track comes off 1960 AC hd6 dozer

hd61960 · Sep 20, 2008

the track came off, after some considerable effort I got it back on .
now its starting to come of again on the idler wheel and I notice the side that the track is on is 3 or 4 inches farther out from the body of the machine than it should be ,what is going on that the hole side of the machine can move over ,and its not just the track because the blade is binding and I can look down at the leaf spring and its 3 to 4 inches out of alinment and the track is coming off in the direction of the body that would put it closer to the body .
there most be something going on with the rear end I think ,does anybody have any idea what is going on.

Eagleview · Sep 20, 2008

Something has happened to the oscilation bearings at the rear of the trackframe . Bearing cap missing or broken arm maybe , look under the back of the machine .

Eagleview · Sep 21, 2008

I just got your email but mine is playing up so i'll answer your question here . If you look under the back of the machine you will see that the trackframes have solid arms coming off at their mid section which run to the back of the machine and are attached to an axle shaft with trunion bearings that have caps to attach them . The only two places the trackframes are attached are at the sprockets on the outside and by the arms underneath . The front end floats on the leaf spring . This allows the tracks to oscilate on uneven terrain . It can only be at these points that could allow the trackframes to become out of line . Once you stick your head under the machine you will see what i mean .

hd61960 · Sep 21, 2008

thanks ,sounds like you know what your talking about.

hd61960 · Sep 21, 2008

I looked under the machine ,the arm is not broken and the caps are there and tight, the cap at the sprocket has a 1/16inch gap showing on one side of the cap ,when I tried to tighten it down the bolt stripped .I would think the bushing on the end of the arm would be more likely to be the problem ,do you think so.
or do you think the 1/16th inch gap would be the problem. also this track frame is different than the one on the other side,it has been replaced at some time in the past with a track frame from something else ..and the 2nd previous owner had put a pipe running from one track frame to the other ,now aparently to correct this problem but the 1st owner before me removed it .how do you think I should procede now.

Eagleview · Sep 23, 2008

I'm sorry , it sounds as if it has been cobbled together . It hard to say now , that 1/16" of an inch back at the sprocket would be 3" at the front , but yes i think it also has internal wear . I can hardly imagine what they have done to get a different frame to fit .

RobJ · Sep 23, 2008

Yeah bearing, bushing somewhere. Had a JD350 crawler that started throwing the track...just before the final drive went out. Not fun. Heavy stuff.

hd61960 · Sep 25, 2008

it was the bearings as the picture will show you.

hd61960 · Oct 1, 2008

starting the repair,track laid out ready to take the cap off and jack the dozer off of the track frame.

PILOON · Oct 1, 2008

Had a HD6 a few years back.
Powerfull for it's size and did lots of work for me.
My only bad luck was snagging a hydraulic line to the blade lift cylinder and taking a hydraulic oil bath/shower.

Paid $4000, earned me $8000 and sold it for $4000. Was not a bad deal all in all.
(also did all my jobs for mere fuel costs)

California · Oct 2, 2008

In the photos in post #8, that grease looks fresh, new.

Do you suppose the previous owner had it apart just before he sold it?

hd61960 · Oct 2, 2008

yes the previous owner replaced the axle on that side.

Soundguy · Oct 2, 2008

I had an old cat D69U that the cline adjustment got worn and it would walk out of it's track.. big ole grease cyl.. was a bear to fix..

soundguy

true temper · Oct 5, 2008

Nice shop you are working in.

hd61960 · Oct 5, 2008

thanks for noticing ,some day I hope.

Egon · Oct 6, 2008

It could be -20C in the shop!

Them things just never break down in nice places like a shop anyway!

Flatheadyoungin · Oct 6, 2008

man, working in that muck!

all the tools are back at the garage.....all the lifting equipment......sheesh!

we're pullin' for ya!

Soundguy · Oct 6, 2008

Makes ya sick don't it!

soundguy

hd61960 · Oct 6, 2008

thanks for the support guys , got my bearings today and then found out my axle is broken at the outer bearing, and it broke there for the last owner as well .so Im looking for an axle and trying to figure out why the axles are breaking.
must be loose at the spot where the diagonal arm from the track frame attaches, although the caps are tight it must be where the problem is I think. was to dirty to get the camera out but I will take pictures tomorrow.

Eagleview · Oct 6, 2008

If the diagonal brace bearing is Ok , i think you should compare the measurements of the standard track frame on the other side and the one that has been fitted . Make sure the length of the diagonal braces are the same , the pad where the spring sits too the axle bearing cap centers etc , also the condition of the bracing on the blades 'C' frame as if that is crook the forces put on the blade whilst pushing can skew the track frame and put great strain on the axle .