Detensioning inside idler

Bearing removal

Seal Installer

Installer apart

Ready for install

Permanent repair

Portable jib crane

Bad axle

Heating

Swing Link & Hubs

The seal failed on the inside right idler and I didn't notice it until the bearings failed and ruined the axle that the idler ran on. It was about 3 miles from my shop and I had no quick way to get it to my shop so I improvised. I cut short pieces of 2X4 and used them to space the track away from the good idler, thus relieving tension from the inner idler and letting me remove it without jacking up the front of the tractor and de-tensioning the track.

Once I had the idler and hub removed, I was able to remove the old bearing race and start getting the tractor ready to use to finish seeding. As you can see in this pic, the inner bearing race had spun on the axle. With a few shims and some JB-Weld, I was able to repair the tractor well enough to finish seeding and other spring work.

The hub that supported the idler had been damaged to the point that I decided to replace it. The bearings for the idlers run in an oil bath and are sealed with CAT Duo-Cone seals. While waiting for the hub to be air-shipped in, I had time to make a Duo-Cone seal install tool.

The halves of the installer come apart so the new seal can be placed for installation in the hub and axle cavity.

The tool has been loaded with seal and toric ring, ready to be pushed into place.

After the temporary repair, I closely monitored the operating temperature of the bearings and hub. It ran a bit warmer than the other idlers so it was obvious my JB-Weld and shim alignment method was not a long term solution and we'd need to fix it right when time allowed. The first set of bogies has been run up on 2X blocks and the track de-tensioned to allow the idlers to be removed.

Once the idlers and hubs have been removed, it's a simple matter to remove the swing link and start replacing damaged parts.

A view of the damaged axle. Since the axle is integrally forged with the swing link, the whole piece has to be replaced. Pic shows feeler gauge shimsthat held the bearing while the JB had time to set. I used .014, .012, and .010 shims placed where I guessed the axle had been worn. Obviously I guessed wrong because even though the large inner bearing had only minimal wear, the smaller outer bearing was already noticeably worn and had made substantial metal filings in the lube oil for the bearing.

We heated both hubs to 120°+ and chilled the bearing cups overnight in the freezer, before using the press and shop built arbor to seat them in the hubs.

We decided to assemble the bearings, hubs, and seals to the new swing link while it was out in the open and easier to install the hubs without damaging the seals. It was then a relatively simple matter to install the assembly, mount the idlers and re-tension the track.