O.T. unsticking dozer steering clutch


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Posted by David Sherman on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 00:50:52 :

I think there's some guys here running old dozers, so thought I'd see if this is a known problem with a known solution. I have a 7U series (1950s) cat D4. I tend to use it only once a year to clear out my road. I started it up today and quickly found out that the left steering clutch is stuck. It won't release. I tried breaking it loose by going up a steep hill forwards and backwards with both clutch release levers pulled back (so all the torque would be on the stuck one), but it wouldn't let go. I tried pushing an immovable rock with both clutch levers back and the right track just spun and dug itself a ditch. It seems to be well struck. I took the access/adjustment cover off and can't see anything amiss. The clutch pressure plate seems to move just as far on the bad side as on the good one.

According to the manual, it's a dry 8-disk clutch pack with alternating steel disks and friction-lined disks. Taking the clutch pack out looks like a big piece of work (remove cab, remove seat/fuel tank, remove transmission cover, each of which requires a crane) and then they show all sorts of special cat tools to pull things apart and press them together. I can't see the disks themselves, as they're inside what might be the steering brake drum.

I'm thinking the general problem of asbestos friction disks sticking to steel clutch plates is probably something that comes pretty often. Is there any way to unstick them? I hesitate to try squirting ATF, diesel, kerosene, or kroil in there in case it ruins the friction. On the other hand, it's tempting to just fill the clutch housing up with diesel and let it soak a while. Will this ruin it? Any other suggestions?



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