Help, dozer track pins frozen.

[John White]

Help. I just purchased a Mitsubishi dozer, with very low hours . Evidently it has sat for a long time. (in shipping, and on storage lots and dealer). There are about 6 track pins I cannot get freed up. I jacked the dozer off the ground , oiled all pins and run it for about 20 min. All freed up but about 6. I took the two adjoring pads off and positioned the track down and put a jack under the bow and all it would do is raise the dozer. I am ruclant to put heat on it. Will it damage the seals, pins, bushings? If I took the two adjorning pads off and hauled it to a track shop, what could I expect to pay per pin to have them pressed out and back in? I even put it back on the ground and drove it back and forth. I dont want to ruin a $3000, set of tracks. Any advice appreciated.

 

[Skyco]

Not a bulldozer expert by any means but have you tried Kroil? Amazing stuff. KanoLabs.com

 

[John White]

I havent tried it. I think I've got some, along with about 4 or 5 others which are supposed to work. I' soak it with it, but dont have much hope.

 

[BarryinMN]

Go to ytmag.com & ask in the crawler section. May also ask at jdcrawlers.com for techniques.

 

[Dozernut]

20 minutes won't do it, soak them over night. You might have to use some modeling clay to form a bowl around the pins and fill them up with a good penetrating oil (PB works for me). In the morning use a five pound sledge on them to persuade them to cooperate. I am not sure about the Mitsubishi but most of the small Komatsu dozers have have the dry pins and heat will not harm them. You might need to make a pin driver, use a hardened bolt just under size of the pin and weld a 3-4' handle on it. Then have a helper hold or hit the pin driver with a sledge. This will tell you how good of shape you are in. A little heat will help. Good luck!

 

[John White]

Thanks for the info.

 

[John White]

Go to ytmag.com & ask in the crawler section. May also ask at jdcrawlers.com for techniques.

Thanks, the jdcrawlers.com has alot of info. I never kenw about them. After all a dozer is a dozer and it has tracks. One suggestion I found there was park in in a mud puddle for a couple of days. He said the water would soak in better than penetrating oil and then loosten the rust and drive id before it dries, This next week when I have time I am going to pull the two pads, soak it with the oil suggested. I made a couple of L bars that I plan to hook on the ends of the links, and with a H bar with a plate on top, put my 12 ton jack on it. I Think that will press it back down and hopefully when it rolls around the front roller it will start to lossen up.

 

[Stimw]

I free up a lot of things that are stuck with an air chisel. I have an old bit that I cut off and I use the flat end to rattle as best that I can the stuck parts. The vibration will even help the penetrent to get in stuck places.
I don't know about the water trick. Oils will weep and creep, water has a thicker viscosity. Of course water will get everywhere you don't want it to go.

 

[John White]

I free up a lot of things that are stuck with an air chisel. I have an old bit that I cut off and I use the flat end to rattle as best that I can the stuck parts. The vibration will even help the penetrent to get in stuck places.
I don't know about the water trick. Oils will weep and creep, water has a thicker viscosity. Of course water will get everywhere you don't want it to go.

I have worked on it for a week now, soakeing and everything suggsted, made a small press and broke it over the other way, heated it, but still will not free up and move when on ground. I dont want to heat it too much and ruin it. I will use it one small job and if they dont free up, lt looks like I will have to take it to a track shop and have them pressed out.

 

[MikeD74T]

John, Ask at Welcome to ACMOC! and Antique Caterpillar Machinery Enthusiasts. There's thousands of years experience worldwide there. Will probably find help in your neighborhood. MikeD74t