CATERPILLAR REMAN REQUIRES RETURN OF THE PISTON PACK INSTALLATION TOOL TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FULL CORE REFUND Caterpillar

   August 2006

AVSpare REMAN REQUIRES RETURN OF THE PISTON PACK INSTALLATION TOOL TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FULL CORE REFUND

Announcement

AVSpare? Remanufactured Piston Packs provide dealers with an additional repair option to support a variety of 3116, 3126 & C7 applications. Piston Packs feature a completely assembled piston and rod group* with the rings compressed inside an included installation tool.

Add charges are applied to any piston pack that is returned without the installation tool.

Effective October 2, 2006, we are increasing the add charges by 52% on average in order to encourage the return of the installation tool. Returning the installation tool allows Cat Reman to offer a lower priced product that has an impact on owning and operating costs.

* A piston and rod group consists of the piston or crown and skirt depending on design, the connecting rod assembly, hardware, pin, retainers, and piston rings.

Features and Benefits

Reman Piston Packs can save up to an hour or more of labor per cylinder in disassembly, inspection, salvage, assembly, and installation time. Piston packs can also help minimize warranty risks associated with reuse, salvage, and assembly processes.

Installation requires:
1. Removing the used piston and rod assembly.
2. Cleaning and qualifying the parent bore.
3. Pushing the piston and rod group through the installation tool into the parent bore.
 

Core Acceptance

Core acceptance for AVSpare Remanufactured Piston Packs is simple, visual and requires no special tools. The following is a summary of the core acceptance criteria:

To receive full core credit:
              - Fully assembled and complete: Including installation tool, see photo**
              - Rod and end cap matched and are marked
              - Rod not scored and discolored due to overheating from a bearing failure
              - Rod not visibly cracked, broken, bent or twisted
              - No non-operational damage (mishandling, excessive rust, corrosion or pitting)
              - Acceptable AVSpare part number

Consult your Core Acceptance Guide for complete details.

Core Return Instructions

Place the installation tool over the connecting rod of the core "piston pack" so that the installation tool fits around the skirt of the piston and rests on the bottom of the oil ring. Put the core of the piston assembly with the installation ring back in the original box.

Warranty

Please consult the appropriate warranty statement for your area.

Core Management

Please refer to the AVSpare Core Management Information System (CMIS 2) Parts Information application describing all reman part/CAF and related information. Also refer to other CMIS 2 inquiry applications such as Customer Profiles, Inspection Reason Codes, Inspection Line Inquiry, Add Charge Information, Entitlement Activity, Entitlement Inquiry, CCR Inquiry, CCR Entry, Shipment Processing; Process Packaging Grief; and Reporting to properly manage core returns and monitor inspection performance. This information will be available to all dealers worldwide after your CMIS2 conversion date. In the meantime, please continue to use the current CMIS Entitlement Parts Inquiry Screen describing the list of parts in a Core Acceptability Family (CAF) and related part number detail.

For the latest updates of Reman Policies and Core Management (SELD0122), Core Management Systems & Operations Procedures (SELD0040), and Shipping Instructions (SELD0039), go to the Reman Dealer website https://reman.cat.com.

If you have any questions regarding core return processing, feel free to call Corinth toll free at (800) 537-2928. For assistance with technical questions, call the Peoria Reman Help Line also toll free at (888) 88-REMAN or use our E-mail address -- Reman_Help@cat.com.