Combines R 72 Shoe Seal

there is a bulletin and kit on shoe seals _duct breakage for early models. Shoe damage occurs if the rubbers get hard and loose. Always go back with seals like the newest side stationary seals are on the shoe top.

I had replaced all the rubber bushings about 400 hrs ago. It had been cracked then but, I had welded it. It cracked again around the weld that I had welded. I did not know for sure if the shoe could be tweeked or if the bracket that the seal is mounted to is bent.

I don't know of any updates after '96 on the long shoe. I think tbran thought you were talking about upper seals. You should have all the latest with your '98 machine. I would look at the ducting very close. I would bet it was missplaced or bent during assembly. I would venture a guess that tie bolt was lose at one time. You might be best off to pull shoe to do examination. You may find crack more extensive where you can't see. I have had zero trouble with these long shoes except the short strap that goes from long tie bolt to the other. In fact if this was broke on yours at one time and tie bolt was loose it could of leed to your cracking problem. You will likely want to weld a strap over the repaired crack or it will likely crack again. Good luck

also the long shoe (excuse me but I first assumed this was an older unit) has a tie rod on the front that HAS to be tight, if one can pull the top chaffer out without loosening it , then it is too loose. This front tie rod helps keep everything square and rigid. Also watch the shoe at low idle and make sure it travels straight back and forth. I do not see how this seal could move, must have been wrong from the start. Don't know if it matters or not. Think probably not. Have you noticed any problem in sealingIJ

I found bulliton tbran was likely thinking of and it is for '96 and some '97 machines. Part of the bulliton was to lay straight edge on bottom of splitter to project a line up toward chaffer. It should project a line just below and paralell to the panel you say is sagging down. Makes me think tie bolt did come loose at one time which let shoe down on panel that is sagging. When you get it back level torque the large tie bolt to 140 foot pounds and small one that clamps front of chaffer in to 80 foot pounds. Hope this helps.

The crack does start at the smaller rod's hole. I did have to loosen that to remove the chaffer, but it is possible that it may have been loose at one time. I may have to remove the shoe to try to get that top seal bracket level again. It looks to me that it may not affect grain loss there. I am afraid that it could affect the wind deflection or maybe that's not possible.