Whats wrong with my top roller?

[OzDozer]

The top rollers are correctly termed "carrier rollers" or "support rollers". There are at least 4 different part numbers for the carrier rollers, depending on tractor serial number, so you need to produce your tractor serial number to get the correct carrier rollers.

CARRIER ROLLER D41S-3 S/N 6001-UP Komatsu Part catalog

k-part.777parts.org

When you've found your S/N and the correct roller P/N from the above link, then try a search using the P/N, prefixed by "Komatsu".
Sometimes you get better search results, searching "images", instead of text results.

You could try calling Costex, they specialise in cheap Chinese products which will be just fine for your needs.
Otherwise, try Machinery Trader or Rock and Dirt, and search for Komatsu D41S's being parted out, or for used carrier rollers for the D41S.

Carrier rollers only carry low loads - you can even use blocks of hardwood as top support for the track chain!

Trim the bottom roller flanges that are hitting the pin bosses, with the gas axe - install 4 new or used carrier rollers, and you'll get several years farm use out of that worn undercarriage.

 

[Shimmy1]

Why doesn't anyone mention Heavyquip??

 

[OzDozer]

Because it's hard to think of a complete list of suppliers off the top of your head! - and Komatsu spares are not as easily sourced, as say Cat, or JD spares.

 

[Welder Dave]

Don't take the grease fitting out of the track adjuster. There is likely something else to loosen. It should say in the manual if you have one. If you don't have a manual someone familiar with Komatsu should be able to tell you how to loosen the tracks and adjust them. There's a lot of pressure so you want to know the proper procedure.

 

[OzDozer]

The track adjuster on Komatsu machine operates in a similar manner to Cat track adjusters.
There is screw-in fitting with a grease zerk screwed into the top of it - and this screw-in fitting has a groove machined into it for grease pressure relief when the fitting is unscrewed.

Komatsu warn you, NOT TO UNSCREW THE GREASE ADJUSTER MORE THAN ONE FULL TURN.
One full turn of the nut is enough to expose the groove to release the grease (and the track tension) - under normal circumstances.

Any further unscrewing of the track adjuster fitting exposes you to the danger of the fitting being expelled with great force, and possibly causing injury to you.

However, nothing ever stays "normal" with undercarriage - that mostly operates in dirt, mud, salt, and water - and corrosion is ever-present in most undercarriage systems.
As a result, the track adjusting mechanism cylinder (and other track idler components) can become corroded and can often fail to move back in, when the grease pressure is released.

You can try inserting a large diameter pin or bar (an old track pin is ideal) into the top teeth of the sprocket, and then drive backwards a little to see if the idler is moving back, and if the track adjuster has moved back in, and is releasing pressure on the track.

Don't mistake track recoil spring compression for track adjuster movement. If you drive the tractor forward again, and release the pin pressure on the track - and the idler moves forward again - then, all that has happened, is the track recoil spring was compressed, and the track adjuster didn't move back as required.

If the latter happens, then work will be required on the track adjuster to remove corrosion, and to free it up, so it can move back in freely.

 

[Voodooburner]

Don't take the grease fitting out of the track adjuster. There is likely something else to loosen. It should say in the manual if you have one. If you don't have a manual someone familiar with Komatsu should be able to tell you how to loosen the tracks and adjust them. There's a lot of pressure so you want to know the proper procedure.

I have the repair manual, will check it out today along with getting serial numbers

 

[1693TA]

Trim the bottom roller flanges that are hitting the pin bosses, with the gas axe - install 4 new or used carrier rollers, and you'll get several years farm use out of that worn undercarriage

Now deceased uncle and I made a little machine, (portable lathe) to do exactly this while the rollers were still mounted onto the tractor. Once anchored and set up correctly, it worked well and was very accurate if the bearings were good in the rollers. Much more accurate than a "gas axe" even with bad bearings.

Unfortunately, it burnt up in the shop fire caused by human error and laziness involving hot coals following his stroke, and subsequent death. His widow had an iron and metal "recycler" come in and wholesale scap the contents, and another demolish the building.

I bring this up as a machine shop specializing more in repair rather than production could easily fabricate you something like this pretty easily. We sourced most materials from McMaster-Carr at the time except the little right angle gear motor that drove the unit. That was a 90VDC unit I made from another machine tool to vary the speed. A fixed gear 120VAC motor turning at a constant speed would work acceptably well also albeit slower.

For the usage I read into your postings, this may be a cost effective way to extend the use of your tractor. If something is not done pretty soon you are going to start throwing track and that's a whole lot of fun in the mud to deal with.

I've not been around Komatsu much myself, but parts required were easily sourced through Roland Equipment in Springfield, IL. They now have a Peoria, IL location but I've not been there.

 

[ps66x4]

I have the same machine. The undercarriage is pretty much the same shape. So I'm interested in this thread. I Did replace the right side grease fitting after I took the pressure off the adjuster using a pair of comalongs attached to the tracks and the pat blade. My track was sagging alot probably had no grease anyway. But I was cautious of something bad happening.

 

[ps66x4]

Same tractor but with a 6 way blade.

 

[SterlingR]

Is this a production machine or something that will get very little use, like around a farm?

 

[Welder Dave]

Already mentioned it's a farm machine and won't see a lot of hours.

 

[Voodooburner]

Serial number 6281.

 

[OzDozer]

In that case, your roller part number is 131-30-00316, for machines from S/N 6171-up.

They shouldn't be too hard to source, the same roller fits at least 25 different Komatsu models.

 

[Voodooburner]

is that the bottom roller? One parts guy said there is sing and double flange rollers for this machine never mind top roller, thnks

 

[OzDozer]

If you click on the link I provided in post #41 above, you will see 131-30-00316 is the carrier (top) roller, and an exploded parts diagram is shown on that page as well.

Yes, the bottom rollers comprise alternating single flange and double flange rollers, but in your case your top roller is single inside flange.

 

[Voodooburner]

carrier rollers are on the way, I can replace all 10 bottom rollers for 3500 ish dollars. Going to get the top ones in, tracks adjusted and see where it stands first.

 

[Welder Dave]

Where are the rollers coming from? $350 each for bottom rollers seems high to me.

 

[Voodooburner]

Where are the rollers coming from? $350 each for bottom rollers seems high to me.

That was AMS. Trek will not sell to me I must use their dealer network

 

[Welder Dave]

I'd look around. The roller price is pretty high.

 

[OzDozer]

IMO, the roller price isn't that high, undercarriage prices have been going up steadily in recent times with high iron and steel prices. Bought any steel recently? The price of steel sections and plate is unbelievable.