RedNeckRacin
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2008
- Messages
- 2,517
- Location
- Western PA
- Tractor
- John Deere 5083E MFWD, Kubota L3400 HST
So my grandpa and I are working on fixing up a JD 550 dozer and we had the track frames out from underneath the machine so that we can tear them down. I had gotten the correct spring compressor bolt from JD to compress the track springs however the threads in the spring cup are very fouled and the bolt won't work. So we improvise and get the first spring off without to much trouble by using a 1" diameter piece of all thread. The second spring was more ornery. Instead of the nut backing off, the shaft starts backing out and there is only a inch of thread in the cup. So I get the bright idea to take the 480 case and use the hoe to try and take some pressure off the bolt by compressing the spring with the hoe. No good, it's just picking the hoe up off the ground. Grandpa gets an idea! Let's set the 3/4" impact gun up on the bolt and tape the trigger in, then head for cover and plug the air hose in! Brillant. Obviously we both realize this is deadly serious but we don't have to many other options! I hide in the shop directly behind the idler on the track frame which is in line e with the spring. (The track frame made a sturdy table.,) so I slam the air hose in and the impact starts hammering away and wouldn't you know it, that bolt popped loose releasing the tension on tbe track spring and bounced that 480 hoe up in the air a few inches!! Whew! Should have recorded that but I didn't think about it when my life was in the balance!