1981 D3 C Crawler Steering Brake right side failed

I am new to this cat and had an hour of light brush work when all of a sudden the right steering brake stopped working altogether. Shortly after, I lost all power to the tracks. Upon checking fluids, the transmission was almost empty. Refilled and power to the tracks was back but no change to the steering .....I assumed the two would have been related. Since then, I've tightened the 9/16 hex in and backed off a turn, the pedal now has very little travel till it hits resistance but still no brake. I later found out that the "drain bolt" on the underside was removed and drained water etc out and was left out. I believe this is a 2 purpose bolt, a drain but more importantly, a brake band under support to keep the brake band from resting on the rotating p[arts and wearing out. Can anyone help? I was planning on removing top plate and checking for throw out actuation next.....Thanks for any help
 
do you have wet or dry steering clutches---the wet clutches do not have that bolt on the bottom holding the brake band up
 
I am pretty sure they are dry clutches as it does have the bolt on the bottom......I've yet to do this but a buddy said that brakes don't usually quit all of a sudden...I need to check for small sticks that may push up and block linkage travel....Ill check it out this week.



(quoted from post at 16:26:22 07/24/17) do you have wet or dry steering clutches---the wet clutches do not have that bolt on the bottom holding the brake band up
 
are you sure its a C model? I have a 1987 B model with oil steering clutches (pedal steer)--I believe C came out after the B models
 
Sounds like the clutches are not releasing and yes the release mechanism to the steering clutches comes from transmission oil pressure. On the side of the bevel gear housing if
you look at the tracks from the side near the sprocket you will see a small plug where you can connect a pressure gauge. When everything works like it should you will have
around 250 PSI give or take while the pedal on that side is applied. It takes 220 PSI to release the clutch plates, anything less you have no steering. Sometimes there is a problem
with the small control valves attached to the pedals below the floor plates... like a broken internal spring (worth $2.00). This can reduce or eliminate pressure to the clutch release
piston. If transmission pressure drops after you work the machine hard and the oil gets very thin (sign of a pressure leak or worn pump) you can get reduced or no steering
capacity after a while. Usually doing the pressure test I mentioned can solve the mystery.
 

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