Newby with CAT 305.5E2 (not CR) -- I think the tracks are toast. Do I need new sprockets?

[Nige]

Where I am the winters are pretty wet so my wiring is always soldered with heat shrink and then electrical tape.. so far I’ve never had a connection corrosion issue

That’s all fine and dandy until something has to be taken apart…

 

[jbernielh]

True enough Nige but it’s been 7 years now without any need

 

[Baxsie]

. . . until something has to be taken apart . . .

The three of those lights that come together in that one photo are all mounted on removable covers or removable doors that's why they have the bullet connectors.

Or, if it's once every 7 years like @jbernielh, a pair of cutting pliers to disconnect and some more solder and heat shrink to reconnect

 

[HarleyHappy]

As much as I want to solder every joint and claim to be a master at wiring, I am perfectly okay using a melt on butt connection, almost everywhere. On my plow and sander and anything that gets disconnected regularly, I will use a Weatherpack or Deutch connector. I try and buy the solder melt connectors with the heat shrink but have a few more hundred of regular crimp connectors, that I use heat shrink on, before I die.
I keep records on my repairs and if I have a problem, I usually know where to look.
I also use Dialectric grease on most connectors, heck, I just used a Scotchlock last weekend.
Go ahead, get the fire ready.
I was doing lighting on trailers 35 years ago, with just crimp connections and no heat shrink.
That lasted until the trailers went into someone’s back field.
Only took care of 45 trailers.

 

[John Shipp]

"I just used a Scotchlock last weekend"

Tell me you didn't really

 

[materthegreater]

"I just used a Scotchlock last weekend"

Tell me you didn't really

Factory equipment for some trailer manufacturers (Hudson)

 

[John Shipp]

I have a few of them on certain machines, I keep them mapped on one of my brain cells so I can give them a wiggle when things don't flow

 

[HarleyHappy]

Well admittingly, it wasn’t a crucial repair. Wife was putting up white Xmas string lights on the deck, as the solar ones we had bought last fall when we did the pavilion, didn’t work well.
Gave her the low voltage staple gun, showed her how to use it and 3/4’s way through, while standing on her head, cut one of the wires.
I grabbed the strippers and a Scotchlock and showed her how to do it, gave her a couple of more and left her to it.

 

[Baxsie]

It is drying out pretty quick, but still too muddy to get up on the hill without making a mess. And I have a hydraulic leak under the cab I need to deal with.

Meanwhile I installed a gadget:

What are your thoughts? Could this actually be useful in the real world or is this just a dumb gimmick from someone who has too much free time?

 

[Tones]

A gadget that consumes lever time.

 

[Baxsie]

I finally got around to making a replacement cover for the track tensioner grease fittings. First off was drilling out the broken off bolts and cleaning up the threads:



Some fresh M8-1.25 flange bolts from ACE Hardware and the new 3-d printed cover:



It is printed as "solid" using black PLA. The flange helps spread the force of the bolts. I used a little thread locker to make sure the bolts stay put.

Not as tough as the original CAT 425-2866, but it does not appear that thick steel helped, seeing as how they were both missing

The design is available on Thingiverse:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7331795

Peace.

 

[Baxsie]

. . . I have a hydraulic leak under the cab I need to deal with. . . .

I was able to fix the hydraulic leak (pats self on back smugly). It turns out that whoever installed the thumb was not that excited about actually tightening the Rube Goldberg stack of adapters that they used to go from BSP valve through a flare and NPT to JAE hose (maybe - I'm guessing about the BSP and JAE names but they would not thread together without the adapters).

I sealed the pipe threads with Loctite 545 -- is that OK to use on these machines?

That's all well and good. But how about the pile of metal? Is it gone yet? How about all the other garbage poke poke!!

Another pic of the farm dump, for reference:



Got up there and sorted tires from concrete from metal:



I'd not be able to remove that tire by hand !



Rita is loaded and tarped with a load of scrap metal. No heater or wipers in Rita so I will take her to the recycling next nice day:

 

[John Shipp]

Your Cat looks good in it's environment there, is it good to run?

On the Loctite question, it's unusual to need a thread sealant on the normal hydraulic fittings one comes across. There's normally a flare, a cone, a dowty washer or an o-ring that does all the work sealing. With the exception of tricky bulkhead fittings or in places where you're trying to get something moving (codged together) with old hard o-rings or suchlike, I can't remember the last time I've needed hydraulic sealant on fittings.

But I learn something new everyday, so post a pic if you like.

 

[John Shipp]

 

[John Shipp]

I have used it on fittings like the style on the label

 

[Baxsie]

Your Cat looks good in it's environment there, is it good to run? . . .

It seems to be doing great for a 9K plus hour machine. The AC is a little noisy -- I think if I put in the effort to take the seat out and get at the fan I'll find that the blades are all caked up with kak.

I have used it on fittings like the style on the label

Yes, I only used the 545 on the NPT joint that is between the two other connectors. If I have to get in there again I'll take that stack to the local hose shop and see if I can find a single adapter that will translate between the hose (JAE?) and the valve block (BSP?).

Here is a pic of the stack, for reference:



I'm not sure of the correct names for those fittings. You can see that just to the left there is another connection that is done with as single adapter. Just above and to the right is another cobbled mess (dripping), with slightly different fittings.

Not leaking today, so it is fixed!

 

[Baxsie]

Here are the first two loads of steel. Load one was on January 23, 2560lbs, $134:





Load two was today (April 14), 1760lbs, $92:





On load one, I picked up a wire in a rear wheel. That started the ball rolling on new, modern tires and wheels for Rita. The barely worn 22-year-old tires and 80-year-old split rims went to someone else somewhere else. Best of luck with those brother!

 

[skyking1]

That is a good feeling pulling the lever on that crap and sayonara.

 

[Baxsie]

So, even though I put fresh new digging teeth on the bucket, I also want to be able to scrape the ash and garbage off the ground without digging in too much.

So I used some of the old edge from my loader. It is 3/4" mild steel. (I replaced the edge on the loader with a new, hardened edge).

I cut two 30" lengths from the middle, welded some pockets on them:



The pockets are made folded up from from some re-used scrap from the dump. Here is one of my less embarrassing welds:



So it just slides on to the teeth:






I'm open to suggestions for ways to retain it.

I've though about just using the mag drill to go through the new plate and through the floor of the bucket, but the bucket has been hard faced in that area.

Also thought about running a chain under the bucket to a clevis in the lifting eye.

Maybe I'll just put a strap on it that can be bolted through the floor of the bucket further back.

Or maybe straps on both sides to one of the cheek bolts.

Ideas?

 

[Baxsie]

Ended up with straps to the cheek bolts:








I'll have to see if it survives contact with the enemy . . . ummm . . . dirt.