Excavator Not Tracking Straight, TOUGH Hydraulic Repair.

My excavator hasn't tracked straight since I bought it. I finally dive in and try to repair it, and wow, it turns out to be a tough job.

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#farmlife #farmcraft101 #farming #farmer #excavator #hydraulic #trackmachine

[arcrad]

One things ive learned watching your repair videos is just how valuable a lathe is as a tool for making repairs.

[carsonwashburn]

I think we all appreciate how much time and attention you put into editing your videos with adding text and graphics. Your videos are so informative.

[markedis]

As several other people have said, the most cost effective solution will be to ‘trim’ the faster motor so it runs at the same speed as the slower one. There must be an adjustable valve available for not too much money, and despite the fact that you haven’t fixed the cause of the problem, you will have alleviated the symptoms of the problem.

[andrewdwight]

Hi John, a 90 degree pipe fitting will restrict the oil flow compared to a straight fitting. The pipe for the left control valve has a 90 degree fitting so might be the cause of the problem. Keep up with the excellent videos.

[rynoopperman]

I find myself as excited for your video on a Friday evening as I got waiting for MacGyver or Knight Rider in the 80’s

[chrislett]

Heavy Diesel Tech here. Without a flow meter adjusting GPM at the pumps like that will also alter Dead Head Pressure. There is an equilibrium for every hydraulic system built. Certain pumps can only produce a specific amount of GPM and PSI. Sometimes if you take GPM you will Gain PSI and vice versa.

I probably would have started swapping lines at the valves instead of the motors but everyone has their own way and place to start when it comes to diagnosing things.

I have learned from messing with hydraulics over the past 10 years that you always approach these issues with the basics first. Ensure there is plenty of fluid, ensure there are no restrictions on the suction side like your, particle filter, tank strainers, and even pumps can have strainers, and that there are no bubbles in the oil, no foam, and 100% no leaks throughout my lines, valves, etc. I always do this before I go trying to diagnose a single thing with hydraulics. Pulling Air into a control valve or a flow divider can and will definitely affect how a hydraulic system functions.

On your travel motor, you can try doing a case drain test. Instead of returning the fluid back to the tank, you can send it to a large measuring device. ORRR if you had a high dollar flow meter lol, you could add the meter to your case drain line for your travel motor and see what your flow rate is back to the tank. Depending on the GPM of your flow meter in this location can tell you if you have a bad travel motor or if your problem is further up the circuit.

Lastly, I think you underestimate your skill sets. If you can machine things you can rebuild those pumps or motors on a budget. Tear down a motor and go over each o-ring with calipers and verify part numbers in your parts manual to make finding your o-rings online easier. Once you have done so go to Ebay and order bulk quantities for each o-ring you will need. Much cheaper than buying a repair kit. You might spend a few hundred dollars on seals and o-rings versus thousands and still have leftovers to repair other things... The downside of doing things this way is your machine will be down until all o-rings, seals, and orifices come in the mail.

Best of Luck.

[rpetty]

You are a phenomenal teacher in addition to being a jack of all trades. Thank you for sharing your expertise.

[EdBrumley]

You may feel defeated, but you’re miles ahead of me. I’m always impressed with your ability to analyze the situation and think of alternative solutions to correct the issue. You are amazing dude!
I throughly enjoy your videos.

[andrewbowers]

Use your adaptor hoses to swap the lines without swapping the accumulator - my diag brain tells me that the accumulator might have something to do with it, and if the behavior changes if just the lines are swapped versus lines + accumulator, I would give that accumulator a good look.

[ssrattus]

Hydraulics are hard, but your John CAD drawings make them easier to understand. Great video!

[andytidnits]

I just love your videos. Your logic and experiments and your detailed descriptions are just fantastic. You are a superb teacher. All in all, it makes me glad I spend the time and money to sneak onto your farm at night and make random tweaks to some of your equipment from time to time just to see how you figure out whats wrong.

[joelsundgren]

I love your videos, I’m a professional heavy equipment technician living in Sweden. I don’t see any of your test or troubleshooting paths to be wrong. But i would have started with a easy bucket test. Just lift the track and put the house drain from each motor to a bucket and run for any set amount of time and see any variations. If okey I would look in to see if there is any delta P adjustment to the pump. I guess that you will have separate. Electrical or mechanical throttle control of the pump outputs. The ls pressure (load sensing) pressure will set the angle of the pump the horsepower control on the out side should not be messed with. I might have done it 😂 I’m no expert on Yanmar but if you want any in put we could do a teams meeting or similar 😊 best regards from Joel

[michaelbrowne]

That accumulator seems to be on the side that runs faster and seems to be the difference when switched. Iv run skid steers, excavators on a larger scale and after ten or so years every machine starts to get quirky. When you correct it may build up and slowly add extra pressure to the left track and bleed off. But every time you correct it builds pressure and starts over again causing an imbalance. Since you quite easily removed it once already may be the strong side is the problem. Just bar stool quarterbacking I really like how you work through the problem and don’t pull the trigger on the parts cannon. Good luck.

[Ed-G]

My first thought has been to check the hoses for restrictions. Reason I came to mind is I was working on a four-wheeler with a plastic gas tank and the carburetor kept getting clogged so I started taking the hose off and it was blocked. Then I went into the gas tank and it was a mess but I never thought of it because we run ethanol free gasoline in those. It turns out another friend of ours has a Sea-Doo and he ran into the exact same problem. So bottom line check your hoses. Make sure there's no obstructions in them.

[thekillermp]

Really appreciate you putting on two gauges to show the audience the real time difference. The time and effort you put in some of these videos is a really good thing to witness as a viewer. Keep it up!

[samahdicox]

I would prop the excavator up so both tracks could spin and test each side with a tachometer to determine wether the rpm of each side are exactly the same. Or disconnect the track and test each drive sprocket . This would determine a hydraulic issue or a drive train issue, wouldn’t cost anything to test but would rule out 50% of the equation. I’m a toolmaker by trade and have 0 experience with heavy machinery just love watching this channel the man’s a legend

[kubaczek]

Love the way you teach on simple paper and drawing ❤

[M_CRYMORE]

Usually it's hard to watch long videos like this. But yours are interesting and entertaining all the way through

[billforrest]

Given the age of the machine (and depending on how hard it was worked) you obviously have wear in components, however...
before exchanging expensive components: 1) bypass the accumulator (remove it and run direct to the port) and check the tracking 2) check hoses for replacements ( especially their Internal diameter) 3) If you can, slip the tracks off and mark the drive sprockets and check rotation speed with a tachometer (Ie without load) and see if they still differ 4) whilst tracks dismounted check all Idlers/track rollers are free rotating. Sometimes the simplest overlooked problem causes the biggest headaches John 😉 Tracking issues have plagued caterpillar machines since the were invented! 😒

[fritzmiller]

I been waiting for this one, my U35 tracks left almost as bad as that Yanmar does. Edit: after watching I am a little depressed 😂😂😂 Seriously, that was extremely interesting and very entertaining. You have now, with this Yanmar, taught me at least half of everything I know about hydraulics. You might not have got a KO this time but you are still a Champ. Thank you John.👏👏👏