We're REALLY not setup for this type of work...(v. improvise)

[RedRocket1647545505]

We had to disassemble, replace some seals, and then reassemble (twice ) a hydraulic cylinder for our Caterpillar 315L trackhoe. We had to do this twice, because the idiot of a mechanic our construction crew has working for them, put a damn seal on backwards the first time.

 

First off, here's the nut we are trying to get off. According to Cat, this thing was supposed to be torqued on @1,100ft.lb. I have my doubts, as I think it was waaaay more than that.

 

 

 

http://i19.tinypic.com/2mhbwpg.jpg

 

 

 

Next up is the custom wrench we had to make in order to turn the nut. The nut was 2 5/16" in diameter. We originally had a 2.5' long RIGID brand steel pipe wrench on it, but that proved to be too light duty, as we bent the handle on it. We later shattered the teeth on it as well. Oh, and in case you're wondering what we made it out of; 5/8" thick hardened steel, left over from an old bulldozer blade. Hence, the weight reduction holes

 

Take note of the custom setup we came up with to keep the cylinder ram from turning while we turned the nut. That's an 8,000lb. mini-excavator sitting on a 2" box pipe (which had an S-curve in it when we were done) which we have running through the pin hole on the ram. We originally had our 2-3,xxxlb. 33hp diesel New Holland tracor sitting on that bar, but it proved to be too light to hold us back. We ended up lifting the whole ass end of it off the ground.

 

 

 

http://i12.tinypic.com/4i1nytz.jpg

 

 

 

And finally, we had to have some form of cheater bar to turn our custom wrench. Rough guess: I'd say it's about 12' long, 2"x4" box tubing. We had three, 180lb. guys hanging from the end of this thing and could barely turn it . During reassembly, the same three, 180lb. guys were jumping on it to get it torqued to an EXACT 1,100ft. lb. (I have a torque meter in my feet) :grin2: . Round two of the whole process, involved fighting gobs of red Loctite from the previous assembly. :doh:

 

 

http://i9.tinypic.com/2mxfmnt.jpg

 

 

 

All of this was due to the fact that our bosses are too cheap to send it to the people who have the proper equipment.

 

 

Don't want to do that again.

[Joe]

you need one of these at 2600 bucks (most powerful 1" drive impact on the market)

http://www.toolweb.com/pics/IRT293.jpg

and one of these at 100 bucks (6 Point Standard Fractional Impact Sockets, 1" Drive

Description: 2 5/8" Standard Impact

Diameter: 2.67

Length: 3.38

Individual sockets are sold with ring and pin.)

http://www.toolweb.com/pics/3_4stdm.jpg

 

Propose it as a way to save maintenance cost

[Jackson1647545504]

I piss excellence.

 

yes sir, you certainly do