Lost my track

[EddieWalker]

I have a Case 1550 dozer that I use for clearing brush, knocking over trees and moving dirt. It's about as much fun as you can have. While moving some dirt, building a road, I lost a track.

[EddieWalker]

It looks like my master link had two bolts that had already broke off and I never noticed. The remaining two never had a chance. They are grad 8 three quarter fine thread torqed down to 400 pounds.

I used one cobalt bit per bolt to drill them out for an easy out. I spent two weeks trying to turn them with three diferent typs of break free oils. Either I'm just not strong enough, or they are just plain stuck

[EddieWalker]

I tried to heat it up with a torch and after getting it all nice and red hot, nothing. I'm just not strong enough or I'm doing something wrong.

Screw it, off comes the track. I have no idea how I'm getting it back on, but I gotta get this thing fixed.

[EddieWalker]

Notice anything missing?

Aint it sad, she sure looks naked.

[EddieWalker]

So what do you do when you get the track off.

I'm lucky to have a full size backhoe. It's a New Holland/Ford 555e and has a 1.3 yard front bucket. I've had over 2,000 pounds in the bucket plenty of times, and the tires never bulged.

This track had the tires looking like they only had 10lbs of preasure. It is very heavy.

[EddieWalker]

I couldn't just drop the track into my trailer. So I laid it out on the ground.

[EddieWalker]

I couldnt just pick it up and put it in my trailer, it's just too heavy. I hooked a chain to the end and used my backhoe to drag it into the trailer. Took three repositions to get it in and a little luck.

[EddieWalker]

Its in and ready for a trip to the experts. I'm heading to a place called Cypress Equipment in Pitsburg TX, who specializes in track work. They have all the presses for replacing the bushings and rails along with what I need done.

I'm off first thing in the morning.

[hazmat]

Wow. Your backhoe just earned its keep for the year. Glad I could roll my tires back to civilization if I got a flat [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img].

Hope the repair goes well & doesn't set you back too much $$$.

[5030]

I believe you need some attention to your drive sprockets too. The teeth look rounded off from the picture. Might be a good time to rebuild the clutches too. I don't know if I should ask, but how are your idlers?