Cat Challenger 75 track alignment

Pulling a track to install a shim on front idler for track alignment.

[@douglasmayherjr.5733]

Seems like there is always something to fix, especially when you work on everything. Your Knowledge and Attitude is Impressive. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos, I sure do appreciate them.

[@workingmanpatriot8760]

That wrench extender is badass!

[@jackking5567]

I'm impressed how whatever machine you jump into you can drive. It tells us that you really do understand the things that you repair. Oh and the people making those shims must enjoy expensive holidays, homes and cars!

[@dylanarnold7809]

Love the work that you do. Learn something new every time I watch!

[@JoeSmith-lp9ol]

Watching your videos really help us make decisions about equipment.

[@johnbell6956]

Hi Warren. Love your outlook and videos. When we are aligning sheaves, belts, pulleys, tracks, etc. you can dust both sides with chalk powder, flour, anything powdered and right off you can see if one side is rubbing.

[@mfc4591]

Another great desk jockey engineer design on those idlers, just to make life really wonderful for any mechanic. At least you have good looking Josie there to provide moral support.

[@mikes7639]

Your a good man working by yourself so hard. I like the way you ponder something then get to it without shortcuts. Good luck to you

[@davidgriffiths2069]

I can barely fix breakfast, but I love your videos. I thought when that hub finally came off, you lost a fingertip. Take it easy and be careful!

[@ElvicFarms]

HEY WARREN HAVE BEEN PRETTY BUSY HERE IN NY THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO HAVE A SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

[@DOCTORDROTT]

watching this made me want to help you start those bolts as you lifted that hub

[@philglover2973]

Thanks for your time and consideration Warren top job God bless you and your family stay safe out there 🚜🚛🚜🚛

[@outdoor044]

The service manual for the 75D had a temperature chart that correlates to which shim you need. You drive on a flat (not crowned) road for 15 minutes, then using an infrared temp gun, check the temp on each inner metal surface of the front idlers where the lugs pass through. The temperature reading from each side lines up with suggested shim to install to align it properly. I've done it and it sucks. I followed the procedure exactly and it didn't work. The dealer let me take their entire box of shims home to keep adjusting them. Then just charged me for what I kept. They said the old shims were good quality but the new ones were outsourced... I looked at the cat prints/specs for each shim part number and they were not made to the specs they were supposed to be. Their thickness was way out of spec, no wonder they didn't work. Anyway, it was pain in the butt. Just sucks the money you pay for new tracks and then you can't even align em right cause of junk parts.

[@LoBeau53]

Keep working the way you do Warren and I can tell you from experience that you will have plenty of painful reminders of all the things you accomplished in you elder years. There is nothing wrong with hard work, but it comes at a price to the body.

[@PageMarker1]

Better safe than sorry, get 2 of them. The cost vs. the pain of putting those shims in is incredible.

[@PatriotEquipmentRepair]

Good ol flat tracks, I’ve had to shim many of times on those old girls and it’s always fun

[@michaelweatherhead9470]

Thanks Warren for the video take care of yourself and family ❤️❤️👍👍

[@generobben7290]

Warren, like most parts. Paint it green or yellow and the price goes up dramatically. Great video.

[@dieselhatz4247]

Great work Warren, that’s some ball and back busting work right there. Never a bad design when more $$$ are required to do it, that’s what Cat were thinking about, not the repair guy. Look after yourself out there, every bit of equipment is looking to get you. Few people asking why does it need shimming, the only thing that’s changed is the track, as Warren fitted it. Something is up with the track, different rubber mix, different mould, aftermarket, modified, I don’t know, but it’s the track that is causing the rubbing, not the geometry or wheels, it would of rubbed the old track out as well.

[@chucktaylor4958]

You’re one tough hombre and well tooled.

[@died4us590]

Thanks for the video Warren, always great to see all the different stuff you work on. You would think they would sell them shims in quantities, 190$ for one seems a bit high, but everything nowadays is ridiculously priced. G-d bless y'all.

