This delightful piece of yellow machinery arrives at the workshop after a good play in the mud.
Problem now is that we can only run in circles.
Yep, something has gone wrong and there is no drive on the right hand side.
And so we begin to play!
Well, that's where the pressure washer couldn't do it's job.
This job is getting bigger - notice the axles seal that has moved out of it's housing and allowed
all that good mud into the bearing.
Next stop - drain the drive chain chamber of oil before we venture in.
What's that? Water!
Yep it is water, sure that's not supposed to be in there.
And finally there was oil.
Remove the upper landing plate to gain access to the chain drive tunnels.
Remove the covers on the top of the track drive housings, one has the oil filler cap on if, the other is very much to the front of the machine.
This is the side that lost the oil seal on the axle - chain still looks good.
Notice the seal dangling on the axle.
This side will need to be stripped and cleaned - all the water came out here.
This is the side responsible for all the circle work - no chain on the sprocket.
And so the search begins.
Retrieved the drive chain and the destroyed links.
Next stop - remove the drive axles so that we can:
1) replace the oil seals.
2) clean out the chain tunnel and thread the new chain past the sprockets.
Remove the 'end cap' with a sharp screwdriver, not the easiest of jobs because of the limited access.
Notice the large circlip that holds the drive shaft in the bearing housing.
Remove it and hopefully the drive shaft slides out the bearings.
And out comes the drive axle - on this one the axle seal popped out with it -
wonder how much work it was doing all along.
New and old chain lie side by side to get the correct length.
New set of axle bearings + axle seals
The bright yellow axle has been the bad lad, letting in most of the contamination for some time.
Notice the spot where the axles seal runs, yep not to clean and shinny.
Nothing the trusty old lathe can't fix!
A fast spin and a length of emery tape should do the job.
New replacement end cover for the axle shaft housings - x4
Assembly is always the most boring and gives you the chance to work on your self-control.
Pass the test and you're doing just great Buddy Boy.
