Anybody know of a track press for HG or OC3 tracks near the northern tip of lower Michigan?
I don't know, but someone should set up a track press on a trailer that they can take anywhere. I think they'd have a thriving business.
There was a write up in one of the magazines some years ago about a guy who made his own setup. It was kind of crude and I think he used a big bottle jack, but it worked. I think it was in Antique Power, but I'm not certain. If you are only doing small tracks like the OC-3 , it wouldn't be that hard. I've been thinking about building one myself, I've got everything I need to do, except time. I guess that's the problem with a lot of us.
I'm thinking about trying to make a press.
I've seen some ideas on a different forum.
If anyone has photos or a link to the plans
Of a press that would work on an HG and can post,
That would be great.
What size bottle jack are you planning on using?
I'm not looking to buy a track press. I'm just looking for someone who can do the work. How about anyone in all of Michigan or Wisconsin that can install pins and bushings in HG or OC3 tracks.
When I had a set done probably 30 years ago, the shop told me the OC-3 used the same setup as Case 310 tracks.
A shop with that setup might be easier to find!
At that time, Oliver wanted about $250 for the pin and bush set: I got a BERCO set from Surplus Tractor for about $100 including shipping . . .
If you search on youtube you'll find some homemade track press ideas. I think the one in Antique power that used a bottle jack, the guy used a pretty big one, 30 ton?? I recall him trying one size and it not working, then he tried a bigger one and it worked. His setup wasn't very fancy, but he got it done. If you post the question on the Yesterdays Tractors forum you might some more info there.
Does anyone know how much Zimmerman charges for the pins & bushings?
Thanks for all of your suggestions. I talked Zimmerman's this week. Parts are $350 per side for HG/OC3.
Did a search for "Track Press" on the Yesterday's Tractor site. First post shows a home made press that looks much like a log splitter.
Check out the other posts; there are plenty of safety warnings and experiences concerning use of a home made press.
Stay safe
Yes, here is one posted over at ytmag in the crawler discussion forum.
I saved it for future reference...a bit crude but I suspect it would work.
There was another using a 20ton? vertical shop press I think it was an OC-4 but I can't locate that one at the moment.
Fabricating a proper/secure jig on the business end would make it a safer operation. I have watched the youtube videos.
Safety is number 1. Not sure what Landis charges for the labor portion...any idea?
(http://C:%5CUsers%5Cgn%5CPictures%5CTrack%20Press%20#1.jpg)
(http://C:%5CUsers%5Cgn%5CPictures%5CTrack%20Press%20#2.jpg)
Thanks. Yes, I saw the YT one and copied the pics and comments. Some thought it might be a bit light. It might even be a master pin press. I liked the y-tube one with the International 500 tracks the best so far. I really like Zimmerman's service but freight is my concern. You are right, I should see what the costs are. Google helped me find a business called Mobile Track Press near me. I sent them an email. I got what might be a robot response. We will see if anything materialises. I have so many projects that I really don't want to add building a track press to the list. Exchanging the pins and bushings is still another project. If nothing develops by spring, I'll probably try to sell it. The rest of it seems pretty good. There are lots of engine conversions so the good engine might have some value. It has an unusual dozer that has its own frame-- well suited to the vulnerable HG frame.
There is Florence Track Service in Florence, WI that would do the work. I have heard good things about them. Small shop, probably low overhead (=low labor rate?) and pretty knowledgeable about the old stuff. I talked to them about doing my 1926 cat 2-ton tracks and they had no hesitation.
Florence Track
715-528-4989
Good luck,
Grant
Check this company:
http://www.manta.com/c/mm7xyzy/crawler-rebuilders-supply
There was also a track service in Sheridan, MI. I was not able to locate them.
Bruce
Still a ways away from Michigan, but my friend near Syracuse, NY is just setting one up and it'll handle the smaller Ollie tracks.
http://www.sadygerts.com/ (http://www.sadygerts.com/)
If anyone has a lead on any literature specific to Oliver track press set-up, I'd be grateful. On most other tracks the grousers are bolted and hence easily removable from one side of the pad to press the bushings in the other direction, but on Cletracs and Ollies they are riveted.
Quote from: oliverchris on April 11, 2016, 11:33:24 PM
If anyone has a lead on any literature specific to Oliver track press set-up, I'd be grateful. On most other tracks the grousers are bolted and hence easily removable from one side of the pad to press the bushings in the other direction, but on Cletracs and Ollies they are riveted.
Why would you want to take pads off to do the work? I did many HG and OC3 tracks on a little OTC press at a John Deere dealership. Small press we only used with small crawlers like Deere 40s and 420s. When my boss dumped the good-working press at the scrapyard, a local farmer dragged it away, took it home, and started doing small crawler track work for people. I took a pair of HG tracks to him around 10 years ago and he did them for me. No pad removal. Just had the bushings turned and put in new pins. Worked out fine. It is likely someone in that area now has that little press. Oneonta area of central New York.
By the way, I met a guy last year here in northern Michigan (Rogers City) that did his own pins and bushings on a Deere 420 with a 50 ton log-splitter. He just made his own custom cradle and it worked. Can't say it would have to power on all small tracks. Much depends on how many times those bushings have been out and how tight they are.
I don't want to take the pads off, that's why I'm asking about finding the correct tooling, but that's the way a lot of them are done these days. Be nice to find that old press.
I'm told 91 series track press tooling will work with this old Rodgers Model 20A [with 20TPC-A upgrade], so if anyone knows of any 91 series Oliver tooling, my friend would be grateful to hear back.
Thanks.
I did a lot of track work at a John Deere dealership. We never took the pads off any tracks unless they had sealed bushings. That or those that had interlocking pins and bushings that required the chain links to be spread sideways to let the bushing fit into a recess on the inside of each link. I never removed pads doing little HG-OC3 tracks or on Deere 40, 420, 440, 350s, and 450s. I DID have to remove pad bolts on one side with some aftermarket Berco tracks on an Allis Chalmers H3.