[@gabrielgernatt8331]

Been there with those shims falling when you go to lift it, I zip tie them on both sides, get the hub up and a couple bolts started, then cut the zips and pull the sips out then move forward

[@michaelmcclure8673]

Only time I messed with one of those, picked it up at dealer in Central California and took it to Idaho.

[@masongillespie4360]

It’s been years ago but we had same situation and in desperation I think we swapped the two front main idler wheels inside to outside and vis versa and that actually moved the track a good deal. It was shear luck but some times a little luck is all you need

[@edwinhsingmaster9135]

My thought is the outside wheel is smaller in diameter, due to wear. Measure with a string? Swapping and you may have shims to sell! ♡

[@Prariedog]

Another great video. Always interesting to watch you sort out the issues on these machines Have a great weekend Warren Sask , 🇨🇦

[@richardhoneywell7411]

Great video Warren really enjoy watching you fix this Cat. Guess one or two more shims you'll get it running true stay safe Warren.

[@justinarsenault1926]

Another badass video Warren your one of the best in the game

[@larryd8224]

Always satisfying to see big equipment put back to productive use. Field service is very different than work done on the factory floor assembly line! Ag equipment which is used heavily for shorter periods of time has different failure/wear-out patterns than construction and mining equipment used continually. Interesting how field service is delivered whether by brand name distributors or by independent field service business operators. Let us hope the global supply chains do not deteriorate further something which cannot be guaranteed!!

[@jc7654]

it was a prick of a job. we had a challenge 65 with the same setup. had to do it 3 time's before it was right. we also had a problem with the front axle center pivot bearing flogging out. we kept spare shims in the compartment / tool box inside the cab beside the seat in different tapered thicknesses

[@blake9361]

good vid warren you work hard take care

[@gasperajdnik5627]

alwais good to see a video from warren 👍 see you on the next one 🔧

[@davidjackson4112]

Love the sound of a purring cat engine.

[@timmieclark9976]

I don't know much about the Challengers. Are those front idlers solid rubber? They look heavy. You would have thought those shims would have been designed to slip in rather than pulling off the heavy hub.

[@lindenhawthorn4761]

Them Matco wrench extenders are kind of one of them tools you didn't know you needed it until you had one and then you use it all the time. I went on their website and they make 3 different ones, basically small, medium, and large. I ordered the smallest one for now and if I like it I probably get the other two.

[@johnwaby4321]

Blimey Warren that's a right mess about .let hope more shims will do the trick 👍👍👍

[@anthonyknight3866]

Wish that the fellers who design some of this stuff had to go out and work on it a few trips for them like what Warren just did and yes he and the rest of us deal with it every day a lot of jobs would end up much easier on a man's body. Thank u for mostly keeping a good attitude just goes better I think. Worked with techs that would fly off the handle throw tools hit customer equipment with whatever was heavy or handy cuss at WOT then spend the rest of the job saying how stupid it is just getting more frustrated messing up more stuff and after all is said and done their out doing some type of rework on it. Love your content make it about what ever it'd all entertaining and informative.

[@williamrobinson7457]

Hi Warren, i noticed that when you are busy on the laptop , sometimes the Windows Update comes on which is annoying ,you can stop it from coming on again for good,there are some good videos on KZbin that helps to get rid of it.Keep up the good work.

[@died4us590]

I think you're right about 2 more of them shims, you can see it really good on the camera how bad it's rubbing.

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

I vote for 2 more shims. Looks like there would be a dimensional check that would put the setup right where it needs to be. Instead of Try this and if that doesn't work do it all again. I bet that's not how it's done at the factory !

[@cassiuspuckett8789]

Man, that's a lot of work just to put in a shim. Then get it all back together to find you have to do it all again, shoot!!! Thanks for sharing.....

[@corkhayman5064]

Man I love the music of those Cat engines.

