NEXT step on D7E, Help needed

The "0" clearance at the front and "1/2" clearance at the back of the clamp and saddle is probably lost metal due to running without repair. It's going to be tough to bring back to original dimensions, but that is what is required to fix.
The diagonal brace bearing should also be checked as well as the outer support bearing (between the bearing cage and the support) as running without the outer clamping puts these bearings in a bind.

The "0" clearance at the front and "1/2" clearance at the back of the clamp and saddle is probably lost metal due to running without repair. It's going to be tough to bring back to original dimensions, but that is what is required to fix.
The diagonal brace bearing should also be checked as well as the outer support bearing (between the bearing cage and the support) as running without the outer clamping puts these bearings in a bind.

This machine has been run with the clamp bolts loose or broken and the bore in the bearing carrier and track frame bore has worn. allowing the track frame to 'toe out' at the front and the track to run out of line, The onlyway is to replace that support bearing, build up and re-bore the track frame and cap and re-bore them, You will also find the bronze bush inside the support carrier is worn, also the actual bearing hub on the dead shaft. Quite a lot of work to do but its the only way to get the track lined up again.The main cause of this is lack of use of the grease gun to lube both inner and outer track frame pivot bearings.

Think I'd be looking for a parts tractor with a good used track truck.

I am with you tctractors, the hub needs turning.

I can see where the outer bearing assembly (#7) could be rotated but I can't find any indication that there is a key alignment involved from the literature I have.

Does show that the grease zerk should be at the top which it isn't on this unit.

Anybody got a picture of that feature?

Hi Team,
my OMI shows the zerk in the outer bearing to be at the bottom.
When aligned to the bottom the grease enters in the loaded area.
We used to fit them this way. Simply rotated the zerk to the lower position before torquing the clamp.

As for the gap in the cradle I would jack the machine up a bit, to get a gap between the holder and the track, frame and check for rust etc under the outer bearing holder and the frame seating area.

Cannot recall if there is a key for the bearing holder on the D7E, but I feel the holder is simply clamped in position--this will be evident by a gap at each side of the clamp to track frame clamping faces when the clamp is torqued up.
I stand to be corrected as it is too long ago now since I worked on undercarriage. I do not have any literature for this late of a machine to double check.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

Hi edb,
Interesting that 48A1 started out with zerk at the bottom. At 48A1136 it moved to the top along with a different bearing cage holder that has a drilled pasage for the grease. So it would seem a definite indexing is required to receive proper lube.

This unit had been run with a stripped out clamping bolt so I doubt if rust/crud in the support area would be a problem and if it even had any type key indexing it is probably long gone.

Correction:
The drilled passage is in the outer bearing support, not the bearing cage holder.