How to Fix a Caterpillar Number 24 Cable Control
The cable control on the Caterpillar bulldozer is a device that lifts and lowers the front blade. The No. 24 cable control was used on the earliest models of Caterpillar bulldozers. Fixing the cable control can involve different components of the assembly. The most common problem with this control centers around the wire rope, which has a tendency to stretch and break. Other typical problems are wear to the sheaves or sheave bearings failing. You must have a lot of heavy equipment mechanical experience to work on this type of Caterpillar.
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Things You'll Need
- Heavy equipment ratchet and socket set
- Heavy equipment wrench set
- Pliers including snap-ring pliers
- Screwdriver set
- Hammer
- Punch
- Bearing puller
Instructions
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1
Lower the Caterpillar bulldozer all the way to the ground until the wire rope on the cable control has slack. Inspect the sheaves and wire rope for damage. Turn the wire rope drum until no wire rope is threaded around the drum.
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2
Remove the wire rope clips on the drum with a ratchet and socket. Pull the wire rope ends out of the clips. Pull the wire rope from around the sheaves of the cable control.
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3
Unbolt the shaft on the sheaves. Slide the sheave shaft through the center of the sheaves, pulling out one sheave at a time. Pull the last sheave out and remove the sheave shaft completely from the Caterpillar. Set the sheaves on a flat surface and pull the bearings from the center of the sheaves.
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4
Replace worn bearings and sheaves with new components. Press the new bearings into the center of the sheaves by tapping them in place with a hammer. Tap lightly all the way around the bearings to ensure they seat in the sheaves properly.
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Slide the sheave shaft through one side of the Caterpillar bulldozer and slide one sheave on at a time. Push the shaft in farther and slide another sheave on the end of the shaft. Continue pushing the shaft in and sliding another sheave on until all the sheaves are in place. Push the shaft through the other side of the bulldozer mounting plate and bolt it in place.
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6
Thread a new wire rope through the sheaves by starting on one side. Continue pulling the wire rope through each sheave giving yourself enough slack to pull the rope through the corresponding sheave. Clip each end of the wire rope on the drum and rotate the drum until the wire rope is taut. Raise and lower the Caterpillar bulldozer blade to ensure the assembly was installed correctly.
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Tips & Warnings
Work on the wire rope only when it is slack.
Never work on the sheaves with the wire rope still threaded through these cable control components.
The wire rope can get pinned between sheaves when pulling the rope out of the Caterpillar.
Always work with another person because these components can be very heavy.
Wear steel-toed boots or shoes when pulling the sheaves out of the Caterpillar.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
