I am working on getting an old IH175C back to health. One area of concern is the tracks and the foot steering. This machine must have sat for a LONG time. The tracks are so stiff that they don't even sit on the idlers - the track stays suspended a couple inches above them (see attached). When driving the machine, the roll pins on the tracks move so badly that the ride is very rough even on flat terrain. In addition, when steering, sometimes the right side won't get power - not sure if this is related or not. So...what can be done to get these tracks moving nicely again? I've tried adding grease to the zerks to get them to the proper tension, but the zerks won't take grease. Next step is to try to add grease with the tracks suspended to see if that makes a difference, but the rollers are the real issue. Would maybe just getting some time on the machine loosen these up or is there some maintenance I need to do?
you can try spraying them with oil/ penetrating oil and just keep soaking them in hopes they loosen up.
The oil sure wouldn't hurt, but I think you're just going to have to run it a while and let them bend around and straighten and they will probably loosen up. Just remember to keep your teeth tightly clenched so they don't rattle out of your head.
Hi from down under My tip would be make 1 or 2 shallow troughs out of sheet plastic with a few short stakes to suport it or them fill with 6 inches of diesel , lower machine into them using the bucket let it soak for a few days then rotate track and same again then lift it out with the bucket and rotate tracks and repeat until it shows some signs of getting better cheers Malcolm
Use water not oil on the rails, will penetrate the rust easier and will work out faster. It was the source of the problem it can be the cure too.
Yair . . . 5030tinkerer. I agree with DMiller . Clattering back and forth through some puddle holes or a creek crossing should fix it . . .it could take a while, let it soak and then back and forth again, several hours and then again next day if needed. You are going to need to get those track adjusters working for I think if those tracks were flexing properly they would be far too slack. Keep us posted with progress. Cheers.
If you use diesel or oil, your tracks will free off then keep stretching. Mud, the wetter the better, and a sledgehammer for the tight pins. Hard work but it's the best in the long run.
Friend of mine lived against a slough on the Mississippi River, he would leave his old Deere crawlers sit for long periods where the rails would do that, he is the one that clued me into water fix. He would run the machines into the river then back on the bank and work hell out of them, worked everytime. He also would take frozen bolt/nut assemblies and throw them in a bucket of water, take them apart with hand tools after a few weeks.
That's incredible. I've give it a shot and report back! Thanks!!