Spot turn? Can it not work

[gmcjunky]

According to the tag on the dozer and some internet research. This dozer should have it,but when turning just feels like steering brakes. Can the spot turn not work? And how does it work?

[Blake Malkamaki]

The Spot Turn unit has brake bands that go around a clutch pack on each side. When the brake is applied, the drum stops and the inside continues to turn until a roller rides up on a ramp disengaging the clutch packs, stopping that side.

Does your tractor turn after pulling the levers? The wrong oil can make turning a real bear!

[gmcjunky]

Sometimes when pulling on the levers the dozer will turn on a done and other times it will just drag on the motor some and not hardly turn at all. Both tracks have power all the time so I am thinking the clutches are good. What kind of oil goes in the rear end?

[Blake Malkamaki]

Supposed to have 50 wt non-detergent motor oil. My OC-12 with Spot Turn behaves similarly to yours. The oil in it smells like hypoid rear end oil for a truck. That oil has extreme pressure lubricants and, my theory at least, is that it makes the brake bands way too slippery to stop the drums, therefore making the tractor very difficult to steer. The last time I ran mine, one of the brake bands broke an end off from pulling so hard. It is on my list of things to repair.

If the Spot Turn is working as it should, the tractor should steer quite easily without a huge effort on the levers.

[gmcjunky]

thanks for the info I'll look into that

[oliverchris]

Like Blake says. Very little effort should be required. On my OC46, a very light pull will allow the tractor to act as if it has planetary steering ? it will turn while both tracks are still turrning ? but pull a little bit harder and the one track will stop allowing the "spot-turn". Either way, its something you could just about do with your little finger