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cat 312 steering problem

mitch504

mitch504

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Joined
Feb 27, 2010
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5,776
Location
Andrews SC
Oh BOY!! DOG PILE!!!!

I much prefer to diagnose correctly, but... most people don't.
You are both right, in other words.

Most machine owners would rather spend the day resealing the swivel and feeling like they were getting somewhere, rather than testing pressures and then fixing the problem. Most would feel like that was a big waste, particularly if it is the swivel.

If you reseal the swivel and it doesn't fix it, they seem to feel that is is ok, that's just how you fix stuff.
 
J

joeblow

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Jan 13, 2013
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238
Location
Victoria B.C.
Occupation
Retired
I used to pin one track( sprocket ) and lift the opposite side and apply pressure to the pinned side.If the track in the air moves then it is the manifold. I would also test the propel motors by pinning both tracks and remove the case drain going back to the tank from the rotary manifold.Apply pressure to each side and check for leakage at the case drain,. If oil comes out of there like a fire hose then one or both motors is pooched.
 
Nige

Nige

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Joined
Jun 22, 2011
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29,348
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G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
Cmark said:
Look, there's every chance that you're right but rather than encourage someone to spend $250 on parts and spend a day frigging about resealing the swivel, which, let's face it isn't a walk in the park, my own personal preference would be to encourage him to spend $150 on a pressure gauge and adapter and troubleshoot it properly. Teach a man to fish and all that.

And before we get into a pile-on, Nige knows me well enough to know that I'm not trying to start an argument, just put forward an alternative point of view. Rational comments are welcome......
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No offence intended or taken.

I was simply thinking of the OP's situation & possible lack of resources but in the strict sense of the word CMark is right in his thinking that the more correct way of diagnosing is to test the system and work to the root cause by a process of elimination. If the root cause is the swivel then so be it, but at least before tearing into it the finger would be firmly pointed in that direction as the culprit.
 
Dave Neubert

Dave Neubert

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Jul 18, 2018
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Monroe NC
At 8000 hrs my thinking is the swivel will not be in to good of shape so I would just do it anyway. It not that big of a job
 
John C.

John C.

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Jun 11, 2007
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Northwest
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This comes down to personal preference informed by experience. If you have worked on a lot of these and established a history of bad swivel seals, you likely just take the short road and chance changing the swivel seals. If it works, you are a hero. If not, you start again doing as CMark has stated.
 
Mobiltech

Mobiltech

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Jan 14, 2014
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1,697
Location
Sask.
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Self employed Heavy duty mechanic
If you want to go halfway on the swivel test I do it by temp rise in the system.
Start the machine cold and block the tracks however you like. Hold the travel control on for a few minutes then shut the machine down and do a temp check. If you have a buddy you can test while it’s running. If it’s leaking at the swivel the swivel will be warmer than the travel motors are . If it’s leaking on a motor case drain the case drain line will be warm. If it’s a crossover valve it will be warmer than the rest of the system. It’s not a perfect science but it costs nothing and takes very little time. Sometimes you will even hear it hissing at the swivel if it’s bad and you listen close.
 
Tyler d4c

Tyler d4c

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Joined
Mar 2, 2016
Messages
1,826
Location
Salix Pa
John C. said:
This comes down to personal preference informed by experience. If you have worked on a lot of these and established a history of bad swivel seals, you likely just take the short road and chance changing the swivel seals. If it works, you are a hero. If not, you start again doing as CMark has stated.
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If these cats have a history of this yours had the seals totally gone like they where never there
 
J

Jeff Ski

Member
Joined
May 1, 2017
Messages
7
Location
Tonawanda, NY
Good afternoon folks, I'm have the same issue on my unit, serial # 6BL00625. Was wondering if someone could point me in the direction of the swivel rebuild parts and procedure. Thanks in advance!!!
 
T

TVA

Senior Member
Joined
May 14, 2018
Messages
2,245
Location
USA
Jeff Ski said:
Good afternoon folks, I'm have the same issue on my unit, serial # 6BL00625. Was wondering if someone could point me in the direction of the swivel rebuild parts and procedure. Thanks in advance!!!
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If you will have troubles with parts but can measure grooves and come up with the seal sizes - you can contact Hercules Sealing Products about purchasing them.
That’s what I do when messing with Altec bucket truck center pivots. Altec has ridiculous lead time ( probably not that ridiculous these days ), and I get my seals from Hercules within 2 days and made out of better materials ( bronze impregnated PTFE) and for the same price as Altec. Although I have to order non standard size seals to manufacture for me.
 
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