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Hi All
I think Frank S will appreciate this post
I recently have been servicing my mini digger and decided to fit new tracks as the old ones definitely needed replacement. Like most jobs one job leads to several more.
On inspection the track guide plates were so badly worn they also needed replacing. So a quick check on the internet and nearly fell off my chair at the price.
So a plan B was needed.
In my personal opinion the plates could easily be made in the workshop at a fraction of the cost of buying them.
So that was plan B sorted!
First some plate was found under the bench the correct thickness and plasma cut and milled to finished dimensions. The next operation was to bend the 3/8” plate on the hydraulic press. This process was done using an old steel homemade vee-block and press tool. Once one end was bent to the correct angle a note was taken from the pressure gauge so all could be bent to the same pressure to reproduce the required bend angle on all plates. When both ends were bent the holes are drilled M10 clearance.
There are two additional blocks that fit on one plate either side of the digger which was a simple mill to size, radius ends and drill and counterbored for M10.
So 3 hours work and some material new plates were manufactured. Then a little paint, job done and I am £170 better off.
Almost worn away
New material and one set of the removed guide plates.
Bending the 3/8” plate on hydraulic press.
Clarence holes plate.
New and old next to each other.
New plate guides bolted in place ready for tracks to be fitted.
Many thanks for viewing
The Home Engineer
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