track press pics

[Lavoy]

I have been asked in the past to post track press pics, so finally got some done. The pics show MC/40 rails being rebushed.
The first two pics are of the link in the press, a new bushing on the installer, and ready to install.


This pic show the old bushing being removed, the new bushing being installed, and the old pin being removed

This pic shows the rebushed link with pin removed, and new bushing installed

This pic shows the stack of links as I disassemble the rail. After all of the links are rebushed, then I reverse the process, and put the rail back together one link at a time with new pins.


Often times people talk about making their own press to rebush rails. Not that it is impossible, but look at the thickness of the plate that is holding the link while rebushing. The pin receiver, and bushing receiver are bolted to a plate just as thick at the "saddle". Both of these are bolted to a cast iron bed that is 1"-2" thick and weighs several hundred pounds. The ram that is pushing the pins and bushings is running at 10,000PSI or more, and is rated at 60 tons. Not clearly shown in the pics are the shims that are installed in various places to adjust the tooling to compensate for wear in the link, and to keep the pad bolt spacing correct.
Hope you like the pics.
Lavoy

[JD440ICD2006]

Lavoy,

Thanks for posting those pics, I have always wanted to see a track press up close. Also, the various stages gives a good idea of how it happens.
I wish I could find a track press, I do not have plans to try to build one.

Chuck W.

[Lavoy]

They are around, you see them occasionally. The main problem is tooling, if it does not have the tooling you need, you are pretty much out of luck. I have tried for years to find HG/OC3 Oliver tooling to no avail. Even if they would still make me a set, last quote I got 10 years ago was $2500 minimum.
Lavoy

[Tigerhaze]

I saw a 60 ton track press on Ebay earlier this year for $1000. However I am not sure what kind of tooling, if any, it came with. You don't see them on there very often.

[Lavoy]

I think I saw that one too. Most of them will sell without tooling, that is the valuable part. Of the ones I have seen, almost never seen one with Deere tooling.
Lavoy

[Tiny Crawler]

Here is one that I saw on craigList and wondered if the tooling was included

http://rochester.craigslist.org/tls/1470711746.html

[Lavoy]

That is a master pin press only for splitting tracks, completely different animal from a track press.
Lavoy

[JD440ICD2006]

Yea, that would be a chunk of money for a machine that will only do what a "hot wrench" and a BFH (big freakin hammer) will do.

[Lavoy]

It think that is basically what WTC wants for a new one, maybe minus tooling. By comparison, last I knew, they wanted $49,500 for a new track press, minus tooling, and a host of other attachments I would bet.
Lavoy