Proper Inspection of the Greased Joints Caterpillar

CONFIDENTIAL TIBU3641

PROBLEM: The joints that are lubricated with grease are not inspected properly for adequate lubrication during the walk around inspection.

SOLUTION:

Verify that the grease is moving through each joint in the correct manner during the daily walk around inspection. Grease should be visible exiting the relief valve. This ensures that the seals are intact and the grease is properly flowing through the joints. Excess grease should be removed from each relief fitting daily. This will make it easier to identify new grease.

A blown seal may be present if grease is observed exiting any other part of the joint, such as the face of the frame linkage. Immediate corrective action should be taken.

The receiver for the grease on the Autolube system contains 8 gallons (30.3 Liters) of grease. This should be enough grease for 250 hours of operation at the factory set lubrication interval and injector volume. The grease reservoir should be checked daily for grease before the machine is operated. Refill the reservoir, if necessary.

Pins A, G, Y and K are all lubricated through a single port on the left side of the pin and are equipped with a relief valve on the right side of the pin. The seal is blown if grease is visible exiting the pin in any location other than the relief valve.

Left side of the pin. Typical example of the lubrication port.

Right side of the pin. Typical example of the relief valve.

Relief Valve.

Cover of lube port.

Pin F is lubricated through a single port on the right side of the pin. Grease is expelled through a relief valve on the left side of the pin. The seal is blown if grease is exiting the pin in any location other than the relief valve.

Pins B and C have two lubrication ports. The B pin releases grease through two relief valves, one on each end of the pin.

Two lubrication ports for the B pin are located under the guard.

The relief valve for the B pin is located under the access door. If grease is visible exiting any location other than the relief valve, the seals are blown.

View of the C pin

The C pin uses two lip seals that allow the excess grease to escape between the link and the hinge plate for the bucket.

The E pin has three lubrication ports (2) that supply both bearings in the linkage and the bearing in the tilt cylinder. The lip seals (1) allow excess grease to escape through the faces in the joint. This is normal.

The steering cylinders are also equipped with lip seals. The lip seals allow excess grease to escape from the faces of the cylinders.

Both the upper hitch and the lower hitch are lubricated with a single lubrication point. The hitches use lip seals and relief valves to remove excess grease.

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