Steering issue

[Bhale581]

450-C with wet clutches. Don’t have the serial on me right now. Trying to make sure my thinking is correct before I tear it down.

Having issues with one side steering. If I pull lever on left side the whole machine stops pulling sometimes like it binds up, if I let go of steering lever it will starting pulling both sides after a few seconds or if I drop it to neutral then back into gear it will start pulling again, right side turns the machine fine. The machine will not spin both tracks if I put it up against something solid. Fresh filter on front, just cleaned pickup screen and new fluid.

I adjusted the clutch following the manual with the 3-3/4 of free play and adjust the pedal off the stop then loosen 5 turns. I then let the fluid warm up and out my gauge in.

At 1800RPM in neutral I’m only getting 90 psi.

If I pull both sticks back I get 170 psi.

If I block the two lines off coming off the steering spools going to the steering clutch housing I get 170 psi.

If I unblock one side and leave the other blocked it takes it down to about 120psi, then if unblock both back to the 90 psi.

I’m assuming through process of elimination that I have a pressure leak inside both steering houses? The two small lines maybe?

[Jim B]

It could be weak seals on the clutch pistons.

[Bhale581]

Update: as of now this is what I have found and I’m assuming is my issue. Something has rubbed them on the inside from what I can tell.

[B Town]

Excellent detective work. Not trying to be “that guy”, but I was looking at your crawler and I believe your left track chain/pads are on backwards. Just double check, it is kinda hard to see accurately in the pic.

Best regards, Bruce

[Bhale581]

Never really thought about that. Are the grouses supposed to be toward the front of the dozer on the pad? First time dozer owner so still learning

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

Grouser hits the dirt first. That way, the overlap at the rear of the pad acts to keep some of the dirt out of the track assembly. When on backwards, the overlap part acts like a shovel to scoop up dirt. Then, the extra dirt gets everywhere, accelerating wear on all the UC parts.

Stan

[Bhale581]

You guys are correct the tracks and chains both are backwards. I’m guessing someone before me got them mixed up. I have other equipment to move the tracks, is it easier to break in half or leave them connected to swap them around?