Tracks on a Bobcat 442

[mudnducs]

Hello gents. I very recently bought a used Bobcat 442 excavator....so far, so good. Plenty of power to do what I need, runs smooth, no leaks.

I'm trying to adjust the steel (not rubber) tracks and the owners manual is unclear about where to check it. If I lift the left side track off the deck there's about 3 inches of clearance in the middle of the track to the bottom roller...but the maunal seems to be saying I should check track clearance at the top roller...I'll NEVER get clearance there......

Any hints?


Thanks in advance guys.


mud

 

[mudnducs]

Is there a forum moderator that can move this thread to the correct (compact excavator) forum?

 

[cdm123]

Is there a forum moderator that can move this thread to the correct (compact excavator) forum?

bigger than a compact but not a 200 lol. my manual says lay a strait edge between the idler and rear drive you need 3/4 inch sag. there is a cover on the rail on each side with 2 bolts (takes a 9/16 wrench I think ) inside is a button head grease zerk to loosen tracks turn the zerk and release grease to tighten tracks pump grease in. I like to lift the machine with the bucket and spin the track then measure again after adjusting.

 

[mudnducs]

bigger than a compact but not a 200 lol. my manual says lay a strait edge between the idler and rear drive you need 3/4 inch sag. there is a cover on the rail on each side with 2 bolts (takes a 9/16 wrench I think ) inside is a button head grease zerk to loosen tracks turn the zerk and release grease to tighten tracks pump grease in. I like to lift the machine with the bucket and spin the track then measure again after adjusting.

Hey thanks!!!!!

 

[lumberjack]

3/4" of sag on steel tracks would be powerfully tight, about right on rubber tracks.

You'll want ~3" of sag between the rails and the middle roller. If there isn't a middle roller, use a straight edge between the two middle rollers ooor just eyeball it.

Loose is better than tight, at least until you walk the track off.

 

[cdm123]

I was going from memory so I rechecked and the manual says 7/8" or 20 mm.