Kink in track link.

wolive1956

New User
I own a 1954 TD9. When I restored it I put a new undercarriage on it that was off another TD9 that I purchased just for the undercarriage. The track chain is in great shape, but a couple of the links have kinks in them, and are froze up solid. I took much time sandblasting and painting the chain, and the cleats seperately, then I replaced all the nuts and bolts with new ones. What I was wondering was what is the best way to break loose those froze up links. I thought of heating the link with my torch, but I was afraid I would take the temper out of the link. If anyone has any ideas, it would be greatly appreceiated. Thanks Eddie Olive
 
If you have access to a high pressure washer you can blast the rust out,do each link individually if the kink is catching the fenders beat it down with an heavy hammer and then run/work it and it will free up.
AJ
 
Park it in a puddle. Seriously. The water "softens" the rust, then work the crawler to shake the rust free/ clean the rust out. The other option is a track press. Push the pins out, then push them back in. A lot of work and not cheap. If your tracks are still "tight" enough to bind up, not loose and snaky, then they are worth taking care of. Now go use that crawler!
 
when mine freeze up and kink I soak the pin/bushing/ rail with loose juice for a few days and then beat straight with a sledge hammer--
after a few times and running it it will loosen up.
 
I too replaced my tracks with a 2nd td9. It had sat by the coast for decades I believe. Anyway, after trying all the below recommendations including beating on the track with a BFH & only succeeding in turning the bushing in the link I took a track to the local crawler dealer and he used a torch to cut the bushing lengthwise and then beat on it till free. Then I took it home and welded it up. About 5 of these and so far so good.
Your tracks may not be so bad and maybe one of the suggestions may work for you.
 
Run it on a hard surface like a hard packed gravel road. Make sure that the track is not too tight.
 

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