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How to Inspect Cat® Drive Train Magnetic Plugs
Estimated read time: 2 minutes
Drive train maintenance is key to keeping your machine running. Your equipment may have magnetic plugs for the final drives, differentials and transmission, and they all need to be part of drive train maintenance. Magnetic plugs draw any metallic pieces that may be in the fluid. The amount and size of these metallic pieces can tell you a bit about your drive train’s health.
If you’d rather see the process, consider watching this video, which shows this maintenance on a Cat® 962M Wheel Loader. And then read below for the written instructions.
Make sure you safely prepare for service by moving your machine to a dry and level area. Lower all implements, lock out the hydraulics and turn off the engine before starting maintenance.
And before you begin, be sure to check your Operation and Maintenance Manual (OMM) to review proper safety guidelines. You’ll also need to have any necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) on hand.
You’ll need to remove drive train magnetic plugs one at a time to inspect them. It’s a good idea to take pictures and jot down some notes about your plugs each time you check their condition. This will give you a consistent record of fluid health over time.
Here’s how Caterpillar uses wear ratings to help you determine the condition of your drive train:
Rating 1 is the best condition, indicating normal wear. You’ll notice a fine, paste-like deposit on the plug.
Rating 2 will have a large paste-like deposit with some tiny metal pieces.
Rating 3 shows more moderate wear, with coarse metal deposits visible on the plug. Once you see this level of wear, you will need to check your plugs more often.
Rating 4 means there is more advanced drive train wear. You will notice metal deposits between 1 and 6 mm on your plug. This indicates the bearing race and roller breakdown is more advanced. To make sure your equipment can still be used, cut open the oil filter and make sure there is no metallic debris or contamination inside.
Rating 5 wear means you’ll notice plugs with metal bits larger than 6mm, which is about a quarter of an inch. If your plug shows this amount of wear, take your equipment out of service and repair it immediately.
To purchase any parts or tooling for drive train maintenance, visit Parts.Cat.com. All you need is your equipment serial number to filter the parts you need.
If you have additional questions or would like to learn more about Caterpillar’s wear rating system, reach out to your local Cat dealer. And for additional information about your hydraulic system and safety procedures, review your Operation and Maintenance Manual.
