SUBJECT: POSSIBLE CRACKING OF SALT (Sealed And Lubricated Track) LINK ASSEMBLY TRACK PINS

PROBLEM: A limited range of heavy duty and regular SALT track pins were improperly heat treated, creating potential for cracking. Two forms of pin cracking can occur. Both forms are primarily cosmetic and will not generally result in pin failures or oil leaks. The first form of cracking can occur on the pin end, in a concentric partial or complete circle around the oil hole. This is illustrated in the picture below:

This crack is relatively shallow and sometimes forms only partially around the end of the pin. A small ring of this material on the pin end may separate off the pin end. This would most likely occur at the track bushing turn time, during disassembly.

The second form of cracking can occur around the track pin oil cross-hole on the outside diameter pin surface. A "football" shaped piece of the O. D. surface (approximately 1/8" or 3mm thick) can break loose. This is referred to as pin surface spalling. An example of this is shown below:

This failure would most likely be found upon track link disassembly at the bushing turn. This spalled piece may or may not be attached to the pin.

SOLUTION: Track pins are made several places around the world, depending on the machine model and pin size. The track pins in question were made in Grenoble, and assembled in track at Grenoble and East Peoria. Most machine and parts replacement link assemblies, as well as loose pins have been sorted and inspected for cracks. However, a small number of link assemblies or loose pins may have missed inspection or later may develop cracks once on the machine. Affected track pin part numbers and machine models are as follows:

Pin Part No. Machine Model Description

179-0126 D5H, D6M, D6N Tractors Heavy Duty SALT

517 Skidders

160-7820 D6H, D6R Tractors Heavy Duty SALT

527 Skidders

160-7818 D5H, D5B Tractors Regular SALT

953, 955 Loaders

215, 225 Excavators

160-7819 D6H, D6D, D6E, D6G Tractors Regular SALT

963, 955 Loaders

Affected link assembly serial numbers identify the range these pins may be found. The link assembly identification code is stamped on the shoe-mounting surface of the second right-hand link from the bushing end master link (reference: IRM UC 03-04). Affected link assemblies were built in 2003 with the following codes:

Link Assembly Origin Code Range

Grenoble H D 60 ? H D 170

E. Peoria P D 120 ? P D 170

Affected link assemblies in these code ranges are as follows :

Link Asy. Part No. Machine Model Description

106-1635 D5H STD 37 section H.D.

106-1637 D5H XL 39 section H.D.

110-2976 D6M XL, D6N XL 40 section H.D.

106-1636 D5H LGP, D6M LGP, D6N LGP 46 section H.D.

106-1634 D5H, D6M, D6N (Fine Grader) 47 section H.D.

148-2465 517 Skidder 44 section H.D.

6I-9668 D6H STD, D6R STD 39 section H.D.

6I-9670 D6H XR, D6R XR 40 section H.D.

6I-9671 D6H XL, D6R XL 41 section H.D.

8E-9037 D6H LGP, D6R LGP 45 section H.D.

230-7272 D5H STD, 953C 37 section SALT

6Y-5412 D5H STD 37 section SALT

8E-9820 D5H XL 39 section SALT

6Y-5414 D5H LGP 46 section SALT

8E-4160 D5H LGP Fine Grader 47 section SALT

154-3672 D5B, 955 39 section SALT

154-3662 D5B 39 section SALT

154-3678 953 40 section SALT

154-3666 D5B 43 section SALT

154-3676 D5B LGP 46 section SALT

154-3677 953 40 section SALT

154-3667 955 41 section SALT

154-3670 215, 225 53 section SALT

8E-4326 D6H STD 39 section SALT

8E-4327 D6H XR 40 section SALT

8E-4328 D6H LGP 45 section SALT

180-0507 D6D, 955 36 section SALT

117-1020 D6D 39 section SALT

180-0509 D6D LGP 41 section SALT

117-1023 963 37 section SALT

230-6167 963 37 section SALT

As stated earlier, the described pin cracking is largely cosmetic, and will most generally not affect the track service life. Therefore, disassembly of the track to replace pins is specifically not recommended. If cracked or spalled pins are identified at the bushing turn, they should be replaced on an individual basis. Loose parts service track pins with cracking or spalling should be discarded.