D6N hydraulic cylinder rebuild question

DmanD6N · Jan 27, 2022

I have a 2008 Cat D6N with leaking hydraulic lift cylinders. Planning on installing new kits myself. Should I buy from Caterpillar or aftermarket? This machine is new to me and if it ever warms up here I will have a lot more questions once I start working this machine.
Also the interior light is missing and the parts guy at Caterpillar couldn't find one or even a part #. The operator manual clearly shows the interior light. Anyone have a # for the light? Thanks

DmanD6N · Jan 27, 2022

Another question, is it necessary to hone the cylinder like when rebuilding an engine? I have an engine cylinder hone and could maybe use it but need to extend it.

Nige · Jan 27, 2022

To get good info a Serial Number would be a good start. There are at least 20 different models of D6N.
Info regarding the hydraulic cylinders to follow once you supply a Serial Number.

However - does the illustration below bear any relation to the hole where your missing interior dome lamp ought to be.? If so the Part Number for the complete assembly is 3E-6389.

Coaldust · Jan 27, 2022

I like the Cat seal kits because it’s easy to purchase them and the quality is consistently good. I’d wait until you take the cylinders apart before ordering kits. That machine may have OR ( reman ) cylinders on it. They could be oversized, thus a standard seal kit may not work.

Yes, honing is best practice. Also, measuring the cylinder bore for diameter and for taper is important. Looking for a bulge in the middle of the cyl and for deep scratches. Typically, a standard sized cylinder can be honed up to .014” and still be able to use a standard seal kit. Cleanliness is super important if honing is done. Lots of scrubbing and hot water or that metal will contaminate your entire system. If the cylinder bores are messed up, sometimes it makes sense to purchase reman tubes. .030 or .060 over.

Nobody got time fo dat inspection, measuring or honing nonsense. Just install the most affordable seal kit available, zap the nut to three uga-dugas and hope for the best.

YMMV

Jonas302 · Jan 27, 2022

I like Cat seals you can tell the quality when they are in your hand If you want cheaper the yellowmark or general purpose Cat seal kits are very competitive but not as nice As a second I like Hurcules Seals usually on non cat stuff though

Here is an example today I need tilt cyl seals for a 980 Cat gets $203 with wear rings, Hercules $242 no wear rings Fast lift parts drops ships from hurcules exact same kit $167 I'm not buying aftermarket to save $33 and still not have wear rings

I Never hone cylinders its exactly why I quit using the hydraulic shop they consistently overcharged for honing cylinders that were probably in better shape then after they touched them Yes bad things can happen in there sometimes honing may help a scratch usually its cutting the tube off if they are beat up no reason for any of that nonsense just because the seals are dried up

It will be easier to crack the gland loose with the cylinder installed on the dozer

Coaldust · Jan 27, 2022

True dat, Jonus302. A bozo can mess up a perfectly good cylinder with a hone. Good & bad, the nuebie of the hyd shop often gets stuck on the cyl bench and doesn’t apply any critical thinking skills. Everything gets honed. Even oversized when it doesn’t need it. Especially on a slow day.

Delmer · Jan 27, 2022

Look at the piston and piston seals, no scratchy piston, no scratchy cylinder. That's not by the book, and I work on old stuff that the seals age out, but it's not your piston seals that are leaking there. Unless you have a filter or debris that says otherwise, I'd use the cylinder and piston as is. If you need help breaking the gland loose, just ask.

DmanD6N · Jan 27, 2022

I had no idea that there were so many different D6Ns. Mine is serial # CAT00D6NCDJY01329. I have resealed cylinders before successfully without honing them. No use to start honing now unless like you say if there are scratches or such.
I used to own and operate a D5M and if I recall the interior light was in the same spot as this empty hole above my right side. There are 2 wires sticking out of this square hole.
Thanks for now

Nige · Jan 28, 2022

DmanD6N said:
I had no idea that there were so many different D6Ns. Mine is serial # CAT00D6NCDJY01329.

I looked - there are actually 25 different D6N Serial Number prefixes which is why it's never a good idea to guess which one of them an owner has.

So your cab dome lamp is a 107-6032. See below. If you say there are 2 wires poking out of the hole in the headliner then your cab wiring could be missing the mating half of the connector that I think is part of the fly lead on the dome lamp.

Nige · Jan 28, 2022

Per machine Serial Number your bulldozer Lift Cylinder is a 110-3269. Parts list attached.
The OEM Cat seal kit is a 241-7584.

Jonas302 said:
It will be easier to crack the gland loose with the cylinder installed on the dozer

This........... also to use the correct wrench rather than a hammer & drift to remove the gland like many people seem to.

DmanD6N · Jan 28, 2022

Thanks Nige! Makes everything a lot easier for me.

DmanD6N · Mar 24, 2022

It finally warmed up enough to work on the cylinders. Surprised how easy to take apart. I found the right wrench for the job. Well maybe not the right one but works better than the punch and hammer. Used Cat brand kits.

DmanD6N · Mar 24, 2022

I changed hydraulic oil, in tank filter and spin on filter by the test ports. In the engine compartment is another hydraulic filter. I didn't have the number when I went to Cat and the parts guy said only 2 hydraulic filters. I haven't started the machine yet.

Nige · Mar 24, 2022

That's the steering filter. in view of the fact that all the hydraulic/steering oil comes from the same tank it should really also be changed seeing as you have already changed everything else.

DmanD6N · Sep 19, 2022

I haven't found time until now to work on the D6N. When I bought it last winter it had a service code and in the 3 hours pushing snow sometimes the alarm went off and exclamation started flashing. Now in summer the exclamation is always on. Thinking there is a wire shorting out and when frozen doesn't move around much but summer is opposite.

DmanD6N · Sep 19, 2022

Could someone tell me what these numbers mean? Thanks

Nige · Sep 19, 2022

DmanD6N said:
Could someone tell me what these numbers mean? Thanks

"036" refers to the Product Link system but not sure why it would come up.
"E0232.2" indicates a high water level in the fuel/water separator. Drain the water and if that does not silence the alarm check the installation/operation of the high water level detection switch mounted on the fuel/water separator bowl.

DmanD6N · Sep 19, 2022

I purchased 3 new fuel filters so I might as well go ahead and change them. Either the manual or my eyes are not clear but I'm thinking there is a certain way to change filters like maybe in series or one at a time or just take them all off and replace?

Nige · Sep 19, 2022

The shutoff valve at the tank has to be turned off to stop the flow of fuel so you might as well do all three filters at once. Attached are the instructions including for priming the fuel system afterwards. Your tractor should be equipped with an electric priming pump which makes the job easier.
A few suggested DONT'S.........
DON'T prefill the new filters with fuel.
DON'T forget to install the necessary gaskets/seals/o-rings on all the new elements when you install them. Some will have o-rings bonded to the filter, on others they will be separate.
DON'T under or overtighten the filters. Follow the instructions stamped on each filter regarding how much it has to be turned after the element contacts the filter head.

DmanD6N · Sep 19, 2022

I changed filters and let it run for 5 minutes. So far so good no code or lit up exclamation. Previous owner apparently changed filters 135 hours before but in May of 2018 according to what was written on the old filter. Thanks Nige!

D6N hydraulic cylinder rebuild question

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