'65 450C Track Pad Bolts - Reuseable??

Case450

Member
Attempting to split my track on my crawler loader. I removed the pad over the master pin so I could grind away all the weld to drive it out. So far, no luck in getting that pin out.

My question is, can the bolts I removed (I unbolted three pad bolts, the 4th I had to cut off) be re-used? For some reason I got it in my head that new has to be used.

Now I got the pad and welds grinded off I have to re-install the pad to drive the pin out as the link just spreads when I hit it with my 21 pound sledge hammer. I don"t want to swing that hammer anymore than I have too!
 
I don't believe they will stay tight, you'll likely toss that pad off somewhere, I would replace with new ones, and believe it or not, paint on part of these components can be problematic with pad bolts, if I recall, top of the track links ?
 
I've broken a lot of tracks over the years, and never replace the bolts unless I had to cut the old ones off. Many times, when your working on tracks, it's simply easier to cut the bolts than it is to fight one that had the head worn excessively, or one that has had the theeads damaged. For the cost (usually only a buck or two for both the bolt and nut), it's just not worth work 20 minutes at getting one out when the hot wrench will do the job in 2 minutes or less.

That said, I've been back on the same machines, and broken the tracks again years later for different reasons, and have yet to find a set of bolts that have worked themselves loose. That's not to say it can't happen, but if properly tightened (ie- hit them with a good impact gun and let it hammer until the bolt stops moving) you shouldn't have any problems.
 
Well I"m about 100 miles from the nearest case dealer and in my neck of the woods they are the only ones that have "em. I only asked because if I don"t have to burn the fuel to get new ones I"d rather not but since my final drive output shaft seal is leaking i"ll have to make the drive anyways. Mizel buy a box of "em so"s I don"t have this problem in the future.
 
Things will go easier if you've got someone holding a sledge against the track-chain on the opposite side -as you drive on that pin. Pretty hard to do just beating on the track without backing it up. Just wants to spread.

I can't say I ever came across a track bolt that would wrench off without stripping or breaking. But most I worked on were Deere and AC and were all grade 9 bolts and fine thread. (9/16"). That is - except for the old two-bolt pads on two-cylinder crawlers that had 5/8" bolts. Those often came loose on their own and we'd cut them off and replace.

Once I went to a track rebuilding place where the yard was full of tracks getting readied to be pin and bushed. Sealed tracks that needed all the bolts out. There were two very big guys there with a big mall and chisel and they were knocking the heads off of those bolts often with one or two swings. Can't say I was ever able to do it. I use a torch.

I recently needed all new bolts for my Allis HD4. Went to a local dealer who used to be Case industrial. He sold me Deere bolts and nuts for $1.50 each bolt & nut. 9/16" fine thread and super hard.
 
Ran a shop turning pins & bushings for years. Usually figured 1/2 set of bolts on most rails but never had problems using the bolt over it they had not already been ran loose. I think you will be alright using your bolts over.
 
You've got both sides on this one, its interesting, I've seen enough loose pads from it myself, just annoying when you lose a pad somwhere in deep muck which I have done before. I ran a D8K that started to have problems with loose pads and there was a full time company mechanic with a truck like NC Waynes, who also was of a similar background and he knew immediately what the problem was, as he did undercarriage work on it. Thankfully I did not lose any pads, but they were loose, you could move them by hand easily. Now this was a tractor that was working 6 days a week, so in your case, (no pun intended) would not hurt to try, but it sucks when you lose a pad and can't find it, you'll have to find a replacement and match the grouser height, so it would seem safer with new ones, but for limited, part time use, maybe it will hold longer.
 

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