This is one of those times when I ask myself .... " what the heck were you thinking ? "
Eight years ago, I was having some trouble with the drive clutches slipping on one side of my Lindeman crawler so I tore it down and put in new steering clutch discs on both sides.
Now ( 8 years later ) I ask myself why didn't I replace the brake bands way back then when I had it all torn apart to change the clutch discs ?
At the time, I wasn't having any trouble with the steering brake bands and there was plenty of material left on the bands so I suppose that is why I didn't replace them then.
At any rate, the steering worked fine after I replaced the clutch packs.
However, this last summer, I have been having to pull back harder and harder on the steering levers to get the brake bands to grab and make the crawler turn.
Here it is all torn down with the rear sprocket and bull gear removed from one side.
![Image](https://images2.imgbox.com/1f/fe/2IEq5Llg_o.jpg)
Here is the sprocket assembly with the drum that the brake band rides on.
![Image](https://images2.imgbox.com/73/b0/BW2ozGgJ_o.jpg)
This is the steering clutch pack that the brake drum fits over.
![Image](https://images2.imgbox.com/a3/41/F2JOrFuN_o.jpg)
This is the brake band from this side.
As you can see, there is plenty of material still left on it.
However, if this is the original brake band material, it is 75 years old and it is as hard as a rock and glazed over so it has lost its gripping power.
I know that it looks like a rough service on the band but that is only because it is made out of a woven material.
The surface is smooth as can be.
![Image](https://images2.imgbox.com/cb/1b/jzDdWRES_o.jpg)
Here is the brake band with the new brake band material riveted to it.
![Image](https://images2.imgbox.com/89/05/ee8o0Va6_o.jpg)
The new brake band is assembled back into the housing.
This is as far as I got today.
![Image](https://images2.imgbox.com/79/77/0lGg0TbL_o.jpg)
The brake bands are replaced on both sides and the crawler is put back together.
The tracks are moved back in place and I'm getting ready to lower the front idler wheels down onto them.
![Image](https://images2.imgbox.com/d7/96/ph1fPINm_o.jpg)
The jack stands are taken out from under the back of the crawler and it is ready to lower the sprockets down onto the tracks.
![Image](https://images2.imgbox.com/ee/94/7p4Fxmu1_o.jpg)
Then the back part of the tracks are lifted up onto the rear sprockets.
![Image](https://images2.imgbox.com/54/d5/ydhJsc5M_o.jpg)
The front part of the track is brought up over the front idler wheel and pulled back on top of the 2x4 boards.
I had made up a track chain puller with a piece of angle iron that bolts to one end of the track and has a threaded rod and chain that hooks to the other end of the track.
![Image](https://images2.imgbox.com/3d/bc/veoxikxc_o.jpg)
Tightening the nut on the threaded rod, pulls the two ends of the track chain together so the pin can be slid into place.
![Image](https://images2.imgbox.com/d2/96/MSvzgagp_o.jpg)
With the pin in place, the puller is removed and the track is ready to have the pads bolted back on.
![Image](https://images2.imgbox.com/3b/86/Zx9Uia2H_o.jpg)