Good afternoon,
A few years back I purchased this HD5B and had it hauled to my property in Southwest Missouri. First off, I am mechanically inclined, but did not know anything about Dozers or track loaders, before I purchased this. I just wanted to use it on the weekends to haul gravel, push trees and brush, around on my farm.
Anyway I invested in a radiator rebuild, check the fluids, and ended up using it last year the most, about 30-40 machine hours I've used it, so far.
So I took it out in the pasture a few weekends ago to push brush around. I wasn't turning sharp, going back and forth navigating some roots in the ground, and the left track jumped off the front by the bucket, in towards the radiator. It is sitting out in the field a couple hundred yards from my barn, and I've prepped the area to get a 12 ton air jack and compressor and started to try to jack it up in order to try to move the track on. I realize I'll need to loosen the adjuster and move the idler back, not sure if in reality I'm equipped to do this, and since I've never done it before.
I have several reprinted manuals (operating, parts, Service manual), and what seems to be the original repair parts manual for this machine.
From the beginning I noticed on both sides the tracks are very worn (and have rebar welded on them), sprockets and Idlers and other surfaces are welded on, I'm assuming to increase the adjustment life of the tracks without replacing expensive parts. Also many guards and parts seem to be from other machines (painted yellow in some cases).
Lastly, lately I noticed the tracks were sagging but I haven't adjusted the tracks or greased the truck wheels or sprockets in any way since I bought it...the manual says to use a "special grease gun fitting" to do this or you will blow the seals out using a high pressure grease gun. Probably ignorant, but I was more scared of ruining something that greasing them considering I wasn't using the machine that much. Also, the threaded rod to adjust the tracks is very rusted and I'm not sure if I can break them loose, or even have a wrench to do it.
So I'm looking for any experienced advice, 1. how you would approach getting the left track back on to drive it back to the barn what tools I need to have or buy to adjust the tracks 2. about putting grease into the wheel bearings, etc. And from looking at these pictures, as to what I may be dealing with in terms of "looks ok to use if you can adjust the tracks", or "the tracks and related parts are worn out and should be replaced", etc.
Also note the pictures are over time, so the tracks are pretty well adjusted in some pictures, and sag over time.
I realize this is a lot of information, any advice you may have is greatly appreciated!
Thanks, Andy G.
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