Case 310G Track Problem

[crwchf16]

Hi all,
I was using my 1966 Case 310G to clear snow from my driveway and the left track locked up hard. I could reverse and travel about 6 feet, maybe half the overall track length and it locked up again. It was like it had hit a mechanical stop. At first I thought it was ice and it may yet be, but I couldn't see anything binding up the track. Assuming it's a deeper mechanical issue, where should I look first?

 

[dzc3]

There is a bearing that holds the final drive in place, odds are that the bearing failed and one of the balls is caught in the bull gears. You will have to break the track, remove rear sprocket, to get to the trouble.

 

[pinball]

First thing to do is check your oil level in the rear sprocket case. usually if that bearing goes out it will take the seal out and leak all the oil out and if not caught in time will destroy the case itself. if the oil level is fine I would jack it up to get all pressure off the rear drives and see if there is any movement in the rear sprocket in and out. if not I would pull the inspection plate off the rear end where you can get into the brake bands. course you will have to drain the mineral oil out first. make sure you put mineral oil back in and replace the bands if needed while you have it apart. make sure your brake band isn't binding up for some reason. the brake bands are not designed to completely stop it just slow that side down. then if you don't see any problems then I would take the tracks off and turn the sprocket by hand and see what happens. when I had my 310 I could loosen the track adjust enough that I didn't have to break the track. if you do have to remove the outer sprocket case make sure you replace the outer seal. just used crow bar and straps and a coma-long to get it off and on. took me longer to free the adjuster off than removing the tracks. good luck and hope fully its not a major problem.

 

[Adirondack case guy]

Jack up the track off the ground. Carefully rotate it and see where it stops, forward and back. could be a small round head rock wedged into track link. Determine if there is something in the track links stopping rotation. If not you will have to dig deeper into the final drive. It could be a bull gear tooth problem. locking up the pinion shaft from the transmission.
Loren

 

[casecollectorsc]

Bought a 600 that one track would only move so far forward and back. Had a rock stuck in one sprocket on the inside. The owenr thought something inside went to heck...bought cheap.

 

[Don L.]

An old Gent told me the track pads have to have a hole in them in snow.........
Don L

 

[crwchf16]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm hopeful that the problem is just a piece of ice. Either way I'll be giving the old beast a complete overhaul this summer