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Personal injury or death can result from grease under pressure. Grease coming out of the relief valve under pressure can penetrate the body causing injury or death. Do not watch the relief valve to see if grease is escaping. Watch the track or track adjustment cylinder to see if the track is being loosened. Loosen the relief valve one turn only. If track does not loosen, close the relief valve and contact your Caterpillar dealer. |
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| NOTICE |
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Keeping the track properly adjusted will increase the service life of the track and drive components. |
Note: The track tension must be adjusted according to the current operating conditions. Keep the track as slack as possible if the soil is heavy.
Measuring Track Tension
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| Illustration 1 | g00101752 |
- Place a straight edge on the tracks. The straight edge should be long enough to reach from the idler to the carrier roller.
- Measure the maximum amount of sag in the track. The sag is measured from the highest point of the track grouser to the bottom of the edge. A track that is properly adjusted will have a slack of 40 to 55 mm (1 5/8 to 2 1/8 inch).
Tightening the Track
Wipe the fitting before you add lubricant.
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| Illustration 2 | g00417235 |
The track adjuster is located on the track frame. | |
- Add lubricant through the fitting until the correct track tension is reached.
- Operate the machine back and forth in order to equalize the pressure.
- Check the amount of sag. Adjust the track, as needed.
Loosening the Track
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| Illustration 3 | g00417236 |
The track adjuster is located on the track frame. | |
- Loosen the relief valve carefully until the track begins to loosen. One turn should be the maximum.
- Tighten the relief valve to 34 N·m (25 lb ft) when the desired track tension is reached.
- Operate the machine back and forth in order to equalize the pressure.
- Check the amount of sag. Adjust the track, as needed.
If the correct adjustment cannot be achieved, consult your dealer.
Optional Track Adjustment
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| Illustration 4 | g00583611 |
Many OEM lowers have track roller frames that have been custom designed. These frames use slide bars instead of carrier rollers. The frames may also have raised and/or relocated carrier roller brackets or the frames may be extra long. This will cause the previous track adjustment procedure to be inaccurate. The following procedure can be used for those machines. In fact, the procedure which follows can also be used for all standard and custom track lowers.
- Tracks need to be adjusted in the working environment.
Note: Do not either wash or remove the mud or other material that is packed into the moving components of the undercarriage.
- At track adjuster "A", connect a grease gun to the fitting. Pump grease into the adjuster until the idler is at the max forward position. The relief valve that is adjacent to the fill valve should remain closed.
Note: The track may not appear straight after forward motion of idler has ended. This is acceptable.
- Determine distance "B". This distance is determined by measuring from the end of the bearing block to the end of the track roller frame.
- For a properly adjusted track, the idler needs to be retracted 13 mm (0.5 inch).
- To retract the idler, open relief valve "C". Install a pin that is two to three inches in diameter into the root of the sprocket near the track links.
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| Illustration 5 | g00583618 |
- Move the machine in reverse until the idler backs up 13 mm (0.5 inch) or more. The pin will approximately be in the twelve o'clock position on the sprocket. Then move the machine forward until the pin is free of the sprocket. Remove the pin.
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| Illustration 6 | g00583625 |
- Close relief valve "C". Check dimension "B". This measurement should be 13 mm (0.5 inch) greater than the measurement that was taken in Step 3. Extend the track adjuster if the dimension is greater.
- Now, the tracks are properly adjusted.