I have a factory stationary track press I bought last fall. Have dies up to d9h. It’s rated at 350-400 tons if memory serves me correct.

Neil, if you are only adding a few links to a chain then get a shop to do it, because by the time you muck around buying all the bits and pieces and try and make it make it work with pumps and rams, $1,000 will get burnt I reckon, if you discover your 20 ton press isn't up to the job, whereas it might cost $200 to get a shop to do it?

Here in Dreamland it costs around $400 a side to turn pins and bushes on D2 / D4 chain with the plates removed, because I have several sets of D2 and several sets of 2 Ton chain and a set of D4 chain with 35 links a side off a RD6 that needs pins and bushes turned, it's worth trying to get a rig here at home.
Regards
Mike

You are lucky you have track shop options around you, my nearest non Cat Dealer track shop is 600 miles away, the Cat Dealer quoted me over $2,000 a side to turn pins and bushes around 6 years ago, it's probably $3,000 a side now.......

Yes Neil, you are right, new Berco chain for D2 runs around $US900 a side, D4 is around $US1,100, and it's getting difficult to find the pins and bushes here in Oz for D2 and the early D4 chains.

Good question Neil, here in Dreamland I reckon the Berco D4 chain is sold in 36 link lengths, and guys like my old mate Joe who sell it, simply add or subtract links depending on how many are needed, I do not know what length the bulk D2 chain is sold in by Berco, but remember the grouser bolt holes are 1/2" in that newer D2 chain, not 7/16".

Looking at the Berco website they list D2 5U chain as original p/n LH1A/33 and LH1B/33, new p/n is CTHL0102A333305, that is for 33 links, the ITM p/n is F01020AOM00033, Berco list a shorter 30 link chain for the early 3J/5J as p/n CTHF0102A030
Regards
Mike
 

Moparnut88 wrote:

I have a factory stationary track press I bought last fall. Have dies up to d9h. It’s rated at 350-400 tons if memory serves me correct.
 

That must be able to press pins out of a D11 track.
I looked at building a track pin press of my own and was going to copy the WTC FP100 Field Press. It is 100ton capacity and is rated upto D9.  The reson I did not go ahead with it is a 100ton Enerpac double acting cylinder with sufficient stroke is around $2000-$2500. I already have a diesel powered enerpac pump but if you had to buy a pump with double acting capablitilies as well then you could probalby double the $2500.
My understanding of a track pin press is that there is a huge difference in the force required to press a master pin out compared to the force required for removing pins and bushes for turning. The home made press linked to in another thread appears to be only breaking the chain asumedly at the master pin. Also that type of setup would be very difficult to use for reassembling a long length of track.
Where I work we have chains for a walking floor in a furnace. These have a 3/4" pin. I built a portable press to push the pins out using a 10ton enerpac cylinder. It does the job but is at or near capaciy so I doubt a 20ton cyilinder would be enough for a D2 chain unless you heat the links.
Also if you are using threaded rod make sure you know the tensile strength of the rod. I have seen a few let go because they were the wrong grade.