[@henrymichaelwilson8107]

Hello Warren. That looks a good tractor. They look a better machine all together than those highdrive one's. I saw one of those at a sale. I was pretty impressed.

[@ACatKrom]

what a kick in the d1ck job that is.. Was thinking it might help to cut the heads of a couple of bolts and use them to as alignment studs to hold the shims and hub till you get a bolt started, but not sure there is enough room to get them out after

[@davidcoyote8921]

A quick check shows the Cat Challenger 75 was from the mid '90s. It's history, wear and tear doesn't bode well for consistent alignment no matter what you do; just buying time I guess... hope you charge 'em. A real ball buster.

[@raycollington4310]

Makes you wonder what changed to cause this to occur and if that front axle is still square and not skewed. Thanks Warren

[@dondiego2262]

I was wondering about the bearings in that spindle or if the track had snapped a cable. Something caused this I agree.

[@daleolson3506]

Or the track is made wrong.

[@mcd5082]

Thanks for sharing Warren!

[@willcojak9650]

that puppy is growing up fast

[@nickchannel5364]

Thanks Warren. You are quite amazing.

[@brucemackinnon3340]

another great video,thanks for sharing it with us

[@brucemackinnon3340]

how long in real time did this job take you do out in the field

[@dirtmister16]

Not that it works in every situation. But i keep a couple small chain hoists with me for jobs like that. I keep a 1/4 ton and 3/4 ton on the truck. Sure saves lots of aggravation. I use the smaller one alot for pulling hoses out of my way.

[@mikeburgess7331]

Warren, you are one tough old boy!

[@elroyelblander6277]

👍👍.. thanks for another video feller...see ya on the next one 👊

[@matkremzar5474]

fire hose loops on end of cribbing .... warren rocks!

[@Bryanja81]

Could a guy put a snatch block in the hitch of the service truck and run the crane line through the block to pull them wheels off if there's no forklift available?

[@billw4746]

Now I understand why the belt is running to one side. I call them belts not tracks the old challengers are a pain to align the front idlers. Because of everything has to be removed to get to the hub. The newer challengers changed hub design and used split shims so you just had to get the belts loose. We got lucky when we put the belts on the challenger I am currently driving. During the test drive we did not have a heating problem on the guide blocks. On the old 65 when we installed the belts it took a couple of shim changes to get the belts centered. But where we are we always running against the guide blocks we farming steep ground. As for the steering it could be anything low oil or a worn out steering motor or a valve problem. We had problems ours did not want to steer on the pavement. We changed the motor and a valve. But it could be really simple like not enough air in the bags.

[@brettkratt6154]

Good stuff I look forward to videos.

[@chipps1066]

That Cat IS a Challenge!GeeGee ! What a cluster....

[@genechronister7085]

Another great vid

[@CrimeVid]

You’ll know how to do it by the time you’ve fixed it Warren !

[@jamescole1786]

10/6/22. 2day: shem spacer for Challenger (giant) rubber trak with center guide...another informative video Warren. Getting those rusted (chemically welded) bolts out of hub...where was your Port-Power with coupla' attachments? Kinda wondering if that unit would help pull off old rusted hub? ...but as always you pounded/hammered it off..darn near dropped that (?100#) hub on your dainty little toes, aye? Great info on these huge tracks w/center alignment guides. Oh yes..for $200/box... I also thought Cat sends 2 shems/box...not just 1. Stay safe Warren, take care🛠⚙️👍👍👍🚜😊

[@karlsmith242]

Hi pal great video yet again like always love watching them Can't you make them shimes out of steel plate

[@outdoor044]

They are taperd from end to end so you can't just cut them out of a sheet of metal. Sucks.

[@bkb5668]

My jaw about fell off my head when you said a single shim was $190, my lord!!!!

