0335806 JOHNSON PLATE, Applique, front

October 11, 2004
U-288
D-220
O-250
Priority Parts stock action needed PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR SAMPLINGTHE ENGINE OIL AND IF NECESSARY REPLACING THE IDLER GEAR ASSEMBLY ON 3054EENGINES INSTALLED IN CERTAIN 315C TRACKED EXCAVATORS
1234,5073, 1348-008, 1348-554, 1000-008, 7542-554, 7542-008 PI30729
This Program must be administered assoon as possible. When reporting the repair, use "PI30729" as the Partnumber and "7751" as the Group Number, "56" as the Warranty Claim DescriptionCode and "T" as the SIMS Description Code. Exception: If the repair isdone after failure, use "PI30729" as the Part Number, "7751" as the GroupNumber, "96" as the Warranty Claim Description Code, and "Z" as the SIMSDescription Code. The information supplied in this serviceletter may not be valid after the termination date of this program. Donot perform the work outlined in this Service Letter after the terminationdate without first contacting your Caterpillar product analyst. Make every effort to administer thisprogram in a timely manner, but with the least incursion into the customers?operation. Taking oil samples at the normal maintenance interval, especiallywhere Customer Support Agreements are in existence, or where customersalready use Scheduled Oil Sampling, is advised to keep program costs toa minimum. This program also affords an opportunity to promote CSAs andSOS with customers not currently enrolled.
COMPLETION DATE
TERMINATION DATE
April 30, 2005 October 31, 2005PROBLEM
There have been reports of premature wear on theidler gear bushing assembly and idler hub.Root cause has been identified as a machiningprocess change made by the gear supplier, which had an undesirable effecton the surface finish of some idler gear bushings. Copper content in theoil has been identified as an accurate method for predicting whether theengine will be affected by the accelerated wear condition.Rework of the idler gear assembly is recommendedif the copper content in the oil exceeds the threshold levels detailedbelow(expressed as Cu). Oil samples should be taken during routine service intervals (unlessan oil sampling program is already in existence with predetermined intervalswhich are more frequent than the normal service intervals).
While elevated copper levels from SOS sampling can effectively identifyaccelerated idler gear bearing wear, occasional hard cold starting difficultiesmay also indicate premature idler gear bearing wear.AFFECTED PRODUCT
The affected serial number list shownbelow excludes machines that were repaired under an earlier field probeto determine the extent of this problem. Other machines may already havebeen repaired with parts announced in TIBU4161. While these machines maystill be included in the list below, there is no need to replace the idlergear assembly again. If your machine is in the affected productbelow and is a new machine being currently held in Dealer stock or inventory,apply this PI and re-work the Idler gear As. (There is no requirement tosample the oil).
Model Identification Number
315C ANF175, 177-203,205-214, 216-220, 222-250, 253, 256-264,266, 268-286, 288-311, 288-311,313-322, 326, 328, 368PARTS NEEDED
Qty
Part Number Description
1 OIL SAMPLINGKIT
1 2258019 GASKET-PUMP
1 2268766 GASKET-COVER
1 2514336 GEAR AS-IDLE
1 2546029 HUB-IDLER GEAR
1 2551209 PLATE-RETAIN
1 4W-5359 SEAL
3 6I-0650 BOLTACTION REQUIRED
***** Parts Stock *****Remove all 232-3668 parts from parts stock.***** Affected Product *****An oil sample must be taken from all enginesin the affected product range. The oil sample report must be attached toall claims that include an idler gear change. Make every effort to administerthis program in a timely manner, but with the least incursion into thecustomers? operation. Taking oil samples at the normal maintenance interval,especially where Customer Support Agreements are in existence, or wherecustomers already use Scheduled Oil Sampling, is advised to keep programcosts to a minimum. This program also affords an opportunity to promoteCSA?s and SOS with customers not currently enrolled. The copper level in the oilsample analysis will determine whether or not any further action is necessary.Make every effort to take the oil sample concurrent with the normal oilchange interval for the engine. Use the following information and flowchart as a guide to whether or not further action is required.Oil sample results from 1st service interval (nolonger than 500 hours of engine service):Cu 0 - 50-ppm Change oil & recheck at 2ndservice (no longer than 1000 hours of engine service)Cu 51 - 100 ppm Change oil & resample aftera further 250hrsCu > 101 ppm Rework idler gear assemblyOil sample results at 2nd check (750 hrs)Cu 0 - 50 ppm No action requiredCu > 51 ppm Rework idler gear assemblyOil sample results from 2nd serviceCu 0 - 50 ppm No action requiredCu > 51 ppm Rework idler gear assemblyIf no evidence of elevated copper levels havebeen found in the oil samples after 1000 hours of service (above 50 ppmover 2 service intervals), the engine should be considered unaffected bythis issue and no further testing or action is required.The following process