Carrier Track Handling Tool

[Lynn Eades]

I learned something today. I thought a dead track was as per a Cat dozer,(say going over a log) that crawled up to its balance point and flopped over.(with a solid track frame at the bottom with fixed rollers) and that a live track absorbed the log.
I learned this (mis information)over 50 years ago
Thanks Rob for the correction.

[rob love]

Dead track is not rubber bushed so will fold over with no resistance, or flop onto the ground is laid down.

Live track has rubber bushings, and will resist any movement other than it's natural state.

You almost have to force the live track in order to pinch fingers, although the usual pinch points of things like sprockets or track jacks still exists. The dead track will happily grab a finger with all it's un-suspended weight if you don't control it.

[Jon Bradshaw]

I have only ever been in wheeled vehicles so my experience is all outside the service. I have only done carrier track and so far been lucky (so it seems) to not mangle/ lose fingers in my track... Seems like a simple thing to make, if the dimensions were put on here, even easier.

[Lynn Eades]

Jon, if you take a few links of track and put you hooks on the ends, the load on the rope draws them in.
The hoo end are about 5/8" (16mm)square, but are only 3/8" thick at the ends.
The opening inside the hook is 1 1/4" wide (31mm) The ring is a 5/8' (16mm round, with a 3 1/16" (77mm) id. The hole in the hooks has about 1/8" clearance all round.
The hooks have a 27 degree turn in.
You should be able to work out a functional set from that.
Do you know a keen blacksmith?

[Lynn Eades]

Jon, if you take a few links of track and put you hooks on the ends, the load on the rope draws them in.
The hoo end are about 5/8" (16mm)square, but are only 3/8" thick at the ends.
The opening inside the hook is 1 1/4" wide (31mm) The ring is a 5/8' (16mm round, with a 3 1/16" (77mm) id. The hole in the hooks has about 1/8" clearance all round.
The hooks have a 27 degree turn in.
You should be able to work out a functional set from that.
Do you know a keen blacksmith?

Robin's photo holds a good lesson. Use leather gloves. The won't prevent injuries but they certainly can help minimise the damage if you do something silly.