The hard bar versus spring question posted by Nutwood got me to thinking. If the transverse spring a D4D has under the engine and setting on both track frames is the same setup as what he was asking about, how bad is it that the spring ends are worn to a thin edge? Shims have been inserted to make up for the lost thickness. Standing behind the machine the tracks seem to toe in slightly at the front. Could be the result of the tracks being beyond worn out......
Spring has nothing to do with the toe in. They float in the ends. Thin springs are just getting close to breaking. Happens occasionally on well used machines. Best to replace it when you can still pick when.
RE the toe-in; just an observation. The thin spring ends though, reading through Nutwood's post and responses he recieved got me to thinking about a question I had concerning the condition of my machines spring. Not understanding exactly the springs function, how critical condition was and the potential for mischief the wear presented I figured I'd ask the question. If thin to the point it does break... what exactly does the machine look like with a broken spring end? Does it rest on the "snubbers", listing to one side like a car with a broken front coil where you might still be able to limp it home? Or does everything go to hell in a hand basket like a broken main leaf on the rear of the same car where the rear skews, you wreck yanking brake lines and driveshaft, punching a hole in the gas tank, bending shocks and crunching the quarter panel?
If that's a standard D4D with nosecone rams the front will rest on the rams , you try to lift blade motor end goes down , use down pressure , motor goes up . Both times blade stays in same place , its better you choose when the repair is done rather than the dozer as I can promise you it will brake when the dozer is knee deep in mud requiring recovery by another .