[@michaelmcdonald6727]

Hey Warren, too bad they don’t give you some measurements that you can go by to figure out how many shims you need the first time you get it apart. One bright spot, it should come apart easier this time. I was wondering if you could get one of the forklift forks on an angle to help with that hub. Be safe out there. Thanks for sharing your awesome videos!

[@mathewjackson8491]

Warren, could you hang a small chain pull/hoist from the fork trucks fork to lower and raise the hub. I carry small 250kg capacity ones just to save my back.

[@stuartlockwood9645]

Hi Warren that's a cluster job ok, like you from what I see on the video you need at least two more maybe three or four to push that wheel in line.is it possible the axle or frame is out of wack as it seems a long way off, who knows what's happened to it in the past ?. Could you put some blocks or something to catch the hub as it comes off then you don't have to pick it up from the floor, either that or cinch your rupture support in a few more notches, lol,. You get my sympathy vote on this one mate, thanks for another interesting video, stay safe, best wishe's to you and your's, and the doggies. Stuart Uk.

[@michelgrenier1878]

Another"arm-strong" repair job , That's hard work .

[@tommybickerstaff1249]

Thats some good wrenches u have Warren to not break with a cheater like that on them. Be safe .

[@patreilly2445]

Hello Warren great video. May I make a suggestion for next time. If you had a floor jack, a piece of plywood to put it on and a ratchet strap to put around that heavy hub you could remove it at height and add the shim without lifting that heavy bastard hub in a very awkward position. I would hate to see you hurt yourself lifting that POS again to add another shim. Long time viewer.

[@grego3150]

did a pair of tracks on a MT865E last week and the idler adjustment is way easier on those

[@suzylarry1]

I have a question to Warren and fellow viewers , with the cost for the SHIMS at $190.00 +/- depending on location, could a person with a " laser " steel cutter not cut you a set to use in this application? I do understand the " not a big seller item " issue , but as in this very case you may need 1 or now you find you may need 2 . long and short , CAN A LAZER CUT OUT THESE SHIME ? Love the video's Warren !

[@TheAde71]

You could probably get a pile cut for $120.

[@gordondewald8267]

Issue would be the shim is tapered I recall Warren saying.

[@suzylarry1]

@@gordondewald8267 , belt sander?

[@outdoor044]

@@gordondewald8267 Exactly, it would be tough to machine them to the proper taper. A big problem with these is their tapper isn't correct when they're new. So you put the shim in that's supposed to result in the proper adjustment and it doesn't work. Poor machining quality.

[@randyruppel6727]

you could cut out the shim on 1 bolt hole and leave the hub on so you don't have to fight it back up on the axle.

[@bobbeals1509]

Well you got me, I went into the kitchen to do something and on the way back I thought my fan in the back blew a bearing. Nothing so exciting, just the sound of the Diesel engine from the Cat. Can you spell duh! Lol. It appears that track has been rubbing on the outside tire for some time?

[@heavymachinery2843]

Some heavy wrenchin going on there

[@dcw1540]

Warren did they have Vaseline seating on the counter when they handed you the shine. Thanks

[@Agirhydro23]

Colud you check this with string before putting the track back on?

[@Ham68229]

Yea, that looks like it needs 2 or 3 more shims. Might be expensive but, it's worth the cost vs the cost of a new track. Warren, my question is, couldn't you jack the entire machine up off the ground and run the tracks that way? You can clearly see how far off the track is. You're absolutely correct, in this day and age, you have to make it work. Never been a fan of tracks, too much to go wrong with them plus the expense... Awesome work and great video as always. Cheers :)

[@regtimmins1944]

Sir was there anough clearance above the track and machine to use it with a strap to lift the part please !!

[@terryrogers1025]

Anything Cat is heavy and you earn your money working on them, as you did here Warren, but to have to go right back and do it again would be some what disappointing to say the least, I would think anyway. You would think they could have come with a better way of shimming that idler out, maybe possibly putting a shim in between the hubs on the tires just to kick the one tire/ wheel over instead of disassembling that entire side to kick that whole assembly over, although it may be to much clearance in the wheels and cause more problems, not mention the stress loads, just a thought. Seems ashamed to have to be guessing, basically, to get it right. Hey young man thanks for the ride along sir. Enjoyed the video.

