Catc259 d final drive removal

[Toolhawk]

I am new to this caterpillar Skid, steer repair world , i am not afraid to tackle anything mechanical, but is there anything I absolutely need to know before I start to remove the final drive? I already have the track out of the way, and i'm going to tackle this early next week. Any specific process and/or pointers would be greatly appreciated... THANKS

 

[james9898]

here are a few key things to know before you pull a final drive on a Cat skid steer. nothing exotic, but these will save you a lot of frustration:


• support the machine properly. once the final drive is off, things can shift. crib or block the frame solid and don’t rely on the lift arms or hydraulics
• mark everything before removal. paint-mark the drive, hoses, and fittings so they go back exactly the same way
• cap and plug hydraulic lines immediately. even a little dirt can cause big problems later
• be ready for weight. final drives are heavier than they look, so use a hoist or jack, not your back
• check splines and seals while it’s out. now is the time, not after it’s back in
• when reinstalling, keep everything square. forcing it usually damages seals or splines


i’m the same way mechanically and found that having the correct service manual made a big difference for torque specs and the removal order. i picked mine up from reliable-store.com, and it helped avoid a couple easy-to-miss mistakes.