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'67 Sno-Cat Metal Tracks

FatalError

New member
I'm the happy owner of a '67 Sno-Cat. It's fully functional and in good running shape, but I'm having a bit of an issue with the front set of tracks. I have some excessive wear on the roller bearing support ears which look like they've been wearing against the bottom edge of the guide rail. Most of the rollers still have some decent flange left to them, but I'll have to replace some eventually. I found links to these guys as potential replacements, but has anyone actually used them? https://www.pcimfg.com/portfolio_page/track-rollers/

Back to my original reason for posting though, does anyone have a guide of some sort for how to properly align the tracks and pontoons? How much "sag" or tension do the steelies need? Is it just mis-tensioned if it looks to have toe-out or is that a sign of something else broken? I checked all the axle nuts and tightened them up, is there something else I should be checking? The front tracks seem nice and snug, about 3/4" give if you pull up on either side of the drive gear. Is that too tight? The back tracks seem very loose in comparison, like 2" of give on either side, but they don't have the same wear issue or seem toed-out.

I'll see if I can post some pictures to better show what I'm working with. I've already gone through this: https://ibb.co/jzLR3td and measured up the adjustments to the front pivot plate, got it aligned to within 1/4", but I have nearly 3" of toe out between the front guide rails (inner pontoon side) to the back of the front pontoons. The rear is within 3/4".

Thanks for your help!
 

Pontoon Princess

Cattitute
GOLD Site Supporter
well well well, welcome the insane world of tucker pontoons,

first, I do not know anything about the supplier, though, the rails are plow steel, hardened and the rollers wheels are hardened, so a mild steel rollers will wear quickly,

sag, you should only be able to lift the track roller about a 1/2 inch at most off the rail.

do you have 3/4 or 1 inch rollers, adjustable nose rails, picture of the inside pontoon journal that rides on the axle housing, style of drive spools. half links and the condition of the link pins?

post a few photos of your issues and I will do my best to answer all your questions

the answer pontoon princess person
 

FatalError

New member
Alright! So the back tracks, I can definitely lift more than 1/2". They still have some adjustment left on the track adjusters so I'll try to take that in. Good info on the rails, I'd read that elsewhere too.

3/4 or 1"? I'm not sure. The rollers are 2" + flange. Adjustable nose rails all around. I've attached a picture of some of the worst wear I have. I had the one track welded up a few years back, but haven't gotten to this one yet.

I assume there's a bearing of some sort on the inside of the pontoons to hold the weight of the axle? If that was wore out I would assume I would see issues like a toe-out on the pontoons?

Link pins are in decent condition I think. Some are a little rougher than others, but the previous owner had nearly a full spare track that I've scavenged better pins and plates from.

I'll grab a few more pictures tomorrow in better light.

Thanks!

Apparently the forum rotates photos weirdly... sorry.
 

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Pontoon Princess

Cattitute
GOLD Site Supporter
first, there is no bearing on the inside flange where the pontoon rides on the axle housing, metal on metal,

a cause of rollers wearing on the outside, away from the flange, is do to, the ear of the grouser being bent,

noticed that the end cap is gone from a few rollers, thus they will not hold grease very long, important to have them

IMHO, you need to do a complete rehab of the pontoons,tracks and grousers, just to much wear and misalignment
 
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Track Addict

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
Someone made a jig to bend the ears back? Think it was Rob Miller. (Miller666)

The links and pins don't look as bent or worn as others Tuckers of that age. Even the tops of the grousers aren't that work.

What causes the flanges to bend like that? You can see some of the wear is from the roller riding up over the rail.

Few ice grousers mixed in and recent cotter pins in which means the tracks have been worked on. The rails could have been used from another cat possibly?

If the rollers rode on the rails creating that grove the pontoons should be well worn also which I don't see. If metal that could be why but the fiberglass ones get carved up quick.

The pontoon in the last picture has the axle flange cocked at the bottom. This is from wear or loose something as the pontoon sits on uneven ground.
 

FatalError

New member
First off, wow. I didn't expect to have so many people already involved and helping!

I saw the alignment jig a little while back. I've always been a little unsure about bending the ears. I have at least a couple that are out-right missing which I'm sure isn't helping. I've been afraid that the ears would just break off if I tried to bend them back into shape.

I was planning to pull the pontoons and do a rehab of them this summer. Some of the other reskin threads don't look super fun and I doubt I can get them to a museum quality, but it would be nice to get the dents out and replace some of the worn guide rails as some of them are fairly rounded now.

When I got the machine a few years back, the first thing I did was go though and get the micro grease end for the bearings, we packed them right up with grease, but yea, it doesn't hold it for very long on those ones :) We also went through and re-did a bunch of the keys on the pins, up to that point I'm not sure what type of maintenance was done.

I have a little bit of wear on the inside guide rail surface (between the pontoon and the endcap of the roller) but nothing like some of the other pictures I've seen on here with tears, I'm hoping I can get this fixed up before that point.

Totally possible the rails were off another cat, when I bought it it came with another nearly whole roll of track and a spare fiberglass pontoon.

I'll see if I can get into the outer bearing and see what shape it's in on the front pontoons. My main concern right now is why the front doesn't seem to be square. The wear and tear I can understand but to be that out of alignment screams something is wore out or broke. How hard is it going to be to get to that bearing? Am I going to need to de-track the pontoon to get into it?
 

Pontoon Princess

Cattitute
GOLD Site Supporter
the outside bearing is easy to get to, just remove the dust cover on the axle flange and you will see the axle hub extension nut and the bearing fits into the flange and the hub rides not he flange,

be easier to remove the tracks but not required.

sadly with steel track tuckers, it is a do it right or just limp along deal

there is lot going on with a pontoon machine, lots of things that need to align with other parts to have correct and proper operation.

you have real issues that need to be fixed now, take it apart and do it right...

happy to help

PM me with a phone number and I will be happy to talk you through the process involved
 
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Tye one on

Member
I used to have a steel tracker that had an axle tube was slightly bent causing a tow out condition of about 3”. I’m assuming someone hit something in the deep snow or had it stuck and pulled hard a little sideways on the front. At. Any rate it doesn’t take much bend to cause 3” difference front to back. If outer bearing support isn’t really sloppy I’d look at that housing. Some can be re tubed or find an old Dodge and swap it. Keep us posted, Cheers!
 

nikos

Active member
FatalError
Alright! So the back tracks, I can definitely lift more than 1/2". They still have some adjustment left on the track adjusters so I'll try to take that in. Good info on the rails, I'd read that elsewhere too.

3/4 or 1"? I'm not sure. The rollers are 2" + flange. Adjustable nose rails all around. I've attached a picture of some of the worst wear I have. I had the one track welded up a few years back, but haven't gotten to this one yet.

I assume there's a bearing of some sort on the inside of the pontoons to hold the weight of the axle? If that was wore out I would assume I would see issues like a toe-out on the pontoons?

Link pins are in decent condition I think. Some are a little rougher than others, but the previous owner had nearly a full spare track that I've scavenged better pins and plates from.




The Fotos (Track Adjusters - the bearings - the pontoons)
 

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