D8 46a final drive adjustment part 2

Good evening. Well I decided to take everyone’s knowledge and put it to use today. I managed to split the track( guess I didn’t look hard enough the first time round) but I had a quick link on the rail which made splitting the track a breeze. That was where the fun ended and the work began. Long story short. I broke two 3/4 flex handles on snipes and stretched a ratchet before the bolts came out of the strap that holds the hub to the track frame. With the help of a long snipe welded to an 1-11/16 wrench I was able to get the bolts that hold the wishbone(I think that’s what it’s called?) to the dozer. After a few days of freeze and thaw I come to find that I can’t jack up the unit because the tracks are froze into the ice. With the help of the excavator though I got it in the air. I pulled the cap and everything looked good other than indentations on the race. I pulled the rubber seal, installed the cap with shims and welded a bit to the cap. When I turned the hub it felt free but jerky. It didn’t move very smooth. After a 1/4 turn the whole hub locked up and I needed a 3/4 drive ratchet just to put it back to where it started. I loosened the cap ever so slightly to see if that helped to no avail. I’m guessing this means I will have to pull the hub and replace the inner bearings as well? And can I do this without pulling the sprocket?

Its over 30 years since I last dismantled a D8H/K final drive, however if my memory hasn't faded too much I believe that outer bearing can be replaced without pulling the outer hub. it is the outer bearing that gets notchy because it only oscillates back and forth with the track frame, the two bearings inside from it actually fully rotate with the bull gear hub. Providing all other bearings are ok you could try replacing the outer bearing and re tension the set.

By the way, what is the serial number of the tractor, there are a series of modifications over time to finals in 46A's bigger inner bearing, larger bull gear and intermediate gear etc as well as different seals.

Wombat

Thanks wombat for the reply. The serial number is 46A22230