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Cat 977L

ChrisUK

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2020
Messages
129
Location
England
Quite a productive day today with the 977L. Trial fit of track guard covers and our first ever go at line boring with the home made rig.
Trial and error with speeds and feed and we broke a few cutting tips to start with.
Had to reinforce the bracing a bit too with anything to hand.
One down, seven more to go !
Cheers Chris.
AD06FCE5-781E-461A-AFC0-00F8BCCA8F1B.jpeg 84A7EA98-32BD-49AF-BBA7-64F340847ABF.jpeg 2C80BBF8-EF9D-4366-A11E-D7F6C0FC5274.jpeg
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,424
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Was just contemplating this very subject. What I have used in the past on some tractor pivots as Schedule 40 or 80 pipe for wall thickness, cut or have cut the outer Diameter to fit new bore, weld in place with point Welds not full circumference, then cut to fit desired pin AFTER all set and cooled.
 

ChrisUK

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2020
Messages
129
Location
England
Still working at the 977, have managed to straighten the bucket clam side as it was bent in at the top on the right hand side, possibly due to a previous repair / welding. We braced it with some heavy angle and used chain type load binders to tension it up along with serious heat.
Track covers are still progressing, albeit slowly as I find metal work frustrating lol.
Hopefully back on with the rest of the line boring next week too so that should have the bucket sorted out nicely. Cheers. Chris.
9C30D139-2FED-4B52-A588-65A0BB8D1EC6.jpeg A2A00414-6E40-4315-932D-87B6030F66B4.jpeg FF89D0EB-0DE3-4FD6-AC38-FC35DE1D4A7D.jpeg 0C014BA0-D634-455F-B536-46A36AE45068.jpeg
 

ChrisUK

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2020
Messages
129
Location
England
Yesterday finished off the line boring on the bucket clam pivot points, the last one broke a few inserts as the cast steel piece seemed to have some nasty hard pieces in there, not sure if it’s been built up with weld in the past.
Have found some pins to suit so will machine these down to suit the bore diameter then that will give me the internal diameter of the bushings I need for the back of the bucket where it attaches. Still got a way to go but felt good to get all the boring gear cut off. A good day, cheers
Chris. F90DBD0A-7F96-4C72-B7AA-DB6BB5B7BD5A.jpegAC026291-04F0-4438-B5C0-79F458C21545.jpeg71A71455-F898-48C8-A32B-87DB19A4C1F5.jpeg
 

Rigidarm

Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2021
Messages
18
Location
Stockton, Ca
Sure look
Yesterday finished off the line boring on the bucket clam pivot points, the last one broke a few inserts as the cast steel piece seemed to have some nasty hard pieces in there, not sure if it’s been built up with weld in the past.
Have found some pins to suit so will machine these down to suit the bore diameter then that will give me the internal diameter of the bushings I need for the back of the bucket where it attaches. Still got a way to go but felt good to get all the boring gear cut off. A good day, cheers
Chris. View attachment 260972View attachment 260973View attachment 260974
Sure looks like weld material in the pic but being a die maker I can attest to how hard work hardened steel can become. I have had to sometimes hone with milling. I will finally begin my 977k next week. I have a retired Cat mechanic with lots of 977 experience to lead the way. I was going to buy a new D6 but they are a year out and none are available in USA. So it’s 977 time…. Wouldn’t mind a pull of that sandwich there mate.
 
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