[John Chamorro]

Does anybody have any thoughts or opinions on wire selection for grouser bar welding? The recommended wire is Lincoln NS3M. My problem with that is that I can't run wire that big with what I have on hand. I believe it's a .078 wire. Besides needing to get the wire, I'd need drive rollers etc. The recommended swap is to Lincoln 71M, which I don't have either, or the drive rollers for 1/16. What I do have is a new 60# roll of ESAB 7011Dual Shield Ultra in .045. I have 78 bars to weld, 18" per side , or about 240' of bead. This is for my dozer and probably won't be doing it again. I really don't want to invest an extra $100 for rollers that I won't use again, Plus the cost of the Lincoln wire in either variety. I know it will take more passes, but as It's my tractor, the extra time isn't a concern. I should add that I'll either use my Ranger 9 with an LN7GMA or run it with my rusty trusty SP 200. Any thought, opinions, recommendations?

[Mikeover]

If it were me I'd run with the .045, lightly prep (grind) top of the bars - you can get a really wide bead w/dual shield if desired.

If you're concerned about durability you could do a few on either side & take the machine for a spin.

I imagine the recommendations are for operations doing commercial work all day every day.

Just my opinion...

[John Chamorro]

Thanks for the reply. First I gotta say I got a giggle about taking the dozer for a spin! Hmm, maybe a quick trip to the store?

I went with the .045 ESAB 7011 Ultra. It seems to run pretty smoothly. I don't have any real concerns about the abilities of the wire to do it's job. The procedure I decided on was to remove the pads from the dozer then set up in a homemade burning track to trim all the worn grousers to an even height. Dress the cuts a bit them tack the bars on straight and let them cool. Last put the pads and news grousers in another jig I have and weld like a fool.

[John Chamorro]

Here's the track torch in action. Mind you it's all built out of scrap, including the table.
https://youtu.be/Wh7hgU9Fks4

[Poland308]

Nice work John! That looks pretty smooth. Got any still photos of the hold down mechanism for the cutting handle?

[John Chamorro]

The hold down is just a 2" C clamp that happened to be the right size to slip it over the oxy lever and hold it enough to cut. I was using a spring clamp before but it was tough to get it in place and if there was a blow out, I couldn't get it off easily enough. I'll take a pic of it tomorrow and post it . The pads have been re-done once before. The welds are thick and thin making the cuts run from about 5/8 to 3/4" thick. My plasma would have been so much neater but it just barely cuts 5/8". By the time I get to #78 I should have it figured out!

[Mikeover]

That's a pretty slick field expedient setup - yeah, by 78 pcs you'll really have it dialed in.

[JAH]

I rebuild quite a few track pads every year. I use either Hobart XLR-8 self shielded wire or 7018. Some of the pads I deal with are quite hard and need some pre heat.