Resurfacing track chain or find replacement?
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Construction and other equipment
Forum Description: everything else with orange (or yellow) paint
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=201738
Printed Date: 04 Nov 2025 at 6:47am
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Topic: Resurfacing track chain or find replacement?
Posted By: Noah
Subject: Resurfacing track chain or find replacement?
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2024 at 8:26am
Since a new track chain could be hard to find, can it be resurfaced with 7018 or hard surface rod? Has anyone done this with success? I didn't see how bad the chain was wore on he backside of the right track, it was ran with a loose track. Looks like it started eating into the pin boss. I'm assuming it was loose track that accelerated the wear? advice, thanks.  
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Replies:
Posted By: Dozer987
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2024 at 10:27am
| It can be re surfaced. It is a lot of work. Your truck wheels will probably need resurfacing as well. It is the only thing to do if you can't find the parts. |
Posted By: Coke-in-MN
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2024 at 10:42am
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top side of track chain can be built up - YET the problem is wear on pin and bushing , both outside of bushing and INTERNAL WEAR . I built up rail height on 37 link track on my HD5G and got about 2 years of use until I had a link fail as internal of chain was wore and excess slack rode up onto sprocket tooth . Check track length - measure ON CENTER of 1 link - then measure length between 4 links -pin to pin - find out how much wear by checking that against what 1 link on center is . ------------- Life lesson: If you’re being chased by a lion, you’re on a horse, to the left of you is a giraffe and on the right is a unicorn, what do you do? You stop drinking and get off the carousel. |
Posted By: Noah
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2024 at 11:45am
Thanks Dozer, I'll keep my eyes out for a new chain but until then I'll get my welder out. |
Dozer987 wrote:Posted By: Noah
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2024 at 11:50am
Coke, if I'm measuring correctly, I'm getting 6 1/2" from center of one pin to the next. 19 9/16" across 4 pins I was hoping to avoid splitting the track and just welding in position, I jacked up loader and have the tracks free wheeling. It would be my first time splitting a track so I'm a bit anxious. Good or bad idea? |
Posted By: Ray54
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2024 at 12:28pm
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Building up old tracks was a common thing 40 years ago. Durning WW2 Cat put out information on how they thought was the best way to do things. This information has been put out on the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club (ACMOC )web site. I am not sure if that would be findable today or not. But it cost nothing to ask. Do to poor management the clubs was very broke, and switched to new software. But has put together a large library of Cat publications, but you need to pay membership to access. So since this was out long before library it might be free. It might have been discussed enough here that it was put here as well. There was site that had track information on all brand with the dimensions printed. But whoever owned it abandoned it. But was still up a few years later, but am not remembering a name for it to help you find it. Not being a expert on track wear and picture can be deceiving, your chain looks in relatively good condition. So I would guess your roller are more at fault than the chain. AC roller are harder to weld on in that they have bearing inside rather than just bushing as the other brands did. General Gear in the Bosie ID area that started as used crawler parts dealer, that now is the go to place for after market steering clutch parts has been putting parts catalogs on their web site for many makes and models. So check with them as they might track wear information on there site. So google General Gear see what they have up. They get many favorable comments about giving information on the phone as well.
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Posted By: orangeman
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2024 at 12:31pm
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During the Depression era and WWII Caterpillar released an undercarriage restoration guide. I did a little checking and unfortunately didn't see it come up with a quick google search. If you wonder over to the ACMOC site I think you could find the guides there. The guide(s) as in plural - meaning there are several of them - detail restoration of the rollers and track link along with the sprocket and idlers. HTH's ~ Orangeman
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Posted By: Les Kerf
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2024 at 2:03pm
So long as you can access the area you intend to weld upon I would recommend not splitting the track. You will know pretty soon after trying it. I hate splitting tracks
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Posted By: Noah
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2024 at 2:58pm
Thanks everyone. I got 11 out of 37 built up so far. I used 1/2" round bar I had laying around to save on time, stick rod and less heat buildup between passes. I hope this holds for a bit. The chain definitely has a few links that are not looking good. Im rotating the tracks with a ratchet strap and welding from the back corner.  
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