Any equipment mechanics here?

[dad911]

My mini-excavator has an issue that's been driving me nuts. The 'bleed screw' is frozen in the cylinder, and stripped. I would like to fix in place. Have hit it a few times with PB blaster, but no success. stripped when I bought it. Afraid to try heat (open flame) as there is just too much grease/oil around (unlike the 'new' pic clipped from repair manual)

This is basically a sealed hydraulic cylinder, that you pump up with a grease gun to put pressure on the tracks. Access is very limited through that cover plate.

#2 & #9 below.

I suspect I'll remove the whole cylinder if we get a warm day, and weld on a nut.....?

[cabmandone]

Heat gun and depending on just how stripped it is, take a cheap impact socket and drive it on then back it out. See if you can get it to pop by hand.

Did I mention I buy and sell used construction equipment? It's like you're playing in my wheelhouse today with your questions.

[dad911]

It's 20 degrees and dropping, snow just stopped. Too cold to work. And bored, 1st time in a long time I'm not in key west for NYE.

Didn't think heat gun would get hot enough. I might enddrill a piece of rebar, so it can surround the fitting. Get it cherry red, then push it over.

Looking for a skidsteer, but the budget is low.

The mini paid for itself in 2 years, a skidsteer would just make life easier, like the trailer.....

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by dad911

It's 20 degrees and dropping, snow just stopped. Too cold to work. And bored, 1st time in a long time I'm not in key west for NYE.

Didn't think heat gun would get hot enough. I might enddrill a piece of rebar, so it can surround the fitting. Get it cherry red, then push it over.

Looking for a skidsteer, but the budget is low.

The mini paid for itself in 2 years, a skidsteer would just make life easier, like the trailer.....

Skip the heat gun, just get a smaller impact socket than the original hex would be and hammer that sucker on. Most of the time it seems like the hammering helps loosen the threads and once you've driven the socket on it'll back off.
When you're ready for a skid, just let me know what you're looking for and a price.

[pen15]

Take out the grease fitting instead? On a side note, had an old Deere 450 Dozer with a stuck track adjuster, same type but bigger. Wouldn’t take grease. Took it off and put it in the hot water parts washer at work. 1/2 hour later heard a loud bang. Split the side of the cylinder wide open from the grease inside expanding when it got hot because it couldn’t extend due to rod being seized.

[pen15]

Grease fitting may have a check ball behind it. May be able to remove fitting and have assistant depress ball while you use boom to collapse track. Keep face out of way of port obviously.

[dad911]

The grease fitting is under considerable pressure. I've done it once, you wouldn't believe how far it shot.

Good point about heat expanding grease. I

[cabmandone]

You could try an air die grinder with a carbide metal bit to grind a hex back on the bleeder then drive a socket on it. I'd get as creative as possible in getting that zerk out since getting your tensioner out while under pressure would be a scary proposition if it's even possible.

[Dansvan]

Look up "extractor" sockets. They have teeth inside to grip rounded fasteners.

[dad911]

I'm going to try the bleeder when the weather breaks. Both pounding a socket and an extractor. Think I have one here.

If not, I think safest way to release pressure will be to sacrifice the zerk, since it's easy to change, by grinding the top until it leaks.

Or just leave it until the track falls off.....

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by dad911

I'm going to try the bleeder when the weather breaks. Both pounding a socket and an extractor. Think I have one here.

If not, I think safest way to release pressure will be to sacrifice the zerk, since it's easy to change, by grinding the top until it leaks.

Or just leave it until the track falls off.....

In that case you've got time for a quick trip to the islands. We're expecting to go to or below zero most nights this week up here in the valley. It ain't UP Michigan cold but it's cold enough.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

In that case you've got time for a quick trip to the islands. We're expecting to go to or below zero most nights this week up here in the valley. It ain't UP Michigan cold but it's cold enough.

This is the first time in 10 years I'm not in florida this week. So blame me, if I went it would be at least 50 & sunny.

[cabmandone]

Should have loaded up and brought your mini with you... little work... little play... lotsa beer during a little work! Makes the work less "work" ultimately.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Skip the heat gun, just get a smaller impact socket than the original hex would be and hammer that sucker on. Most of the time it seems like the hammering helps loosen the threads and once you've driven the socket on it'll back off.
When you're ready for a skid, just let me know what you're looking for and a price.

Wow, looks like I've been putting off this job over a year, attacked it today.

Took a while to get the cylinder out. Tried heat, no help.

Cabmando nailed it. Pounded on an undersized socket, came right off. Thank you!

[cabmandone]

Yay for our team!!

[dad911]

I wish I had a way to test, but I suspect pounding the socket on loosened it. Had a good grip with visegrips, and similar tapping with a hammer didn't budge it.

[cabmandone]

It's the leverage the socket and ratchet give you along with the tapping that seems to loosen things up. Or maybe someone sprayed some of that Kroil (the oil that creeps) on it and you didn't know it! Either way, glad my advice helped. I'll give you my brother's name here so you can tell him it my advice actually works now and then. My typical conversation with him goes "Hey Nick.. how would you....?", I reply and he does everything other than what I suggest.