Figure 11-12.Checking track adjustment.
Figure 11-10.-Manual track adjustment.
Figure 11-11.-Hydraulic track adjuster.
adjusted hydraulically with a grease gun. Grease is
pumped into the yoke cylinder and extends it until
enough tension is placed on the recoil spring to remove
the slack from the track. Tension is relieved by loosening
the vent screw located next to the adjustment fitting.
NOTE: Do NOT lubricate this fitting when per-
forming daily operators maintenance. The track
adjuster fitting should only be greased when the tracks
require adjustment.
Track Adjustment. To determine proper track
tension, position the dozer on a hard surface. Then place
a straightedge over the front carrier roller and idler with
all slack removed from the rest of the track. The tension
is correct when the measured distance is as shown in
figure 11-12.
Track tension should be suitable for the type of area
you arc working in, such as tighter for rock and looser
for sand and snow. However, if the tracks are adjusted
too tightly, there will be too much friction between the
pins and bushings when the track links swivel, as they
travel around the sprocket and front idler. This friction
causes the pins, bushings, links, sprocket, and idler to
wear rapidly. Friction in a tight track also robs the tractor
of needed horsepower.
Tracks that are too loose fail to stay aligned and tend
to come off when the tractor is turned. As a result, the
idler flanges, roller flanges, and the sides of the sprocket
teeth wear down. A loose track will whip at high speeds,
damaging the carrier rollers and their supports. If loose
enough, the drive sprockets will jump teeth (slide over
the track bushings) when the tractor moves in reverse.
Should this happen, the sprocket and bushings will wear
rapidly.
NOTE: Checking and performing track adjust-
ments arc the opcrators responsibility.
Lubrication.
The track pins and bushings are
hardened and require no lubrication. Many roller idlers
arc equipped with lifetime seals that are filled during
assembly and require no lubrication. However, track
rollers, carrier rollers, and idlers equiped with grease
fittings must be lubricated on a schedule based on the
manufacturers specifications.
NOTE: Fittings should be cleaned before lubri-
cating to prevent forcing dirt and grime into the
bearings.
ATTACHMENTS
The most common type of dozer attachment is the
dozer blade, a heavy, rectangular steel blade, that is on
11-5