undercarrage bushings fell out

Forum Forums Bulldozer & Excavator Troubleshooting undercarrage bushings fell out

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    • #30973
      postgenerate
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        Howdy,  I have a brand new Nortrac 35XT Dozer. I have used it twice.  The last time I used it I found this shiny bushing on the ground.  It was shiny but its been rolling around the back of my truck for two months.  Now I see that I think it belongs as a pivot bushing  for the whole track assembly. I don't know how to get it back in, I don't know why it fell out, I don't know how to make it stay.   I appear to be missing both the front and back bushings.  Pictures attached.  advice appreciated.

         

        Bushing sitting on track:Bushing sitting on Track

         

        Front Bushing site:

        Front Bushing location

         

        Rear bushing site:Rear Bushing Location

      • #37367
        Bob Rooks
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          Okay, that's the front trunnion bushing on the equalizer bar (regardless what the Chinese call it). Don't know how much you operated the dozer without this bushing, but the longer you did the harder it will be to repair. There should be a grease fitting in both trunnions. From the pictures it looks like they've never seen grease.

          Is it still under warranty from Northern Tool?

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        • #37370
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            Thanks Bob.  This will be my first test of Northern Tool's customer service.  Its 6 months old with a 2 year warranty.   The manually calls this the “swinging arm”   Its been about 2 months but I think I drove it right into the barn after I found the 1 bushing on the ground.  There is no telling how long the other one has been missing.  probably the full 6-7 hours that is on the dozer.  I gotta say of the two Jinma tractors I own.  This is by far is the most fun to play with.  How do you think the bushings should stay in there., compression?   the diagram has no other holding mechanism.  If compression is the answer, that doesn't appear to be a good solution.

          • #37371
            DavidPrivett
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              I would see if they will send you new blocks with bushings installed, then figure out how you want to secure the bushings in the old blocks and keep them as spares.

            • #37373
              Bob Rooks
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                The bushings are pressed in the trunnion mounts, similar to camshaft bearings in an engine block. There should be a hole in the bushing that lines up with the grease fitting. Once the bushings are pressed in they will not come out, at least they aren't supposed to. There are several good reasons I can think of as to why the bushings came out, but that's not going to get you up and running again. First, measure the trunnion pins to see if they have been hammered out of round and/or if the surface area is damaged (Those are the round “thinghies” that are a part of the equalizing bar that fit into the trunnions).If they are in bad shape they will have to be sleeved or worst case – replaced.

                FYI: In American “dozer slang”, the track frames are called swing frames, and the Chinese swinging arm is called an equalizer bar. Whatever…. roflmao

                I agree with David. Have Northern send you two new trunnion assemblies. Assembly means all parts included and assembled. And make sure they are drilled for grease fittings.

                Do you have a parts manual?

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              • #37379
                35xtd
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                  I have same dozer mine dont have grease fittings on either end..the manual said there suppose to be but mines not even drilled for it

                  35xtd Dozer and hoe..1610d yanmar tractor

                • #37380
                  Bob Rooks
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                    It would be in your best interests (and the dozer's) to install grease fittings.

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                  • #37410
                    35xtd
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                      when weather clears up im gonna drillem out…wonder y factory didnt do it

                      35xtd Dozer and hoe..1610d yanmar tractor

                    • #37411
                      Bob Rooks
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                        Not enough incentive I suspect. 😉

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                      • #37413
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                          Thanks All.   Here is an update.  Northern Tool found a local place a few miles from me in central Arizona.  They shipped new Trunnions and bushings.  to make these stay this time there are four welds on the trunnions on each one to make sure they don't fall out this time.   I was convinced that the grease fittings were not necessary because the bushings are supposed to be “oil infused bronze”  I was skeptical at first but then I googled it and found that these do exist.  I think I am all set now. 

                        • #37426
                          Bob Rooks
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                            Oilite bronze bushings and bearings have been around forever. Mine are plain bronze however, and pressed in. No tack welds. Which raises a question; How did they tack weld bronze to cast iron?

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                          • #37635
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                              To add closure to this topic.  Here is a picture of the welds now holding the bushings in place.  Thanks all

                            • #37636
                              Bob Rooks
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                                That should hold.

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                              • #37684
                                Tontosgold
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                                  When I lost my trunion bush a couple years ago I simply drilled a hole through the housing and tapped it out for a grub screw. Machined up a spare bush bush while I was at it. Welding a bush into a housing should be the absolute last resort. Don't know why anyone would do it unless they were stuck in a remote region with limited tooling and time was of the essence. Rough and unprofessional also creates a headache for the next guy who needs to change out the bush. 

                                  Dozer YCT306S shuttle shift - root rake, tree-pusher, backhoe
                                  Excavator Hyundai 17 ton

                                  QLD, Australia

                                • #37685
                                  Bob Rooks
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                                    It was a cheap and dirty fix, for sure. You did it right Tonto. hailking

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