New chains for a 550 Dozer & Rail question.

[emkothe]

Tracks are badly worn on my (straight) 550. Looks as though it has had new front idler and lower rollers (all say Berco) and have little obvious wear. Rollers are tight, roll nicely, have oil in them and no leaks. Carrier rollers are shot (also Berco) and sprockets are worn to a point. Chain links measure 80% worn in height, so... Called Berco for price for chain ($845), sprockets ($215), and carrier rollers ($90). Do prices seem fair? Is there somewhere else I should check?

I also noticed that the part of the rail that holds the rock guards on the outside of the sprockets are curved out (past the last roller) It is the same on both sides. Is this supposed to be that way, or are they bent?

Mark

[Lavoy]

Price doesn't seem bad for Berco, I can check prices too if you want me to.
Track frame sounds like it is bent, seen it many times on the smaller crawlers.
Lavoy

[emkothe]

Sure to the price check. Is Berco considered good? What do you sell?

As for the bent rails, I cannot see the harm other that the rock guard are out too far. Only seems bent behind the last roller, so I was thinking of welding a plate on top of the back of the rails and remounting the guards back in closer. Seem easier than trying to bend those rails back where they came from.
Mark

[emkothe]

OK, it was a long winter. Finally working on this 550 again. Removed everything off the track rails except the bottom rollers. These rails are not only bent on the tails, past the last bottom roller, but both sides are bent on the front too. From the center the bend seems to be about 3/4" to the left.

Do I try and straighten them, or should I be looking for replacements, or new C channel to build new track rails?

Will the track rails fit from other models? Found a JD450 being stripped for parts.

Also need adjuster pistons. They hold grease, but are also bent. Lastly, I just figured out that all the lower roller guards and front roller guards are missing.

I think this dozer had a hard life.

Mark