MF 200 Track Master link

Duetz Fan

New User
Well, I let the tracks get too loose & one came off. My Bad... I've located the master link pin / the ONE with the dimple... The question is, do you drive the pin out from the front/outside of the machine as your looking at the machine from the side or the rear/inside between the tracks or does it not make any difference...? Have 8 pound mallet & 50 pound anvil to put behind the chain to steady the chain for the shock/get effect from the hammer hit. I know i'm likely in for a tussle but it would be handy to know if it mattered wich way to drive the pin?
 
You shouldn"t have to brake your track to putt it back on. It was lose enough to come off so backing off your front idler and baring it back on should work. Have done it many times on my old D4. It my be hard to do but i think it it alot easier then braking the track and then trying to get it back together in line to pound that pin back in.
 
Never messed with the tracks on a machine like yours but talking about driving a master pin with an 8 lb sledge is wishful thinking at best. The smallest sledge I've ever managed to get one out, or in, with is a 10 lb and that's a very rare occurance. More typical is the one I put back in a repaired 953 CAT's track last week. It took a 16 lb and about 30 minutes of swinging it to get that pin back in. Just glad he had broken a link, and the pin was in the replacement link, so I didn't have to drive anything out.

That said, as Pete mentioned in his reply, if it was loose enough to come off then it should be loose enough to go back on, and if you back off the idler adjustment it will be even looser. Might be a PITA to get it back on that way, and there have been times when it simply can't be done due to where it got thrown, etc, etc. However, if you can get to it easily, especially if you have another machine and set of hands to help, it'll be alot easier than trying to break it. Good luck.
 
First, THANKS GUYS!!!!

OK, one should always consider heavily the advise of those who have done it before... Currently I can lift the machine. I have the front idler retracted ( this is a small machine kinda like a John Deere 1010 & short track with decent pins may be whats making it so tough?) I gave up for today, I'm getting old to be wrestling with tracks... I was cutting a swale & hit some rocks at a good sidehill tilt. The track that came off is thankfully on the uphill/easy to get to side. With the front idler retracted & a come-a-long pulling back on the top of the track there just ain't enough slack to pry it over the sprocket. Possibly I should be trying to pry it over the idler? Currently it's setting with the track on the front idler & lined up on the top & front 3 bottom rolls. Track off to the outside of the rear roll. Track pads resting on the sprocket/chain to the outside of the sprocket... I probably should be trying to pry it onto the idler? I think as I sit here catching my breath I may have answered my own question? Any helpful hints at trying to pry the track onto the idler from top or bottom? I'm thinking taking the track off the bottom of the idler, putting it fully on the rear sprocket, maybe lift the machine & try turning the tracks forward with the machine raised & MAYBE the track will roll into place on the front idler & with the machine dangling in the air as it rolls onto the front idler the bottom rolls will fall into place? Or should I avoid looking for help from the machine drive & just pry the track back on the idler by hand? I think I wrongly started with trying to put the track chain back on the sprocket cause that where it fell off & the track was on the front idler perfect.... Any helpful hints from having been there done that?
 
I also have a MF200B. Have you loosened the relief
plug on the hydraulic track adjuster. You should be able to push the idler in to get enough slack
to get the track back on (there should be grease come out of the plug, may have to take it all the way out). Even if you are trying to
get the pin out this will be necessary. You didn't indicate that this had been done. When the track is back on you will need to adjust the tension by pumping grease back in thru the Zerk fitting. I don't know what your experience is with this machine, I may be telling you things you already know.
 
I agree with getting some help and putting it back on without breaking the track. A pry bar or 2 and a come-a-long will be a big help. Put it on the sprocket first cause the track doesn't have to line with a tooth like the sprocket does. Putting a come-a-long to make sure the idler is as far back as will go will help too. If you can get a vehicle close to pull on track works as well.
 
Track ON & properly adjusted. Not ( Trying to ) removing the master link was a good idea. The track had come off at the sprocket/trying to put an unbroken chain back on at the sprocket was not my best idea albeit it looked easier with the chain still in place on the front of the machine... regrouping & prying the chain off the idler, putting it back on the sprocket first THEN prying it onto the idler was the ticket.. Never had one come off @ the sprocket before & being lazy & wanting to start there/at the sprocket was where I went wrong...
 

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