Turning pins and bushings

Jw74 - Here you go - real, moving video! - better pics than I can find, in any of my files! 😄

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxxOFBgP1II

Note how the bushing extends through the inside links and projects into the outer link. This recess in the outer link that accommodates the bushing is called the counterbore.
This design was thought up by Cat in the early 1930's - prior to that, the bushing ended at the inner link and the track could be separated by knocking out any pin.
When the introduction of the counterbore design, it meant that the track could only be separated at the master pin, where there is a special short bushing (the master bushing) and spacers in the counterbore.
The counterbore design is a superior design to the earlier designs, it has a longer wearing surface between pin and bushing and resists track snaking better.

Regards, Ron.

Pin and bushing turning on the smaller machines has become somewhat of a dying practice. Labor cost are causing more tracks to be run to destruction and just being replaced with new. Check with a local track service and see if they want to even be bothered.

I thought of trying rig something up to rotate the P+B on my D8 but they gave me a quote of $2,600 so I had it done. What a wise decision!

Thank you Ron that is a great video.

Awesome Video, but they make that look way to easy!

Turning pins and bushings is still benefical ,and cost effective if done at the proper time ,monitoring the internal pin and bushing ware .The internal ware is in a form of an egg . If the egg internal ware is too great ,its a waist of money to turn the pins and bushings . Turning at the right time sets the track pitch back in ,and increases the life of the pins , internal and external ware on the bushings and sprockets . Sandy and abrasive soils ,and operating speeds cause a more rapid internal ware ,and track machines working in those coditions need to be watched carefully .A contractor with a fleet of track machines can save a considerable amount of money by monitoring internal and external track ware .

rjh, when is the proper time to rotate the P&B?

Thanks guys those videos were an eye opener for me...and fun to watch!