Possible trouble in chain case on 1845C

[69zfarmer]

I just bought a 96 with 3,200 hrs on clock.I am in the process of checking it out changing oil and filters etc.I pulled the left side chain inspection covers off and it had probally 8 gals. of very heavy grease in it it took 2 hrs. for it to drain it was so heavy.I know it is supposed to be 10w-30.What leaks or whatever could they be trying to cover up by using this much of the wrong fluid or grease in this case?I need to flush out chain compartment before it put new oil in it.What could i use to flush?The right side has the right thin fluid and correct level.

 

[bill onthehill]

Sounds like the old 00 grease to quiet things down trick. I would try adding a round of gear oil and run it a bit before making the abrupt change to 30 wt oil. how much slop is in the chain. they may have been trying to keep it from slapping so hard.

 

[gggraham]

Those chain cases were bad for getting moisture in from the covers. Was the oil milky white/ light brown colored and very thick? If so it's not a big deal probably just water from a cover...seen that many times on these units. As far as looking like gear oil, you'll notice that the center cluster shaft has a grease fitting. Some people go nuts and put 10 or 15 shots of grease in that thing once a week. All that grease ends up in the chain case again no big deal. As far as cleaning them out if it's that bad power washer works, nothing in there to hurt just chains and sprockets. The center cluster does have a needle bearing but the water will disperse from there just grease it then wipe out any water left in the case. When you change the oil put an extra jug in for the price of the oil. We always add a bit more keeps the chains running in oil no matter what angle you run the machine.
If you don't find any metal in the chain case you're probably OK, make sure the chains have some deflection 1 to 1 1/2". Not too tight and not too loose...

 

[69zfarmer]

I have found a couple of needles in the oil.How do i check the cluster needle bearings?

 

[Hardline]

How big were the rollers? It could be from an old repair that they did not clean out the chain case well. There should be about 2 gallons of oil in it. I would say that if it was grey in color it was mixed with water. Check all 4 of the case cover gaskets. The only oil that could mix with it would be if a drive motor was leaking into the chain case. JJ

 

[gggraham]

Seen a lot of machine repaired but not cleaned out thoroughly. The only way to check the cluster is to remove the shaft. I done this with chains in place as long as they are not over tightened. Remove the inner cap item #22. Watch you don't lose the washer from the end of the shaft item #24. The caps fit pretty snug . Then remove the nuts that hold the shaft #20 and pull it back about half way..don't completely remove it. If the bearing is bad the shaft will be scored and you'll see needles missing from the bearing. If all seems well slide the shaft back in, put the washer on the shaft and put the inside cover back on. The gaskets here are pretty thick and usually reseal fine. If it peeled them back slightly a bit of silicone sealant on them will work fine.

 

[69zfarmer]

Ok i am into this thing and i am finding 4 or 5 needles so i want to check cluster shaft#20 and bearings holding it.I want to pull it out like you told me gggraham.The washers you told me about are they #24 and are they inside chain compartment on outside behing gasket?Please tell me they are on the outside.If they are inside how in the he double hockey sticks would you get to them?I guess you would have to roll the ROP's away like the owners manual says.So if the washers are on the outside when i pull the shaft#20 what keeps sprocket assy.#25 from falling down?And tell me again how would you get to it?

 

[69zfarmer]

One other problem this thing may turn out to be a basket case like the Super k on backhoe forum.I dug string and small rope out of the axles behind the 2 wheels for a hour now it is leaking so i will need to change the seals.Can i leave sprockets and chain and pull axle or will i have to take chain apart?I also have a pretty bad hydraulic fluid leak below my feet around drive motors somewhere but that will be looked at after i fix the drive chain compontents.

 

[Hardline]

One other problem this thing may turn out to be a basket case like the Super k on backhoe forum.I dug string and small rope out of the axles behind the 2 wheels for a hour now it is leaking so i will need to change the seals.Can i leave sprockets and chain and pull axle or will i have to take chain apart?I also have a pretty bad hydraulic fluid leak below my feet around drive motors somewhere but that will be looked at after i fix the drive chain compontents.

Remove the covers over the tops of the sprockets that are on top of the chain cases. There is a nut and washer on the back side of the sprocket that hold the sprockets onto the axle. After removing them you will be able to remove the bolts that hold the assembly to the outside of the chain case. Then just remove the axles and replace the seal. The string in the hubs are pretty common on skid steers. JJ

 

[adam.neusbaum]

My Right hand controls are very limited, a terrible chain dragging over metal sound when I'm using the RH control lever to steer. This morning I removed the front axle and hub assembly to see that the splines are great on both the sprocket and axle. Tonight I removed the back axle assembly and they also look fine. Could the stripped out clicking noise be from the Cluster sprockets or because the axle drive chains were extremely loose? I think they are all keyed & rotate together, it seems that if one of the little sprockets down there will rotate independantly then that's my problem solved because they should only move when the hydraulic pump rotates. Anyone ever see where a cluster sprocket has sheared its key?