(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

crawler pulls to one side

F

fixerupper

Well-known Member
This 'crawler' is a military M4 High Speed Tractor that wants to drift to the right when we drive it down the road. It has full tracks that are the same as what the the Sherman Tank has with rubber pads. The steering is brake steering only with no individual clutches and it's steered by individual levers. It does not appear to be dragging on the right side, but it does gradually drift that way constantly. I know nothing about the characteristics of how a crawler is supposed to act or why it acts the way it does. So the question is what could cause it to want to drift to one side? When I take it down a gravel road I try to stay on the left side so the crown of the road helps me stay straight and if there's enough slope to the left it will run straight. That's about it. If you have any questions I'll try to explain things a bit better. Thanks, Jim
 
On a JD 420 the front idlers need to be in the center of the track or it will pull over like that. Look thru the space between the pads. The JD has a rib on the front idler. Adjust the front idler springs if it has any.
 
Forgot to mention the drive sprockets are in the front. The engine sits mid-ship facing backward with the flywheel pointing to the front and it drives a transaxle in the front that pulls the track. If one track is looser I assume that's the lazy one that pulls slower, so maybe the right one is looser since it drifts to the right. Thanks for the suggestion. Jim
 
With that type of drive and no steering clutches for a positive drive they are just like a little Case 310 or oliver crawler they will not stay in a straight line as they will drift one way or the other in this case maybe due to the crown of the road . Spent many ah day cultivating potatoes with a Oliver OC3 with ft. mount cultivators and one thing you had to stay with it as it would drift one way or the other and god help ya if ya plowed up taters .
 
One track being looser won't make it pull to one side. The sprockets should still be turning at the same RPM. The crown on the road, maybe one brake slightly dragging or more dirt packed on one side might cause it to not track in a straight line but just a looser track on one side won't cause it. If one track/sprocket is worn more might cause it though.
 
Your opinion of track tension is kind of what I'm thinking. The tracks are squeaky clean. Never been in mud since I restored it last year. Only reasoning I can come up with concerning track tension is if one is a lot tighter and it pulls a little harder. If I drive up the center of the road it pulls to the right and even driving left of center it will still pull right a bit if the slope to the left isn't much. This beast sat for maybe 15 years before I got to working on it so I obviously don't know how it drove before it was parked. The brakes run in oil so to steer it I have to pull on the lever with two hands to get any action and then a few seconds later it steers easy as the oil in the brake gets hot. It uses 50w non-synthetic oil in the transaxle. If it had synthetic oil in the tranny steering would be next to impossible. Jim
 
From what I hear, it must have a diff and brakes to steer.
That said any extra load on one track will make that happen.
Jack it up so tracks clear the ground and see how even the tracks turn. If you have a real slow side, run it a while then shut down and feel all bearings of the track components. The problem will be hot.
Later Bob
 
Maybe someone will correct me but if I remember right all those I ever drove were not the best running things. The way the drive is set up the power will always go to the track with the lest resistance.. I guess what I am saying is you may be chasing something you will never catch... Good luck and post your findings.
 
Just like driving you car or truck...you got to keep steering or you will run off the road. Holding the wheel still won't make you go straight!
 
MY TD9 pulled to the right constantly right after I put a fairly new left side track on it, figuring I would do the other side later. Soon as I replaced the right side too it straigtened right out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Oliver OC-3 crawler
2
Replies
27
Views
3K
mudmuckgrease
M
F
Massey 253 steering has gone nuts!
Replies
11
Views
250
f350ctd
F
hdokes
'60 D6b steering issues
Replies
8
Views
540
hdokes
hdokes
A
420c crawler
Replies
2
Views
634
a49deere
A
T
2005 JD 655 steering issue
Replies
2
Views
180
Tommyspell
T
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top