Loose Track Pad Bolts/Won't tighten

Case450 · Apr 1, 2013

I found two pads on my 450 that are loose. I put the impact on it but they won"t turn at all. I just figured I"d blast "em with some wd40 adn then hit "em with the impact gun again.

Unless"n someone else has an idea. I"ll take "em.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 1, 2013

Heat the nut to about 250 degrees, then apply a beeswax candle so the wax wicks up (or down) the threads. Then try the impact, again.

Bill Lisbon · Apr 1, 2013

Cut the bolt off with a torch and replace the bolts. Sometimes the threads are so badly beat up you can never get them tight.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 1, 2013

Don't mess with the old track bolts. Get brand new track bolts and nuts and torque them to spec. If the pads have been loose for a while and the holes deformed at all, the pads may never stay tight.

Case450 · Apr 1, 2013

Just came back from the shop. The threads on the bolts on the one pad are wore out good. So i will be replacing them. I just happened to find four bolts and nuts in the parts room.

The other pad I put a cheater pipe on a socket and tightened those ones up.

I just have to figure out a way to get the old bolts off the bad pad. I dont have torches so might be spending an hour or so with the grinder.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 2, 2013

Did you use track bolts? You don't just put a snipe on a wrench and use standard bolts. You tighten to a lower torque (for the size of bolt) and then turn them an additional 1/4 to 1/2 a turn for proper final torque. A dealer or undercarriage shop will have the proper torque specs. Someone on here that does undercarriage probably knows as well.

Case450 · Apr 2, 2013

Yeah I installed brand new track bolts when I rebuilt the undercarriage years ago. Dont know why these two pads are loose. Its done, just gotta deal with it now.

NCWayne · Apr 2, 2013

I've only reused track pad bolts once and those were on a 977 and hadn't been in but a year or so before the owner needed alot more undercarriage work than just the pads he needed when he got it. Even then I was only able to use about 2/3 of them and had to cut and replace the rest. Like I said that was a one time thing, every other time you might as well plan to cut and replace all of them. That said I know everone else has stressed using the proper torque, but all I've ever done was tighten them with either my 3/4" or 1" drive impact, depending on the size of the bolt, and have never had one come loose. Beyond that, I haven't seen the Swench wrenches mentioned on here in awhile. If you don't have one, get yourself one. The 3/4" drive will give you 750 ftlbs or torque, and the 1" drive will give 2000 ftlbs of torque. That beats even my best IR impact and I've used mine to loosen or tighten some really problematic fasteners over the years.

mkirsch · Apr 2, 2013

No torches and WD-40 for a "penetrant." You couldn't have handicapped yourself any worse if you chopped your arms off.

I don't think you can effectively work on tracked equipment without a set of torches.

steve n carol · Apr 7, 2013

(quoted from post at 04:15:19 04/02/13) Yeah I installed brand new track bolts when I rebuilt the undercarriage years ago. Dont know why these two pads are loose. Its done, just gotta deal with it now.

Where are you located? I have a bunch of used track bolts and nuts if you want, for the cost of shipping. I also have some tall tanks, 100' of hoses and cutting torches I'd sell ya, at a fair price....sl, in Southern Cal.

Loose Track Pad Bolts/Won't tighten

Case450

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Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Bill Lisbon

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Anonymous-0

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Case450

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Anonymous-0

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Case450

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NCWayne

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mkirsch

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steve n carol

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