I am replacing my track rails (chains) on a link belt LS 3400 the plates are still in great shape . What is the best way to cut off the old bolts? New bolts came with the new rails. I hear that everyone cuts them off with a gas cutting torch. Why do people not use a plasma cutter? Would that be better? Also my smith torch seems to be too big. What size gas torch would be best to use the cut the heads off the plate bolts?
You could cut the nut's off in the rail links .That way you don't have to worry about cutting pad's if your torch is that big it shouldn't be a problem. A plasma doesn't work very good for rusty steel.
Great. thanks !
Have you tried taking the old bolts out? On that size machine, aren't the bolts like ⅝"? Get a good ¾" impact and someone to help. A good sized pry bar works best to hold the nuts. You might have to grind a little off around a good impact socket to fit in between the bars on the pad.
We just use an impact to take track bolts off, sometimes we have to use a torch on an individual bolt but very seldom. If the pads are in good enough shape to put on the new rails why won't they come with an impact?
Usually on old excavators the fasteners are rusted so bad and the heads of the bolts worn so much that there is no other way but using the hot wrench. A socket gets ruined pretty quick and if the bolt does come loose at first it still gets bound up when the exposed threads start to come apart inside the nut. Cutting the nuts is usually in the best way but uses a lot of gas. I have used a flushing tip on the torch to cut the bolt heads with pretty good luck.
Hey Woodsong if you have a good compressor and impact gun I'd go that route will be a lil faster. I prefer working alone or at least on my own section find a bar or cut peace of steel that fits snug between nut and rail the nuts usally are designed to hold them self if you hold them up. If not tip track on its side bock under the rails and cut the nuts I use a 3 or 5 tip 7 and 70 psi works good in a few seconds the nut is glowing cut side of nut alil let off the air for a second to let bolt warm up then pass right threw. Good luck
If the bolt heads are in decent shape, we used to use a 1" impact with reducer and a handful of decent quality impact sockets, but don't try to take them out, turn to tighten. They snap off pretty easy and turning the heads will loosen them in the track shoes for easy removal. YMMV