Cat track questions

[Ryan]

Looking to buy a caterpillar 287b. Needs new tracks. Where and what Kind of tracks should I get and does anyone have some instructions on how do take old off and put new on. Iam pretty mechanical but I needs some direction. Any help or manual print outs or pictures would be appreciated. Thanks guys Ryan

 

[Fishfiles]

go to track loader parts web site , download the service manuel for an ASV 100 , it is the same undercarriage as the Cat , I doubt you will fill the Cat manuel for free --------- easiest way to take them off ( if they are going into the trash ) is to cu them with a utility knife , an linoleum blade for the knife will work better , the Cat track has no wire in them so 6 or so passes with the knife and they are off --------- track loader parts has the best price I found at $1614 each , Cat is over $4,000 each , I never did install or even see the track loader track so I can't tell you how they will last , just put a set of Taji ( spell check ) that cost $1,800 each and have no hours to speak of yet -------------------- to put them on you take out the four bolts that hold the squirrel cage mount to the frame, take the turnbuckle off , pull the squirrel mount all the way forward till it slides into a weldment on top the frame that has a 5/8 hole in it , line up the hole in the mount and the weldment and drop a bolt into the hole , using a pry bar you lift the track and pry the cage out from under the track in a rotating manner , the hoses are long enough and are no problem , lift the track over the squirrl cage and put one set of drive lugs over the first wheel , front of back don't matter , now you can fight it with pry bars or buy the track installation tool from track loader $50 and a extra mounting plate for $ 8 , well spent money , you take the first and last boogie roller mounting bolts out and bolt the plates into the same holes with longer bolts , the tool will make the track take the shape of the roller and strech it out and over the roller , go for just the first set of drive lugs , don't try doing both at the same time , move the tool to the opposite side and make the track jump both into place , move it one more time and finish the other side , getting two plates will save a lot of time moving the tool back and forth , rotate the cage back under the track , with pry bar , use a portapower , come along , jack or what ever you got to push the cage back into it's gude ------------I gave you the general idea , any questions , just ask

 

[reaperman]

I remember last fall, the local cat dealer had cat tracks on sale. I dont know if this a yearly thing or a one time fluke, since cat parts are $$$. I dont remember the price but I swear they were under 2k each. We picked up a set at work. The above post gave a pretty good idea on how to change. I will say if you have some friends, call them up. Plus another piece of equipment around to help wrestle the tracks into place would be nice. A skid loader with a set of forks is what we use to help get them on.