track repair on 953

[Monte1255]

I've been reading the thread on the 977 vs. 973 and there seems to be a lot of talk about track replacement and after talking with the salesman from my local Cat dealer, I too was a bit dissapointed in the increase in track prices recently. One thought that I had was that maybe the increase in steel prices last year have a lot to do with this, Maybe as we have seen such a drop in the commodities lately and steel is no exception maybe we can wait it out a while and see...
my question is this though, My rails seem to be fine I have about one inch of rail surface left where it contacts the track carrier rollers and idlers but the pins could use a turning sometime in the next 500 hours or so.. would it for all practical purpuses suffice to buy just pins bushings and seals? (I have SALTS) and reuse the rails and pads? I fully intend to regrouser the pads I have, so how much is buying new rails and etc just salesman hype?
It would seem to me that buying just the pins and etc would be a lot more cost effective way to go in these times we're in now.
Any thoughts?:usa

[Gavin84w]

Get a complete measurement done by one of the dealers product support reps, it is free and he should be able to then show you how much wear what each part has. Work up your parts list and go from there, you will be able to make good decisions dollarwise when armed with a bit of info.

[tctractors]

Monte, stick with just having a turn pin and bush on the chains this will give it a good bit more life and not cost a stack, also fit new segments you might need a few new nuts and bolts, but dont be scared to re-use what you can, some times it pays to get every last drop out of what you have.

tctractors

[John B.]

Hello everybody, I'm new and have enjoyed reading this forum for a while. I also have a Cat. Mine is a 1991, 963. I'' trying to understand the earlier discussion a few topics down. My undercarriage is also well worn. The pins are really too far to turn now. I'm enjoying the unit as it is. The dirt on my personal landclearing project is easy to work and there are no rocks.

But the prices seem to be coming down on parts. I bought this 963 with the intention of using it until I'm done and then reconsigning it. But with the falloff in the economy. Would it be a good idea to replace the undercarriage now? Protect myself from the worn 90% gone tracks I've got now. And maybe make it up on the other side?

Can anybody help me with what a good strike price would be on the complete track replacement in this down market?

I've seen a set of new tracks, complete for $7,000 for that model 963. I would appreciate any opinions.

[DRESSTA1]

John B. There is a lot to consider with your questions. You have to consider the time frame when you bought your machine. What were the market conditions for used track loaders? What was your expectation of resale value when you bought it? Your thought was to reconsign it when finished. Did you have a target dollar amount you thought your machine would be worth when you were finished? I would look at auction results and check out machines that have sold with poor undercarriage and good undercarriage and I think that would help you determine if it is worth spending money on new undercarriage.

[John B.]

John B. There is a lot to consider with your questions. You have to consider the time frame when you bought your machine. What were the market conditions for used track loaders? What was your expectation of resale value when you bought it? Your thought was to reconsign it when finished. Did you have a target dollar amount you thought your machine would be worth when you were finished? I would look at auction results and check out machines that have sold with poor undercarriage and good undercarriage and I think that would help you determine if it is worth spending money on new undercarriage.

When I bought my machine last year there were nine 963's on the RB lot. The first 6 had newly rebuilt undercarriages and were various year models. Those went well into the mid 5 figures. The other 3 were slightly older with worn undercarriages. And were priced about $25K less.

My 963 drives evenly, starts right up, was a well maintained unit all around except for the undercarriage. It didn't get the Carolina Tractor facelift that the other mid-90's units got. With new tracks and rollers. The auction split in half just as the last 3 track loaders came up. and i ended up getting it for a reasonable $17K.

I could easily get my money's worth (or make money) by just using it like I am and reconsigning it. But as you all have mentioned before, one track breakdown changes that equation. So what I've done is go a little out of my way not to run over the felled trees and other obsticles I'm laying down. And just be kinder to the machine.

But having seen the downturn in the economy, and having a couple of years worth of work ahead (part-time clearing of this large track). I'm thinking out loud that a replacement set of tracks is the first step to an undercarriage rebuild. especially if I could cherry pick good deals (and I do need the CAT people to come out and do the measurements).

I'm also thinking that if the track is worn down to the bolts then the supporting undercarriage rollers, etc. in general is definately worn down too. But I'm a happy guy to have a machine with a well performing mechanical operation up top.

A complete track set for the 963 is sitting on pallets nearby for $7K. I was thinking that any complete undercarriage rebuild for less than 15K makes good sence. But I understand your point too about the economy. In two years maybe the 963's will be even less used because of this economy and price's for better units will have fallen to the point where I didn't spend smartly.

[Komatsu 150]

<<I'm also thinking that if the track is worn down to the bolts then the supporting undercarriage rollers, etc. in general is definately worn down too>>

Don't take that as a given. It's not at all uncommon to run the pads on two sets of rails. One thing that really bugs me is the track salesmen forever trying to sell me new pads.

[idler]

The way the economie is today, it will be very easy to find a set of used tracks, dirt cheap, Also if you are good welder, just weld a piece of flat bar on top of each shoe grouser, them just buy the rails and bolt and nuts.

[Bejennar]

Hi. I know this is an old thread but I'm new to the industry and having a similar issue. Did you buy the track bolts yourself and install, if so where from and how much did they cost? Or did you take it somewhere to get it fixed? Thanks, any help would be very much appreciated.

[wosama931b]

Hello Bejennar, I think a lot of people get new track with new grousers already put on, you can buy seperate, bolts, grousers, and track.
I want to do the same to, but i am not sure i can handel the track all together, If you have a machine to help it would be a lot off the old back.sam.

[Monte1255]

Since I started this thread I did go through with a track replacement and haven't looked back since. pretty easy swap too! Well at least it was for me anyway cuzz the track adjusters worked as they should have. Just laid out the new tracks and rails in front of the machine and unbolted the old set. drove right off the old onto the new and flipped the ends up with a skid loader. If you don't have a skid loader you can use a com-a-long and just pull them up that way. The price for complete set of pads and rails delivered was $4200 (three years ago)sprocket segs included. I know some would say it is best to put new links on new rollers, but for me...... well it just didn't make that much difference in my opinion as the rollers had a lot of life in them yet. I can't say here where I got the links from but I will say it was real reasonable and I've had zero problems with them so far and I've put close to 2500 hrs on them since installation. PM me if you wish to talk about it.

[John B.]

I'm almost there too. I found used, complete, Cat tracks off of a 963 that look great. From a machine that had a motor fire. Had them sent up from Alabama. They're sitting out in the yard in a good work place. All I need now is the knowhow to unbolt the old and do the job. When you unbolted the old track master link: I'm assuming you bolted the new track to the old mastr link an then rolled over and on the new?

Or did youactually just roll off and onto the new track?

[tctractors]

No body has put in any mention on the front idler bolting, there is the set back position for new track groups and the set forward position for half knackered chains, the bolt hole position is very important to get all the wear out of the tracks and to save shaft snapping, I do have some photos of it being done in shop talk.

[John B.]

On my 1990 963; 21z040: I'm having trouble picturing where the idler alternative bolting occurs. The yoke attachment to the shaft has bearings.

[Bejennar]

Hi, thanks for getting back to me.

Sounds like the way to go - can I ask if you've had issues with any of the track bolts since replacement? Cheers.