PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR INSTALLING NEW BOLTS IN THE FINAL DRIVE RING GEAR ON CERTAIN 325C EXCAVATORS Caterpillar

PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR INSTALLING NEW BOLTS IN THE FINAL DRIVE RING GEAR ON CERTAIN 325C EXCAVATORS

Usage:

SEBE7972

April 24, 2002
U-86

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*Priority*	PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR INSTALLING NEW BOLTS IN THE FINAL DRIVE RING GEAR ON CERTAIN 325C EXCAVATORS
4050		PI30312

NOTE: This Program must be administered as soon as possible. When reporting the repair, use "PI30312" as the Part number and "7751" as the Group Number, "56" as the Warranty Claim Description Code and "T" as the SIMS Description Code. Exception: If the repair is done after failure, use "PI30312" as the Part Number, "7751" as the Group Number, "96" as the Warranty Claim Description Code, and "Z" as the SIMS Description Code.

NOTE: The information supplied in this service letter may not be valid after the termination date of this program. Do not perform the work outlined in this Service Letter after the termination date without first contacting your Caterpillar product analyst.

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COMPLETION DATE	TERMINATION DATE
October 30, 2002	April 30, 2003

PROBLEM

AFFECTED PRODUCT

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Model	Identification Number
325C L	BFE111-125, 127-133, 136, 146, 149, 152-160, 162-164, 167, 171-172, 174-175, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 212

PARTS NEEDED

24 - 9X6032 Bolt - Socket
32 - 1798733 Bolt - HEX Head

ACTION REQUIRED

Remove final drive cover. Inspect 2nd stage planetary gear carrier for signs of contact from ring gear bolts on final drive cover. If bolts have made contact, remove and rebuild drive. If no contact, remove ring gear bolts from final drive cover & replace with new. Torque to specifications. See the attached Rework Procedure.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

U.S. and Canadian owners will receive the attached Owner Notification.

SERVICE CLAIM ALLOWANCES

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Caterpillar		Dealer Suggested		Customer Suggested
Parts	Labor Hrs.	Parts	Labor Hrs.	Parts	Labor Hrs.
100%	5	0	0	0	0
NOTE: This is a 5-hour job. NOTE: U.S. and Canadian Dealers Only - Eligible dealers may enter a Type 2 SIMS Report

PARTS DISPOSITION

Handle the parts in accordance with your Warranty Bulletin on warranty parts handling.

MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO COMPLETE THIS PROGRAM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Attach. (1-Owner Notification)
(2-Rework Procedure)

COPY OF OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN OWNERS

XYZ Corporation
3240 Arrow Drive
Anywhere, YZ 99999

PRIORITY - Replace Bolts In the Final Drive Ring Gear

MODELS INVOLVED - 325C Excavators

Dear Caterpillar Product Owner:

The bolts in the final drive ring gear need to be replaced on certain 325C Excavators. The bolts on the final drive ring gear may back off and contact the 2nd stage planetary gear carrier, causing the entire drive to fail. New bolts need to be installed on the products listed below. You will not be charged for the service performed.

Contact your local Caterpillar dealer immediately to schedule this service. The dealer will advise you of the time required to complete this service. Please refer the dealer to their Service Letter dated April 24, 2002 when scheduling this service.

We regret the inconvenience this may cause you, but urge you to have this service performed as soon as possible to prevent unscheduled downtime.

Caterpillar Inc.

Identification #(s)

Attached to April 24, 2002 Service Letter

Rework Procedure

Illustration 1

Clean the track and exterior of the final drive to prevent contamination of the final drive unit. Drain the oil from the drive and dispose of properly. Remove the cover (23) from the drive at ring gear (42).

Note: Do not to separate the ring gear (42) from the sprocket housing (26). If the ring gear (42) and sprocket housing (26) do seperate, ensure that the O-ring seal (35) is in the groove of the sprocket housing (26) before reattaching the ring gear and cover.

Inspect the planetary carrier (4) for contact with the ring gear bolts (41). See Illustration 2.

Illustration 2

If there is CONTACT, as shown in Figure 2, between the ring gear bolts (41) and the 2^nd stage carrier (4) please contact Bill Keifer @ (630) 859-5644 for the final drive rework procedure.
If there is NO CONTACT between the ring gear bolts (41) and the 2^nd stage carrier (4) proceed with the "Final Drive Cover Rework Procedure".

Final Drive Cover Rework Procedure

Remove all of the ring gear bolts (41) from the ring gear (10). Clean the ring gear and the final drive cover. Use 12 new 9X6032 Bolts to attach the ring gear (10) to the final drive cover (23). Do not reuse the old bolts.
Tighten the new 9X6032 Bolts to 55 +/- 10 N.m in the following order:

Tighten two bolts 180

apart, marking the ring gear next to one of the two.

Then follow the bolts in a clockwise pattern around the cover from the marked bolt until all bolts have been tightened.

Then tighten again the first two bolts tightened during the counterclockwise pattern.

Clean dried sealant from ring gear (42) and cover (23) with a wire brush. Take care not to introduce contamination into drive.
If the ring gear (42) and sprocket housing (26) separated during the removal of the final drive cover, ensure that the O-ring seal (35) is in the groove of the sprocket housing (26) before reattaching the ring gear and cover.

Apply 1U8846 Sealant around the mating surface of the ring gear (42) and the cover (23).
Be sure that the plastic button (15) is still retained in the cover (23).
Attach the final drive cover (23) to the ring gear (42) using sixteen new 1798733 Bolts (14).
Torque the 1798733 Bolts in a criss-crossing pattern. These bolt should be tightened with the following torque turn specification: 420 +/- 60 N.m + 60° +/- 5° .
Refill drive to full mark with 2P9869 Oil.