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Traction in hard ground, frozen ground and muddy conditions and ice is always a problem for any tractor.  Here is an easy way to get that traction  without having to replace your grousers--shoes.

Backround: Calks; [pronounced corks] [anupgrade in spelling], are used to allow for better traction in frozen conditions. The ground here freezes on the average of three to four feet and deeper if there is traffic, even just walking will drive the frostin. Climbing hills, snowplowing or piling brush, the extra traction
achieved with the use of caulks is quit impressive, they will keep you
going to say the least. The term ,caulks, comes from the days of horse,
usage. There were various types of anti-slip devices used on the horse
shoes depending on the conditions encountered, most were threaded in,
some were riveted. A pointed, cone shaped caulk, about one inch long,
was used on ice, or very hard surface, the loggers in this area used a
flat, broad, chisel shaped device about one inch wide and the same in
height, for skidding. These could be used in combination or separately on
the shoes, in whatever configuration and number deemed necessary for the
job. 

TIP:  On the D6C's we used one inch grouser bar cut into two and a half inch lengths welded one to a pad, starting just outside the rail on the first pad, in the middle of the second pad, andjust outside the rail on the third pad, opposite end of the first, then back to the middle an so on. we used three sixteenth 7018 or Arctec welding rod at 225 amps.

To set the equipment up for calking; use substantial blocking just
ahead of the trunion, with the dozer raised, block tightly to the "C"
frame, stay clear of the pads on the ground, lower dozer as far down as it
will go, raise and add more blocking until tight, lower dozer again,
repeat adding blocking until you can raise the track off the ground.
Tie the steering clutch back on the opposite side and lock the same
brake, if a standard shift, use a tarp strap to hold the clutch ahead,
and loose enough to allow the clutch to move back for slight engagement.
tie a light rope to the top of the clutch handle and drape over the rear
of the cat to the ground, so the welder at the back of the machine can
operate the clutch from that position. A power shift unit is done the
same way. Two welders, one in front and one at the back creates an ideal
welding situation. both welders start by welding calks on at either end,
when both welders have finished their weld, the track is turned by
giving a slight pull on the rope. When all the calks have been welded on
with a single pass, the procedure continues by welding the backside of
the calk.

A system we developed to make the calks last all winter was to lay
a very narrow bead of CX 90 or CX100 [1/8"] hard surface on top of the
calk. This allowed the softer material along the edge of the weld to
wear away faster than the hardsurfacing, keeping the calk sharp. this
had to be done every three weeks without fail, this is about as long as
the hard surfacing would last.

I suppose by today's standards one could not set a cat up this way
for calking, never had any one get hurt this way, just use common sense!

This is great idea.  Thanks for the detail on how to do the procedure. The same principal can be used for loaders, and other tracked  equipment working  in non-ideal situations.

I have seen several alternatives to this. One is to use a  grade 8 1"  diameter bolt  on every other shoe in an alternating pattern.  The bolts  protrude anywhere from 1-3" above the cleat of the shoe.  I have also seen the use of angle iron bolted to the grouser pad of street pads and rebar welded to the show.  The use of grouser bar is more elegant and will give you a greater life and may help to preserve the value of machine when it comes time for resale.

Email: <redlund@telusplanet.net>

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