PhilDirt
Well-Known Member
I was reading up on track bolts here last night and came across a post where someone recommended welding a track pad to it's link when the bolts wouldn't stay tight. Unfortunately I can't find the post now to link to it.
I'm in the process of replacing loose bolts in my 955L tracks. There are a few pads where all 4 bolts have come loose and the pad is free to move around. I'm expecting them to come loose again pretty soon because of the holes being worn oversize. The tracks are close to the end of their life, I'm just trying to get another 300 hours or so from them before I replace them, which means a year from now. It is reasonable to weld those few pads to their links after installing new bolts to get them to stay in place? I'd like to avoid replacing bolts on them in the middle of winter.
I'm using CAT bolts and nuts, and using the 135 ft/lbs - 120° turn to tighten them. Some stay tight, some don't. The tracks are OEM CAT that came on the machine in 1972. What material are the links made from and how are they heat treated? If I weld them, is it OK to use MIG with ER70S-6 wire, or do I need a stick electrode? can I weld them full length or should I just tack them with a few short welds?
I'm in the process of replacing loose bolts in my 955L tracks. There are a few pads where all 4 bolts have come loose and the pad is free to move around. I'm expecting them to come loose again pretty soon because of the holes being worn oversize. The tracks are close to the end of their life, I'm just trying to get another 300 hours or so from them before I replace them, which means a year from now. It is reasonable to weld those few pads to their links after installing new bolts to get them to stay in place? I'd like to avoid replacing bolts on them in the middle of winter.
I'm using CAT bolts and nuts, and using the 135 ft/lbs - 120° turn to tighten them. Some stay tight, some don't. The tracks are OEM CAT that came on the machine in 1972. What material are the links made from and how are they heat treated? If I weld them, is it OK to use MIG with ER70S-6 wire, or do I need a stick electrode? can I weld them full length or should I just tack them with a few short welds?