gasifier
Well-Known Member
Is there actually a grease zerk? Never greased a seat before. Sorry for my inexperience. LOLGrease it.
Is there actually a grease zerk? Never greased a seat before. Sorry for my inexperience. LOLGrease it.
My C model, and the B model that I had prior, does not have grease fitting for the swivel of the seat. I use PB blaster on the seat rails (the part that allows the seat to move fore and aft). I have never had any issues with the swivel.
I have a 426 that is probably 3 or 4 years older than yours. I cleaned lubed and got my seat in working order. I attached a couple pictures of the swivel mechanism from mine. I figure yours is probably very similar.
These are from underneath. The swivel is basically two plates with a bolt.
View attachment 251325 View attachment 251326
Maybe a dry silicone spray lube would be the right thing.? I’m sure that’s what the O&M manual recommends for seat mechanisms, door locks, etc.Before you go using anything like that, it is important to note that this is a very dusty environment. If you lubricate with any oil based product it will collect dust and dirt and require constant lubrication.
I'm fairly certain that there are ball bearings for the swivel action between those (2) plates. If you can separate them and clean the surfaces out, that might be all it takes (unless the issue is in the locking mechanism).
I mentioned using the PB Blaster for my C model seat...Before you go using anything like that, it is important to note that this is a very dusty environment. If you lubricate with any oil based product it will collect dust and dirt and require constant lubrication.
Oil requirements are called out in the manual. Since your machine was made so long ago it is likely that those specs have been superseded by newer spec oil. Sometimes this is because of the evolution of the product (different requirements of the newer engines or other components), and sometimes it is because they oil MFRs have upgraded their product. A call to the dealer might be in order to find out what is currently recommended for the individual compartments of your machine. There has also been a lot of information about oils (I think there has even been a discussion about TSC oils, etc.) on the HEF site. Do a search.The closest CAT dealer is 122 miles away. I was hoping I could use NAPA or Tractor Supply brand. Will it work? Should. Right? Not a good idea?
I would guess that most name brand oils will work in your engine. I'm not sure if 10w/30 is the best for your conditions. I have always used 15w/40 (>13k hours on my 416c so far- with religious 250 hr intervals) but I am not in your area.I just got back from a dealer in Canton, NY. Cazenovia Equipment (used to be Laberge and Curtis) has always been good with hydraulic repairs. I decided the 20 minute drive will be worth it. Plus there is a little store that has great breakfast Puzza on the way! LOl. I have had them do many repairs for me over the last 25 years. They made me up a new hydraulic line View attachment 251609 and looked up the Caterpillar specs and cross referenced to what they sell.
View attachment 251610
This is what they say will work well. They said a local company uses this in their Caterpillar Wheel loaders as well.
I would guess that most name brand oils will work in your engine. I'm not sure if 10w/30 is the best for your conditions. I have always used 15w/40 (>13k hours on my 416c so far- with religious 250 hr intervals) but I am not in your area.
That being said, there is a certain John Deere oil (maybe 303 (?) engineered a long time ago for Deere engines of that era) that has born a lot of lawsuits over engine failures attributed to that oil (Or so I have heard). If inclined, here is a link to a YouTube video:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwi57LDgv6L1AhX8GDQIHe0UBTMQwqsBegQIAxAB&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN72Peg0z4s&usg=AOvVaw19Dqvko3ZvHazcG70P0x0t
Some NAPAs make hoses but ask around to find out who does hoses in your area. NAPA stores typically do not do a very good job. I bought my oil at the Cat. dealer. I was looking to see what meets Cat spec at Tractor Supply, O'Reilly's or Advance Auto. Only 1 of them carried some Cat spec and it was the same price as Cat branded fluid. If you lost enough fluid that stuff stopped working you will need a couple pails at least. I think the machine holds 12 gallons or more.