What is the best tactic to remove and replace tracks on my SC50tx?

[a1stump]

I just bought new shoes for my SC50tx and after fighting to get the old ones off here for some time now, I thought I would ask you guys, since you have been much help in the past, what is the best way to remove these tracks? I do know that it will be even harder to put the new ones on too!!! I took the tensioners as loose as they will go and have been trying to pry them off with a big bar as my dad ran the controls, not working too swell!!!

HELP!

 

[treeoperations]

so youve let the grease tensioners go,

me and dad can rip tracks off our t190 in about 5 mins and new ones on in 15 mins so im gona assume the tracks are smaller and lighter so try getting some scaffold pipe and jamb it in the tracks so it is at idler end, it may be a bit large so some 1/2inch water pipe might be needed.

this should allow the track to slip off the machine easy peasy,

to get track on put it on the drive end, then get it on as much as possible then use a long bar to pry it on the top of the idler while some one drives it fowards.

 

[a1stump]

Not sure if they are smaller, they weight 145 lbs a piece. What are you talking about grease tensioners?

 

[treeoperations]

most track systems have a ram full of grease to tension the track, if it has this there will be a grease nipple or nipples hiding in the track frame behind a plate or just poked inside a small hole, this will allow the track to become loose and hang down below the track frame.

 

[pipehead]

most track systems have a ram full of grease to tension the track, if it has this there will be a grease nipple or nipples hiding in the track frame behind a plate or just poked inside a small hole, this will allow the track to become loose and hang down below the track frame.

+1. Look for the grease nipple. It may be threaded into a "valve". Loosening this valve will let grease out of the rams, and take tension of the tracks. Be careful when letting grease out. It can be under a lot of pressure. Open the valve slowly.

 

[a1stump]

I did finally get the new tracks on! Are you referring to a vermeer track grinder might have these? I couldn't see anything, the tensioner is just a compressed spring that has a idler wheel at the end of it, the idler wheel has sealed and shield bearings, the spring is compressed using a steel plate and a nut tighten to the plate. The Bearing was completely toast on one side. I have been having problem with that track binding up. I have replaced the hydraulic valve to the track, the nylon track slides, the bearings in the idler, switched joysticks and eliminate the joystick as a possibility and put on new tracks. I am still having a problem with it!!!! Most going forward, it seems to work fine in reverse. I was thinking of trying a new hydraulic selnoid. Otherwise I am up for any ideas and/or opinions.