Hi All, I recently bought a Cletrac E in reasonably good shape and intend to use it to haul out my firewood. The bushings are worn and a few are even worn through. How do you turn them? Do you have to take them to a tractor shop? I will look at replacing them and the sprockets next winter but would like to use the machine as is this season. I have been reading some of the postings and am impressed with the knowledge here. Hope to hear some of it. Thanks.
Woodcutter: In order to turn the bushings, I believe a jig is necessary and special dies. I don't know the specifics about the design of the jig or dies. There was a post sometime ago about track presses. Some of the shops offering crawler repair have Rogers, or OTC Track Presses that can progress the Pins and Bushing work. Hope this helps!
Form what I have seen the do it yourself track press is dangerous. The pins can explode and cause dangerous shrapnel. If the bushing is worn through they are probably not worth rotating. What I have seen the pins and bushings should be rotated at 75% wear. Wagoner Cat had a 100 ton track press 30 years ago and might have doubled that now.
Thanks for the advice fellows. I am new at this "track thing", sold my skidder last year because it was getting to be like a helicopter, ten hours of maintenance for every one in the air. I guess my idea of turning the bushings with a can of Wd - 40 and a pipe wrench was a bit optimistic. I'll baby the machine for this firewood season and do a major overhaul next winter. No doubt I'll be back with questions. Don
The pins and bushings can be pressed with a regular shop press if you make a few pieces of tooling . They should both be turned 180 degrees . I replaced a couple of sets this past year. It ia a lot of work. If someone in your area has a track press ,you would be better off having it done for you .