Frozen Chain Trencher

ultrarunner · Mar 17, 2016

Left my dozer sit the time I was working overseas and the tracks were really bound up.

Used the blade and ripper to get the tracks off the ground and was able to free it up... after that... no matter what I ran the tracks every other month.

I can see the chain seizing on a trencher... maybe PB blaster and warming things up with a torch... not so hot as to affect temper or hardness.

Had some chain saw chain what was given to me... rusted... let it soak in Diesel and it freed up enough to use it.

Can you whack the joints with a 5lb hammer and a brass drift or hardwood... just a whack at each joint on both sides?

MossRoad · Mar 17, 2016

Digger 258 said:
I thought about that, but in my novice mind the only way to do so would be to switch the hoses at the motor, and I guess I am not sure if running the motor backwards will hurt the motor at all. Does switching the hoses pose a serious risk of contamination of the hydraulics with dirt or introducing air that would hurt anything? I'll take any ideas . . . Hope to get working on it tonight, and if not I've got Saturday. I'll let you know what progress I make.

I don't know if that motor is reversible or not.

If it is, you could reverse the hoses and run it backwards. I'm not familiar with the PT trencher. I don't know if it has a tensioner or not. If so, that might be a concern for running backwards. A little air in that circuit won't hurt anything. Its the tram circuit you don't want any air in ever. As for dirt contamination, YES! That's a serious concern on all hydraulics. Clean the areas really well before cracking any fittings open and don't leave them open for extended periods of time.

ponytug · Mar 18, 2016

I asked Terry about this, and he said don't do it. Not all hydraulic motors run backwards well, and supposedly the chain trencher motor is one of them. (At least on the 1445.)

For stuck rocks, I have found that turning the PTO off, placing the trencher on hard ground and backing up has always freed the rocks in a few seconds.

X2 on the advice to see if the motor turns by itself before you do much more.

All the best,

Peter

MossRoad · Mar 18, 2016

I think dragging against rotation with the PTO off is also the preferred method to clear rocks on PTs tiller as well.

BobRip · Mar 18, 2016

If you plug the hoses together this will allow a little backflow when you back pull the trencher

Digger 258 · Mar 18, 2016

Thanks so much for the help and advice to everyone. I came home from work with just a little daylight left and set to work. I examined each link and tooth on the sprocket very closely for rocks and obstructions, and I loosened up the tensioner again. Then I cleared space in my garage so I can work late into night to take it apart piece by piece. Pulled her into the garage and started getting tools ready. Decided that I might as well try the PTO "one more time" before I started taking the motor off. I flipped the PTO switch, and lo and behold, after a slight pause, a mighty racket let forth and the trencher was spinning! I tightened up the tensioners and tried it again. It spun just fine and I soaked it in lube while it was running. I suppose patience is what I needed to let the lube set in - I never even got the chance to try melting candle wax into the links. Anybody know how to set the tension right on the chain? I am excited to dig trenches now, even though it's supposed to snow Sunday . . .

ultrarunner · Mar 19, 2016

Good Deal... sounded just like when I let the dozer sit too long.

One of my contractor friends never lets equipment sit outside without running it every couple of weeks.

BobRip · Mar 19, 2016

To set tension- put the chain horizontal and off the ground. Adjust the distance between the center of the lower chain and the bar above so it is the width of your fist. Got that from Terry many years ago.

Digger 258 · Mar 19, 2016

Thanks BobRip - that's an adjustment that even I can follow. Once I get that done I can trench my way to our Northern VA PT owners meeting! Once I get trenching I'm sure I'll create some other crisis . . . First time ever trying French drains.