Usage:
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.
NOTE: This Program can be administered either before or after a failure. In either case the decision whether to apply the Program is made by the dealer. When reporting the repair, use "PS8658" as the Part Number and "7755" as the Group Number. If administered before failure, use "56" as the Warranty Claim Description Code and use "T" as the SIMS Description Code. If administered after failure, use "96" as the Warranty Claim Description Code and use "Z" as the SIMS Description Code.
Termination Date
June 30, 1997Problem
Some customers may complain of low power on certain 435 HP rated 3406E Truck Engines.
Affected Product
Model & Identification Number
NOTE: This Program does not affect serial numbers inside NACD.
75 (4CJ1-6448)
75C (4KK1-2341)
85C (9TK1-1901)
Parts Needed
Action Required
See attached rework procedure.
Service Claim Allowances
Parts Disposition
Handle the parts in accordance with your Warranty Bulletin on warranty parts handling.
Attach.
- (1-Rework Procedure)
Rework Procedure
Challenger 75 and 85 High Efficiency Fuel Filters
The Caterpillar Challenger 75 and 85 Tractors are powered by the 3176 Engine. This engine uses very high pressure, electronically controlled fuel injectors to provide excellent fuel economy, high performance, and low emissions. To provide optimum performance and long service life, the injectors require completely clean fuel. Caterpillar 1R0749 High Efficiency Fuel Filter and proper fuel handling procedures are both required to ensure clean, dirt-free fuel is supplied to the injectors. Failure to use the correct filter and good fuel handling procedures can result in premature injector wear, hard starting and loss of tractor performance.
To help reinforce the importance of our recommendations, we would like you to order one 1R0749 Fuel Filter and one 1339488 Film for each Challenger 75 and 85 Tractor in your territory. The filter then needs to be distributed free of charge to the customers employee most responsible for the maintenance decisions on each tractor.
The process of filter and decal delivery is left to the dealership. A personal letter that includes information regarding the uniqueness of the 1R0749 Filter and the need for good fuel handling suggestions should be given to all Challenger 75, 75C, and 85C owners. This letter should be signed by your Maketing Subsidiary Service Engineer for Challengers. This letter should be drafted from the information drafted from the information being provided to you in this rework procedure. A personal visit by a PSSR, machine sales representative, or other dealer individuals is an additional way to emphasize the message. That may not be possible in all cases, so mail or a parcel service may be the appropriate method. In those cases, a follow-up phone call would be a good idea. Such a call can reinforce the points of fuel injector life and it's close relation to the tractor's fuel system filtration, the user's fuel handling practices, and provide an opportunity for a question and answer session.
Customers who have been using non-Caterpillar filters should be cautioned that to the best of our knowledge, there is no equivalent competitive filter. The combination of particle pass sizes and carrying capacity in the Caterpillar High Efficiency Filter is unique. The Caterpillar High Efficiency Filter captures more than 99% of the particles three microns or larger. Typical filters competing with the Caterpillar filter capture only 50% of the same particles. There are High Efficiency Filters for all Challenger models. The 1R0749 is for all Challenger 75 and 85 Tractors, as well as the Challenger 65D. The 1R0750 is adaptable to all previous series Challenger 65 Tractors, as well as Challenger 70.
You have very good technical reasons for insisting only genuine Caterpillar High Efficiency Fuel Filters go on your tractor's engine. The increased solvency and dispersancy properties of the recently introduced very low sulfur fuels makes the use of the high efficiency filters across the board a good decision. The properties of those new fuels adds to the dirt load seen due to supplier and user fuel handling practices, therefore please refer to the suggestions on fuel handling which have been provided.
Fuel Handling
Like superior filtration, superior fuel handling will benefit all your diesel engines. Here are some tips for good fuel handling:
1. Never pre-fill new filters before installation. This introduces dirty fuel into the clean side of the system. Install the filter dry and pressurize it with the hand priming pump. In most cases, the engine can be started without priming the filter.
2. Periodically drain moisture and debris form the bottom of the sump tank (if present) or from the sump portion of the fuel tank on the C Series Tractors.The drain interval can be determined by catching the first fuel drained in a clean container and letting it settle.If a considerable amount of moisture or foreign material is present, the drain interval is too long.
3. Be sure the fuel delivery system is kept clean though proper maintenance of each step of the fuel handling process. Bulk tanks and delivery tanks are often neglected as sources of contaminated fuel through lack of drainage of foreign material and water.
4. The process of refueling often introduces dirt into the tank because the area around the fuel cap has not been cleaned or the fueling nozzle is dirty. In many cases, a substantial amount of dust accumulates around the tank filler. Cleaning the area will greatly reduce the chance of dust blowing into the tank vent while the cap is off.
5. The fuel nozzle should be kept clean in each step of its use. A serious amount of dirt can be flushed out of the fuel nozzle and into the tractor's tank if cleanliness of the nozzle is not enforced.
Challenger Tractors are the world's most technically advanced and productive agricultural tractors. They represent a serious investment--one worth safeguarding.