My Trackster Build

[brushcutter]

Well, that settles that. I found brass flakes -big ones- in the case. I refuse to put so much effort into this machine, only to have something that I am less than 100% confident that when it is driven into a beaver swamp it will drive back out.
The tracks are off, the front bumper and skid plate are dangling, the power pack is out, hydro's are at a hydrauic service facility to be cleaned and rebuilt. I'll break the xmission open and clean/repair as needed. I didn't start this project to have a "less than 100%" machine but rather a "better than 100%" machine.

[Noel Woods]

Hate to hear all the litany of problems that have plagued you on this machine. It seems sometimes that when you repair two issues, five more come up.

Whoever ends up with this baby will have one heck of a rebuilt machine though.

I think we can all appreciate what you have been through, and no one would blame you from walking away. But, when this thing is finally done, it will be like a work of art. I vote that you see it through to the end.

[brushcutter]

I'll be keeping it Noel, when I finish, it will be better than new. The transmission was a big question ever since I got it, and the only part not to be reworked. I'm not in a hurry, and the boys respond better when we only do a small amount of work each day. I'm not pushing toward some deadline and that makes it way more enjoyable for us all. We took all week to get the power pack out, maybe 20-30 minutes a day. Tomorrow I'll break it down, maybe, maybe I'll do something else no more rushing to get it done.

[brushcutter]

Cracked the xmission case open this afternoon, easier to do than a T20, and this is what I found. The light colored spots you see are big chunks of metal, just as Craig said there would be. Also in there was sludge from having had water in it. Now I'm really glad I stopped trying to make the thing work, if it had started working ok, I would have at some point in the future, been stranded somewhere. The gears have no damage though and the bearings are all smooth. I already have the outer axle bearings, bought when I first ordered parts, they will be replaced, and most likely the rest of them also. No point tearing it this far down and not replacing them all. This thing might break down one day, but not due to me going less than all out on the build. #headedtothat150%restoredmark!

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[brushcutter]

Wow, five stars guys and girls, I feel honored, I truly do! Can't wait to repay that with some beaver swamp grinding video! Hopefully it won't be much longer, I think the hydro/xmission rebuild will get us going soon.

[Noel Woods]

Sounds like you have a handle on the tranny issue now, I'm on the edge of my seat on this build. Can't wait to see her done.

[brushcutter]

Looks like I'll have the hydro's back before I get the parts for the transmission. Ricky messaged me today and said he should have them back together Thursday. The right one had loose pump piston slippers, and a stuck piston which caused the retainer to break. The other will have a few parts replaced. I figure since I already have it blown apart, I might as well replace all the bearings and save myself future problems.

[brushcutter]

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Thanks ups, I'm so glad you brought back my hydrostats in such damaged condition. I would just hate to know I could have made a test drive today.

[brushcutter]

Why is it that every one of my first drives in any of these things is at night?

[Noel Woods]

It's Alive?

[brushcutter]

Semi, Noel, still have to do the finish work, you know seat, fuel cell, final wiring, mount the winch, but yes I took it out for a short spin around the yard in pitch dark. The boys and I helped one of my brothers start the clean up of a huge mess made by having a massive oak taken down, so I did not get to work on it today. It was a beer, burn and chainsaw kind of Saturday.

[brushcutter]

Finished the wiring yesterday and plugged all the bolt holes that were not used. Drove it for about 20 minutes yesterday evening, I'll try to post some pictures this evening, maybe sooner, the power is out at work, I might leave early. Still have to build a seat and a few other things.

[brushcutter]

Here are 3 new pics. Still have to build a seat, the driving we've done was while sitting on a board. Having issues with the track tension system, the right carrier pops out of the cap which allows it to slide out and loose all track tension. Seems as though the track is too long. That side has already been extended 1 1/2" added another 1 1/4" today. Will do same to other side tomorrow.
On a side note I figured out how to rebuild the solenoids for Warn winches.

[brushcutter]

Ok, got the other side done. Did some leak testing and fixed a couple of minor trickles. Still need to build a seat. Once that is done, I will be selling it. Too much to be able to ever enjoy it, maybe someone else will.

[brushcutter]

I had major trouble keeping the tracks on in water so I extended both tensioner assemblies to fix the issue and built rollers which only touch the tracks if they start to move towards the tub. Then realized that the last 2 times a track jumped was in the same spot, while entering or exiting a creek. So I'm not sure the rollers were necessary, I do know I haven't lost a track since. I'm not sure buying the maclaren tracks were the best idea, they are very aggressive and make for difficult steering on hard ground but JESUS do they ever grind up briars! I've taken it into and through places that the 950 would never go. One of the first spots I went was the hole where Mudbug stuck his Max IV after I changed all the bearings, an axle and did a few mods and upgrades. I made it through to the creek with much difficulty and slapping of mosquitos but because the beavers have a dam right there the silt/leaves were built up to within a couple of inches of the water surface and progress was only made by grinding forward, reversing then grinding forward again. I spent about 30 minutes moving forward about 3 feet and said screw this I have a winch. Wouldn't you know it, I pull the cable out, hook to a tree, winch about 6 inches, catch a burried log and walk right out, ain't that the way it goes? After that I drove right up the creek for about 3 tenths of a mile but had to exit due to a cypress knee thicket that I just didn't want to deal with right then.
I added a cargo carrier on the rear and built an uncushioned seat, I'm thinking of just using boat cushions that can be used in other arrangements during duck season. We'll see how that works, then decide. Also I had the exhaust run out through the tub but the flex pipe was so big that the heat was melting the fiberglass. That got removed, the holes glassed up solid and the flex pipe shortened and routed through expanded metal vents which were cut into the hood to allow heat to escape. The hood was getting so hot we had to wear gloves to touch it. I'll add a fan to help exhaust the engine heat tomorrow, and install the volt guage also.
I promise, as soon as I can get one of the kids to drive I'll get some video posted. I have a few crappy phone videos on my facebook page, I'll change the settings on those so the puplic can see them.