I am purchasing a case 1150 track loader from a friend. The machine is a 1972 model with only 300 hours on it. The right side track is loose and we can't get the adjuster to take grease. We have taken the zerk and check valve out they are both clear. When we took the check valve out some grease came out. Some of it was solidified. When we took it out the adjuster moved in slightly. But it won't take any grease. The grease gun just locks down. Any tips or tricks on this would be appreciated. Thanks
Sounds to be a locked piston in the adjuster. Time, water, dirt and corrosion take their toll on these where the seal ring takes a seat into a corrosion groove. May have to remove and disassemble it forcefully to get it functional or if can find a power pack hydraulic hand pump force it out further then use grease after cycling it both ways.
We are going to try a couple things tomorrow. Will take a porta power with us to try that. We got it to collapse a 1/4-1/2" when we took the check valve out. And we can't even get that much back out of it. It's almost like a blockage. One guy said to take a butane torch and heat it up to soften the old grease. (Try not to dance the seals) Ever heard of doing that? Hoping to get it operating without taking it off the machine. Thanks for the information
Maybe your check valve is stuck?? Turn the check assembly completely out (very carefully, making sure there isn't pressure in the cylinder) and hook your grease gun up to it. You should be able to pump grease through it. If not, the grease fitting could be bad, your coupler could be bad, or the check could be bad. I'd be making sure grease can get into the cylinder before I was convinced the ram was stuck.
A 1972 with only 300 hours??? I've heard of low hour machines but only 300 hours for a 40+ year old track loader is a little hard to believe.
We took the check valve and zerk out. Pumped grease freely through it and reinstalled it. Thought about installing a new check valve. But with it pumping freely while off I'm not sure that would do me any good. It was a military machine then in the forestry service. Hobbs meter says 300 hours. The under carriage and bucket look like new as far as wear goes. I've never seen anything from 72 with that little of time either! Lol
I just bought a JD 450B track loader with hoe with 909 hours on the meter, a 1973 model (some books show it as a 73, some as a 73). Right now in the shop for new undercarriage and steering clutches. Howard
Very low hour meter readings are usually a warning sign of goofy problems associated with sitting idle (like rusting, cracked rubber parts, yellowing glass, etc.). Almost any machine with moderate hours are ok, but might have a problem or two. Very high hour machines usually can have all sorts of problems from neglect, or look even better than lower hour machines, then sometimes not. I would never base a sale price / value on hour meter reading. I'd give them around a 10% influence on my decision. Paint, maybe another 10%. Missing parts are a biggie. Rust is another biggie. Broken frames / structures are deal breakers, unless dirt cheap or just for parts. Be careful so you don't become blinded by a low number.