Now I've Done It ... Threw a Track!!

I am thinking the fix will be to jack up the front right corner, adjust the idler in (as if I was adding slack to the track) and try to slip the track back over the idler. Hopefully that approach will work. If not, I'd jack up the whole side and try again. Hopefully I wont have to break the track apart. The track looks a little catawampus around the back sprocket. I am really wondering about how to jack this guy up. Can I stick a stump under the blade and lower the blade so as to raise the idler? Where should I place a jack to raise the front and/or rear of the machine? Any Advice? Thanks!!!

I'll post the results, I hope to get it back running this week ... Below are pictures ... Click the pictures to see a higher resolution image.

Of course it had to happen in an inaccessible spot

This is what it looked like from the drivers seat

Close Up

As I said the back is a bit catawampus (note the master link is directly under the sprocket)

Used the blade and blocks of wood to raise the front and a jack on the rear. Couldn't get it high enough to run freely though. Turned the idler adjuster in about 5 turns (whew...that was a lot of work) as in loosening the track. Tried to get the track on with come-alongs and pry-bars, but she no play. Got the track aligned with the bottom rollers, let 'er down and motored in reverse to final fruition. The track came right around and into place.

Adjusted both tracks, they were out about an inch each. Continued (MX) track maintenance. Put her to the test and the tracks stayed on. They do make a racket sometimes, like they're gonna pop off, but the seem to stay on fine.

If my tracks were to roll off again, and I was fortunate to stop before it ruptured my hydraulics, I'd just go in reverse and turn to bring the front into the track (and cross my fingers and close my eyes). Hopefully it won't happen again, but if it does I'll be ready for it and have ice cream waiting

Anyway, a couple more suggestions to add to those already posted by others.

First, be really, really careful, especially on the downhill side of the machine or if you're jacking it up. 2.I would put in a temporary hydraulic hose so that you have the hydraulics availble to help you. 3. My objective would be to first get the machine level. If you're clever, you can do this and almost everything else using the machine's hydraulics. For example, by alternately raising and lowering the blade and putting logs or 6x6's in the right places, you can use a seesaw effect to gradually raise the machine on the bad side. When the track is off the ground, it already starts to look a lot more promising. 4. To pull the track around and line it up, you can hook chains on it and pull it by moving the blade. If you have two ways to move the blade (e.g., up and angle), you can use each on one chain (one on the top and one on the bottom), a little at a time, then readjusting the chain location. 5. When you're real close to popping it on the idler, you can use the engine power, braking the track on the other side and moving the one in the air a little at a time, and it will go right on nicely. It all involves being clever in positioning the chains and in being patient about readjusting their position after every slight movement. But I still find this faster (and safer) than trying to muscle it all into place. Save those pictures as a reminder to listen more carefuly for a track that is getting ready to come off! :)

Seems the crawler really does not like going horizontal along a hill side. The blade sags to one side and occasionally makes contact with a track (ugh!). It's impossible to totally avoid, but I'll be a lot more careful and watch the front idlers like a hawk in the future.