waiting on the blade to go back on so we can stand the tractor up.

waiting on this hydraulic pump shaft still, had some issues but shouldn't be far off. local hydraulic bloke is back so i can get a few hoses done when he gets a chance.

waiting on a bottoming tap so i can get a Helicoil in the plate that holds the trunion ball plate on, kit only came with an intermediate (DOH!)

bit more cutting and fitting with the blade skin in the meanwhile, this job was a lot bigger then i anticipated. We've been cutting and gouging the old snot off with a plasma cutter and would be seriously lost without it. However, we have managed to sit the front section up in place so it almost looks like a blade again which is nice. measure, a bit more trimming, then we can start welding things into place.

Pin and bush sounds like a big job no matter who you talk too. I can't see how i'm going to spread the link enough put the stepped bush in there, (i'm told if you take off a few grousers then you can get enough of movement in there if you swear at it enough) but the chains are still at about 90% so definitely not worth changing out the whole thing, and it's only 2 bushes in the middle. suppose i'll get to it and find out

Anyway, was looking at some gear in another blokes yard the other day and noticed a decrepit old tracked thing. Looks like an old 2ton. Apparently they were quire popular on the wineries down south back in the day and quite a few made it up here to get turned into electric tunneling machines. This one still has the timber bolted on the tracks apparently so it didn't destroy the bitumen and concrete around the sheds.

Hi, Misterskill.
Sounds like you are having a LOTTTA fun - and making some progress as well. Ah jest LURRRVE that plastic welding stool in the foreground of the first photo. LOL.

Those Holt/Cat 2-Tons had a pretty innovative motor in 'em for the day.

Just my 0.02.

"Deas wrote:

Hi, Misterskill.
Sounds like you are having a LOTTTA fun - and making some progress as well. Ah jest LURRRVE that plastic welding stool in the foreground of the first photo. LOL.

Those Holt/Cat 2-Tons had a pretty innovative motor in 'em for the day.

Just my 0.02.

Have a look at this for the latest in welding comfort! there are probably 4 or 5 strategically stashed around the yard.

Fun? is that what it's called. I caught myself the other day, whilst once again starting the excavator to lift something, (or belting something with the 12lbs sledge) muttering "I should have bought a d2..."

Alas we soldier on! Go hard or go home

2 more rams and hoses getting done on the KATO tomorrow so that's another job out of the way. Then my off-sider is away on holiday again in march so I'm off to try and make a bit of extra cash and keep the whole project going

Hi, Misterskill.
Man, yer gotta LOVE innovation.

Nah. You don't want a D2. Ev'rybody - and their dog - has a D2. How many people do you see on here with a D9G dozer with a multi-shank ripper?????????

Just my 0.02.