CliffordK
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2013
- Messages
- 1,894
- Location
- Eugene, Oregon
- Tractor
- Toro D200, Ford 1715, International 884,
Ok, a couple of months ago I purchased the CAT 977K. Running good, but bucket hydraulics weren't working. So it is now time to figure out what is going on.
I've tracked the leak down to a pipe/hose junction for the lower lift cylinders. And, of course in the most inaccessible location imaginable. It is buried in behind the tracks on the left side of the crawler. From the top side, I might have to split the tracks to reach it, and access still would be limited.
Leak appears to be coming from the inside part of the hose/hard pipe coupling (marked in red), as if the hard pipe was leaking somewhere. The bracket marked in blue to keep everything stable was also missing.
Hard pipe shown in red crosses under the crawler. The leak appears to be coming out from above the belly pan some place. But, it is hard to tell. Unfortunately the best access seems to be above the belly pan.
And, of course, that pan is about 3/4" thick steel. It won't be light. 200 or 300 lbs? It is slightly bent upward, but that is as problem for another day... or is it?
The front belly pan came to me missing, with the area it was supposed to cover completely packed with dirt (and a grease rag). Somebody worked the crawler quite a bit after removing that pan.
If the hard pipe is damaged, the only way to get it out is to remove the belly pan and disconnect it from both ends, which means above the belly pan.
I've tracked the leak down to a pipe/hose junction for the lower lift cylinders. And, of course in the most inaccessible location imaginable. It is buried in behind the tracks on the left side of the crawler. From the top side, I might have to split the tracks to reach it, and access still would be limited.
Leak appears to be coming from the inside part of the hose/hard pipe coupling (marked in red), as if the hard pipe was leaking somewhere. The bracket marked in blue to keep everything stable was also missing.
Hard pipe shown in red crosses under the crawler. The leak appears to be coming out from above the belly pan some place. But, it is hard to tell. Unfortunately the best access seems to be above the belly pan.
And, of course, that pan is about 3/4" thick steel. It won't be light. 200 or 300 lbs? It is slightly bent upward, but that is as problem for another day... or is it?
The front belly pan came to me missing, with the area it was supposed to cover completely packed with dirt (and a grease rag). Somebody worked the crawler quite a bit after removing that pan.
If the hard pipe is damaged, the only way to get it out is to remove the belly pan and disconnect it from both ends, which means above the belly pan.