D-2 Steering Clutch difficulty

sflem849

Well-known Member
How hard/long of a project is it to R&R the steering clutches on an older D-2? A friend of mine has a gas start D-2 that has steering problems. It has been parked for 10+ years because of the problems. He seems to think it is a tough project to tackle. I offered to help him if it is something we can tackle at home. Will he go broke buying parts?
Thanks for the help.
 
I checked into this for a friend a few years back. To remove the steering clutches, break the track and go in behind the sprocket. It can be a major effort without the right tools and hoist. Most Cat dealers will loan specialty tools if they have them. Dealer will also have a Adobe file of the service manual. We have not tackled this on his machine.
 
to start off plug the drain hole at he bottom of the steering clutch chamber and st least 1/2 fill it with loose juice of your choice, many use diesel fuel with or without ATF added. It would be great if you have a month or so to run it around and really put a load on that clutch with the handle in the release position. It may or not break loose. The problem with pulling the final drive is that the brake drum has to slide off the clutch discs and that is usually solid rust. Many have to break the brake drum to get it apart.Used drums are available and used and new discs are available.
 
As stated above if the steering clutch is stuck you should exhaust every Possibility of getting it free'ed up without tearing into the Cat. If you can get it broke loose it will be just as good and last just as long as if you tore it down and a lot less expensive.

Loose juice is good but my method will not work with the loose juice in there. First adjust the free play out completely, run the Cat back and forth while riding the brake to heat the drum with the clutch released as far as it will go. I have had success with this method but it may be somewhat controversial.

If the problem is a failed throwout bearing it will have to come apart. This involves breaking the track, removing seat and fenders and jacking the Cat up off the pivot shaft and removing the final drive. You don't have to pull the sprocket but there is a lot of heavy jacking and lifting involved and be prepared to spend a lot of money on parts
 
Why do they freeze? This one worked and then started working less and less as time went by. They said after a while you had to use the brakes to help you steer. Not sure what diagnosis that this leads to. Hopefully it helps. Let me know if you need any extra info.
 
they freeze up from rust expanding the metal clutch plates--thus swelling up and taking out all the free play. If you are not running in water it is a good idea to remove the bottom drain plug and drain any water that has seeped into the clutch compartment.
Brake pressure is usually always needed to steer a dozer but not excessive pressure.
As stated if the throwout bearing failed then it will have to come apart to fix.
 

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