1995/10/16 Caterpillar

Seat Tethers Information and Locations{7324}

Usage:

D3C, D4C, D4H, D4L, D5C, D5H, D5L, D6H, D7H, D8L, D8N, D9L, D9N, D9R, D10N, D11N Track-Type Tractors;
933, 939, 943, 953, 953B, 963, 963B, 973 Track-Type Loaders;
918F, 924F, 926, 926E, 928F, 936, 936E, 936F 938F, 950B, 950E, 950F, 960F, 966F, 970F, 980C, 966D, 966E, 980F, 988F, 990, 992D, 994 Wheel Loaders;
IT18F, IT24F, IT28B, IT28F, IT38F Integrated Toolcarriers;
824C Wheel Tractors;
769C, 771C, 773B, 775B, 777C, 785, 785B, 789, 789B, 793B Off-Highway Trucks;
768C, 772B, 776C, 784B Tractors;
5130, 5230 Excavators;
D20D, D25D, D250D, D30D, D40D, D300D, D350D, D400D Articulated Trucks;
613C, 615, 621B, 621E, 621F, 621R, 623B, 623E, 623F, 627B, 627E, 627F, 631B, 631C, 631D, 631E, 633, 633B, 633C, 633D, 637, 637D, 637E, 639D, 639E, 641, 641B, 650, 650B, 651, 651B, 651E, 657, 657B, 657E, 660, 660B, 666, 666B, Scrapers Equipped with 108-4082, 108-4587, 117-7607, 119-7027, 8Y-6801, or 8Y-6275 Suspension Groups.

SUPPLEMENT: 11/06/95

Service Magazine; October 16, 1995; Page 1; "Seat Tethers Information and Location"for D3C, D4C, D4H, D4L, D5C, D5H, D5L, D6H, D7H, D8L, D8N, D9L, D9N, D9R, D10N, D11N Track-Type Tractors; 933, 939, 943, 953, 953B, 963, 963B, 973 Track-Type Loaders; 918F, 924F, 926, 926E, 928F, 936, 936E, 936F 938F, 950B, 950E, 950F, 960F, 966F, 970F, 980C, 966D, 966E, 980F, 988F, 990, 992D, 994 Wheel Loaders; IT18F, IT24F, IT28B, IT28F, IT38F Integrated Toolcarriers; 824C Wheel Tractors; 769C, 771C, 773B, 775B, 777C, 785, 785B, 789, 789B, 793B Off-Highway Trucks; 768C, 772B, 776C, 784B Tractors; 5130, 5230 Excavators; D20D, D25D, D250D, D30D, D40D, D300D, D350D, D400D Articulated Trucks; 613C, 615, 621B, 621E, 621F, 621R, 623B, 623E, 623F, 627B, 627E, 627F, 631B, 631C, 631D, 631E, 633, 633B, 633C, 633D, 637, 637D, 637E, 639D, 639E, 641, 641B, 650, 650B, 651, 651B, 651E, 657, 657B, 657E, 660, 660B, 666, 666B, Scrapers Equipped with 108-4082, 108-4587, 117-7607, 119-7027, 8Y-6801, or 8Y-6275 Suspension Groups.

The first sentence in the third paragraph is incorrect. The sentence should read as follows:

All Caterpillar suspension seats should be equipped with tethers.

--------------- END SUPPLEMENT ---------------

Inspecting agencies, such as OSHA and MSHA, are inspecting machines for tether belt installation. Some new Caterpillar seats have tether belts incorporated into the seat's suspensions system which is hidden by a protective skirt. If tether belts are not found, a citation is issued. The tether belt concern has risen from cases in which tether belts were not installed after seats were serviced.

Tether belts are required on many suspension seats to transfer the seat belt load from the anchorage point on the seat to a structure member of sufficient strength to resist the seat belt loads. The lack of tether belts has resulted in the seat breaking loose from the machine with the operator and seat belt attached.

All Caterpillar seats should be equipped with tethers. The newer seat's protective skirts around the suspension mechanism requires raising the skirt to see the tether belts. See the illustrations for tether locations for each suspension group.

Customers should be educated as to the locations of tethers. If there is any question about a tether being required for a Caterpillar seat, consult the appropriate parts book for the specific seat or contact your Caterpillar technical support representative.

108-4082 Suspension Group