Link press assembly and method of use

A method of disassembling a parallel link track chain, the track chain including an outboard outer link and an inboard outer link interconnected by a pair of pins having first ends, and outboard inner links and inboard inner links coupled with the pins on opposite sides of the outboard outer link and inboard outer link, and each of the outboard outer link, inboard outer link, outboard inner link, and inboard inner link including shoe bolt holes, the method comprising:

• providing a disassembly mount plate having a plurality of disassembly rods extending therefrom and inserting the disassembly rods through a plurality of shoe slots in both the outboard outer link and inboard outer link, to position the disassembly mount plate on an inboard side of the inboard outer link;
• positioning an inner link support plate between the outboard outer link and inboard outer link, and in abutment with the outboard outer link;
• positioning an outer link support plate against an outboard side of the outboard outer link opposite the inner link support;
• securing the inner link support plate and outer link support plate to the outboard outer link, and to the disassembly rods using a plurality of fasteners;
• securing a bridge plate to a top portion of the track chain via a plurality of fasteners and shoe nuts extending into the shoe bolt holes of the outboard inner links and inboard inner links positioned adjacent to the outboard outer link and inboard outer link, wherein a plurality of support pegs extending from the bridge plate are situated in the shoe bolt holes of the outboard outer link;
• sliding a plurality of block guide rods through a plurality of plate guide rod passages in a plurality of rod guides secured to the bridge plate, and at least partially securing the block guide rods relative to the rod guides;
• providing a contact block having block guide rod passages, a piston rod cavity on a first side, and a plurality of pin bumpers secured to a second side;
• sliding the block guide rod passages over the block guide rods until abutment of the pin bumpers with the first ends of the pins;
• positioning a press over the bridge plate with a backing plate of the press in contact with the disassembly mount plate and a press piston rod in the piston rod cavity;
• and
• actuating the piston rod towards the backing plate to push the pins out of respective pin passages in the outboard outer link.

A method of reassembling a parallel link track chain, the track chain including an outboard outer link and an inboard outer link interconnected by a pair of pins having first ends, and outboard inner links and inboard inner links coupled with the pins on opposite sides of the outboard outer link and inboard outer link, and each of the outboard outer link, inboard outer link, outboard inner link, and inboard inner link including shoe bolt holes, the method comprising:

• securing a bridge plate to a top portion of the track chain via a plurality of fasteners and shoe nuts extending into the shoe bolt holes of the outboard inner links and inboard inner links positioned adjacent to the outboard outer link and inboard outer link;
• sliding a plurality of block guide rods through a plurality of plate guide rod passages in a plurality of rod guides secured to the bridge plate, and at least partially securing the block guide rods relative to the rod guides;
• securing a link hanger having a plurality of hanger guide rod passages to the outboard outer link and sliding the hanger guide rod passages onto the block guide rods;
• providing a contact block having block guide rod passages, a piston rod cavity on a first side, and a plurality of front cups secured to a second side;
• sliding the block guide rod passages over the block guide rods until abutment of the front cups with the outboard outer link;
• positioning a back tool plate at an inboard side of the inboard outer link;
• positioning a press over the bridge plate with a backing plate of the press in contact with the back tool plate and a press piston rod in the piston rod cavity;
• and
• actuating the piston rod to push the outboard outer link towards the backing plate until the pins are secured in respective pin passages in the outboard outer link.