Glad you liked the video. Dropping the sprocket really helps with clearance and less stuff for the tracks to get caught on when installing. The ratchets really help too.
Great video! I have a 2005 277B, just purchased it last fall with low hours and brand new tracks, and been getting it up to speed on all the nec maintenance items over the winter. And track adjustments, or on-going track tensioning is an important maintenance detail for the tracks, but with the Cat 277B models, that track tensioning tool, that ratchet is an integral part to that task. My track tensioning tool was lost and didn't come with the machine when I bought it, unbeknownst to me at that time. So I ordered one from Cat but that maintenance manual is quite...umm....NOT helpful, lets just put it that way. Anyways, your video demonstrates how to use that track tensioning tool for the two positions within the undercarriage for tensioning or loosening the undercarriage/tracks! There are TWO, I repeat, TWO positions for that track tensioning tool! Now that undercarriage design makes sense to me and how that tool helps me with anything to do with the tracks. I've actually gone to two Cat/Toromont locations near me and asked people there at Cat how to use the tool and all they do is print off what the manual states, which I point out to them....is NOT helpful! They sold me the tool (not cheap btw!) but no one can tell me from Cat on HOW to use the "maintenance track tensioning tool" on their Cat machine that they just sold me! Thanks Cat! NOT! And.... I've yet to see a video with that tool is set up on the undercarriage for track tensioning and then actually use the tool, there are NONE!! I have watched videos of guys coming up with self made pry bars, car jacks opened up with in the undercarriage to move the components of the undercarriage, etc, some interesting solutions to dealing with that undercarriage and track tensioning, I must admit. But, NOT the way to do things, when the engineers at Cat have a proper tool to do the job, and do it quite well actually. So, THANK YOU for uploading this video of yours bc there is no video, and I MEAN NO VIDEO on TH-cam showing the use of that tool! Thank you for doing so, it was quite helpful! You've answered some questions on what I should be able to do for myself on the machine going forward and not be paying for, paying handsomely too as we all can imagine. Again....Thank YOU!
I'm glad you found the video helpful! If you run out of adjustment with the tensioner (the one that rotates upwards), you can slide the track frame back more towards the rear of the machine then adjust your tensioner to keep the lugs from jumping. There are aftermarket hydraulic tensioning tools but I found it doesn't take too long to do it with the factory one. If I changed tracks for a living it would be another story.
Great video, Also a great idea to install sprockets last! It looks hard the other way.
Glad you liked the video. Dropping the sprocket really helps with clearance and less stuff for the tracks to get caught on when installing. The ratchets really help too.
Great video! I have a 2005 277B, just purchased it last fall with low hours and brand new tracks, and been getting it up to speed on all the nec maintenance items over the winter. And track adjustments, or on-going track tensioning is an important maintenance detail for the tracks, but with the Cat 277B models, that track tensioning tool, that ratchet is an integral part to that task. My track tensioning tool was lost and didn't come with the machine when I bought it, unbeknownst to me at that time. So I ordered one from Cat but that maintenance manual is quite...umm....NOT helpful, lets just put it that way.
Anyways, your video demonstrates how to use that track tensioning tool for the two positions within the undercarriage for tensioning or loosening the undercarriage/tracks! There are TWO, I repeat, TWO positions for that track tensioning tool! Now that undercarriage design makes sense to me and how that tool helps me with anything to do with the tracks. I've actually gone to two Cat/Toromont locations near me and asked people there at Cat how to use the tool and all they do is print off what the manual states, which I point out to them....is NOT helpful! They sold me the tool (not cheap btw!) but no one can tell me from Cat on HOW to use the "maintenance track tensioning tool" on their Cat machine that they just sold me! Thanks Cat! NOT! And.... I've yet to see a video with that tool is set up on the undercarriage for track tensioning and then actually use the tool, there are NONE!! I have watched videos of guys coming up with self made pry bars, car jacks opened up with in the undercarriage to move the components of the undercarriage, etc, some interesting solutions to dealing with that undercarriage and track tensioning, I must admit. But, NOT the way to do things, when the engineers at Cat have a proper tool to do the job, and do it quite well actually.
So, THANK YOU for uploading this video of yours bc there is no video, and I MEAN NO VIDEO on TH-cam showing the use of that tool! Thank you for doing so, it was quite helpful! You've answered some questions on what I should be able to do for myself on the machine going forward and not be paying for, paying handsomely too as we all can imagine. Again....Thank YOU!
I'm glad you found the video helpful!
If you run out of adjustment with the tensioner (the one that rotates upwards), you can slide the track frame back more towards the rear of the machine then adjust your tensioner to keep the lugs from jumping.
There are aftermarket hydraulic tensioning tools but I found it doesn't take too long to do it with the factory one. If I changed tracks for a living it would be another story.
How much was the ratchet tensioner?