[@thepubliceye]

Can't shims be moved to adjust tracks?

[@jondoherty3884]

Have you tried a Camso Shim kit CST-0400 you get assortment of shims may be worth a look

[@maxstahl7795]

I'm not sure but can the hob bee bent and ride side ways

[@edadpops1709]

Man I hope some how soon u can get that wrecked knee fixed,but it does require heal time

[@keithwallington4966]

looking at the outside wheel can you not put a shim between them to push the wheel out

[@bombardier3qtrlbpsi]

Nice job as always. Wouldn't it be worth it to have a dozen or more made. Plasma or water jet. I would think some of these other you tubers would mind. Fireball tool/ Keith Fenner. Just to name a couple.

[@brettkratt6154]

How about cutting your own shim the pitch is set with existing shim?

[@dondiego2262]

Warren , I am not trying to be an over the shoulder mechanic but to me it seems something had to have changed to cause this. Are the bearings in the spindle okay? Is it possible that a cable in the track snapped? Do you think that the Mfg. of the track was THAT far off so it needed that many shims? Something just seems off about this whole job. Just saying.

[@1112223333111]

could the track be on the wrong way? if you flipped it around it might be center? just a thought

[@1112223333111]

I guess not if the tread pattern is the right way

[@brianrutherford3681]

Warren can you shim the outside idler from the track instead of the way you did the first shim?

[@curtischamblee7542]

If any of those wheels are a different size from one side to the other it won't track ???? Just a thought!!!!!

[@mfreund15448]

Could you swap the inside and outside roller and see if it changes??

[@derrillbalshaw1199]

Why after all this time, does the front idler needs re-shimming? Could the cause be something further back on the under carriage? Mind your fingers Warren, I thought you was going to get the ends chopped of when the front idler hub finally broke free.

[@westerntruckandtractorrepa1353]

It's a different aftermarket track

[@derrillbalshaw1199]

@@westerntruckandtractorrepa1353 Hi Warren, If worse comes to worse, you could try swopping the tracks from one side to the other. Shame there is so much involved in shimming the front idlers, especially when it's only one man.

[@garysoykin2783]

I think you need like a transmission jack just a small cheap one and roll it on a piece of plywood

[@garysoykin2783]

Is that track on backwards I thought the V is supposed to go towards the front what do I know just asking?

[@MrCrabbing]

Looks tough to do on your own, this may be a silly question but is it possible to shim the wheel rims, would save removing the finger biting heavy bit.

[@MrCrabbing]

@@jaredmayer3960 fair enough I did wonder if it would overload the wheel studs or bolts too

[@MrCrabbing]

@@jaredmayer3960 I did wonder about switching the tyres, there’s a lot of different things in play there, I’m sure he will nail it be interesting to see if the extra shim is all it needs

[@MrCrabbing]

@@jaredmayer3960 yes there’s a lot of components subject to wear in the system which all can affect it, getting ready to Chuck the trawl over now thanks for the explanation 👍👍🤞🤞🐟🐟

[@pauljohansson288]

How much does the track weigh?

[@KG-yn9qi]

Hey Warren! Seems most track (cats/JD’s ) just do not like you!😂😂😂😂 But you still kick their ass! But they do fight back!

[@rickjohnson1632]

Hey Warren, is there anything you can’t fix? 👍

[@timspicer3270]

😊

[@CaptKirk1701]

Have you tried switch tires or sides?

[@Bryanja81]

Would it be cheaper to have those shims cut on a water table plasma?

[@stuartlockwood9645]

That's the easy part, then you have taper grind them otherwise they wouldn't cant the wheel away from the track guides,