track master pins

[killdozer51]

Anybody know if master pin kits for the track chains are still available? mine don't stay in very well and i would like to replace them. any advice appreciated.  also a friend said to measure the whole and get a bolt to fit, would that work? i wouldn't think a bolt would be strong enough.  machine is a '51 bgsh. thanks in advance.

james

[Doug424]

Zimmermans would be the place to check if any are available. In my case, I've made my own.. I've either used an alloy bolt, or a piece of old truck axle shaft. Most likely if yours is loose, your hole is worn as is the pin. If you make one you can measure your hole size and machine it to suit. You might also want to use a reamer to re-size your hole.

[killdozer51]

thanks doug i'll try making my own just didn't know what to use.

james

[hotratz]

You might try drill rod and drill and pin both ends.

[killdozer51]

i tried to pin in on one end and welded a washer on the other but the pin snapped almost instantly as i just turned the dozer around and when i got down it was gone.  i think i'll just weld another washer on the outer side, but if i can find a master pin kit i would like to keep it as a spare.  another thing i noticed is the holes are slightly larger on the chain on the outside but fits tight on the inner one, am i missing some bushings or are my pin holes worn??  there is about an 1/8th inch gap all the way around.  any thoughts?  thanks in advance

james

[Doug424]

Sounds like your problem is someone let it get loose and over the years it got wayyyy too lose. The pin should fit tight in the outer links and slip fit on the inside link, or bushing. The way yours is, its getting too much side load and shearing off whatever retainer you have on the outside. The 'perfect" fix would be to maybe weld in 2 steel bushings to get your outer links back to the right size, but thats going to be a lot of work. The quick fix would be to use a pin with a head on one side and weld a thick washer on the other side once its in place. Originally the master pin would have a tight fit on the outside links, so there really shouldn't be that much side load. Even if you got a new master pin, it wouldn't help unless you restore the fit on the outer links.

[killdozer51]

thanks doug so i gotta make some steel bushings to fit the holes and fit my new pin.  i appreciate the info i got an idea how to make some bushings.  thanks again

james