BEST PRACTICE SERIES

Utilizing VIMS™ Clutch Slip & Clutch

Engagement Data to Make Maintenance
Decisions
Component
Site Component
Application Maintenance Life Safety
Management Rebuild
Management

1.0 Introduction........................................................1
2.0 Best Practice Description ..................................1
3.0 Implementation Steps........................................2
4.0 Benefits .............................................................3
5.0 Resources Required..........................................3
6.0 Supporting Attachments / References ...............3
7.0 Related Best Practices ......................................3
8.0 Acknowledgements ...........................................3

February 2007
0207-2.15-1065
300 Hamilton Blvd., Ste. 300, Peoria, IL 61629-3810, U.S.A. catminer.com
CAT GLOBAL MINING BEST PRACTICE SERIES

1.0 Introduction

This Best Practice will cover the process of Torque Converter Lock-up Clutch Slip (TC LUC) and
Transmission clutch engagement (slip) times using VIMSpc / VIMS Supervisor. This practice
coincides directly with the Utilizing VIMS Data for Effective Planned Maintenance Best Practice. If
the steps stated in VIMS PM Planner document are followed, the data to make maintenance
decisions is already available as item no.’s 10-16.

2.0 Best Practice Description

Look for increasing slip times as springs wear in the control valve, decreased pump flow and
pressures change.
• Recommended Analysis Period: Every four weeks using 3 months / 2000 hours of operating
data.

Compare against expected slip-time values tabulated below

Expected Values:
Also compare like machines at your site to establish local ‘bogeys’

Action Triggers

Slip time > 0.9 s for 793 ATY/4GZ, 1HL and 4AR
Action Trigger #1:
Slip time > 0.8 s for 797

At low hours: readjust valve timing to achieve desired slip time

Action Required:
At high hours: replace springs in the TC LUC control valve*

*(Replace spring in the TC control valve if greater than 6000 hours old and slip times are increasing. This is typically not required in
Transmission control valve stations due to lower cycle operation.

Once an adjustment has been made, confirm TC LUC or Transmission clutch slip time is back in
acceptable range by reviewing trend data several days after the adjustment. Readjust if
necessary to achieve desired time. This process should also be used to confirm the correct
operation of newly installed rebuilt components. Collect several days data then download and
trend to ensure slip times are as expected. See attached file, TC LUC Documentation.ppt

Powertrain Component Slip Time Trending – Typical Times (seconds)

Parameter 785 789 793 797
TC LUC Upshift 1.1 – 1.25 1.25 – 1.35 1.3 – 1.5 -
TC LUC Downshift 1.1 – 1.5 1.55 – 1.65 1.5 – 2.2 -
Trans 1 – 2 upshift - - - 0.525 – 0.7
Trans 2 – 3 upshift 0.625 – 0.7 0.625 – 0.725 0.7 – 0.825 0.525 – 0.65
Trans 3 – 2 downsft 0.5 – 0.7 0.575 – 0.775 0.5 – 0.8 -
Trans 3 - 4 upshift 0.55 – 0.65 0.65 – 0.75 0.6 – 0.725 0.625 – 0.775
Trans 4 - 5 upshift 0.6 – 0.75 0.625 – 0.75 0.75 – 0.85 0.7 – 0.85
Trans 5 - 6 upshift 0.575 – 0.65 0.65 – 0.775 0.675 - 0.75 0.7 – 0.8

THE INFORMATION HERON IS THE PROPERTY OF CATERPILLAR INC. AND/OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES. WITHOUT WRITTEN
PERMISSION, ANY COPYING, TRANSMITTAL TO OTHERS, AND ANY USE EXCEPT THAT FOR WHICH IT IS LOANED, IS PROHIBITED.

DATE CHG
Utilizing VIMSTM Clutch Slip & Clutch Engagement Data to NO NUMBER
Make Maintenance Decisions 3/2/2007 0207-2.15-1065
01
CAT GLOBAL MINING BEST PRACTICE SERIES

Also review TC LUC & Transmission slip time Histogram using VIMSpc against expected values.
• Recommended Analysis Period: Every 4 weeks using 3 months / 2000 hours of operating
data

Expected Values: Ensure 90% of values are occurring < maximum acceptable value**

Action Triggers

Action Trigger #1: Analysis shows > 10% of values are > maximum acceptable value**

Action Required: At low hours; readjust valve timing to achieve desired slip time
At high hours replace springs in the TC LUC control valve
(Replace spring if greater than 6000 hours old and slip times are increasing)
** It is recommended that site-specific slip time values be used wherever possible to allow closer monitoring of slip times for the Torque
Converter, and all Transmission Gear slip times. By using the Fleet Trend function in VIMS Supervisor when components are in optimum
condition, a set of expected values can be developed that allows closer tolerances than published factory ranges.

Once these values have been established it is possible to adjust the Histogram Exception Criteria
table in VIMSpc to reflect tighter site-specific values. To do so, open VIMSpc, select “Report” then
“Exception Criteria Set-up.” It is then possible to adjust the Upper & Lower Boundary limits to
better match site-specific machine performance.

For instance, instead of allowing a maximum slip time of 1.2 seconds for a 3 – 4 shift on a 793C
4AR truck (as set by the factory configuration), the Maximum Boundary limit can be moved in to
approximately 1.0 seconds. This allows the detection of excessive slip times much earlier than
waiting for the clutch to reach a point where > 10% are slipping longer than 1.2 seconds (a
healthy transmission makes the 3 – 4 shift in the 0.6–0.8 second range). By reviewing the data on
a regular basis (as outlined above) excessive slip times are detected and adjustments can be
made to bring clutch performance back to an optimum level.

This process can be use to fine tune all torque converter & transmission slip time parameters,
while changes can also be made to target values to further tighten detection criteria.

Once this process has been completed for each VIMS machine on site, it is possible to use the
Histogram Standard Report Summary to list all histogram parameters in one table and quickly
determine (via the “Total High” column) which parameters are exceeding optimum values.
Appropriate action can then be planned and undertaken.

3.0 Implementation Steps

• Gathering the VIMS Data prior to The PM

• Analysis of the VIMS Data
• Making an informed decision based on the data VIMS provides
• Follow up of all adjustments made

THE INFORMATION HERON IS THE PROPERTY OF CATERPILLAR INC. AND/OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES. WITHOUT WRITTEN
PERMISSION, ANY COPYING, TRANSMITTAL TO OTHERS, AND ANY USE EXCEPT THAT FOR WHICH IT IS LOANED, IS PROHIBITED.

DATE CHG
Utilizing VIMSTM Clutch Slip & Clutch Engagement Data to NO NUMBER
Make Maintenance Decisions 3/2/2007 0207-2.15-1065
01
CAT GLOBAL MINING BEST PRACTICE SERIES

4.0 Benefits

The major benefit of utilizing this Best Practice is the ability to reduce time and resources by
making maintenance decisions based on the VIMS data.

5.0 Resources Required

The major resource required to implement this Best Practice will be the people and the time
dedicated to gathering and analyzing the data collected from the machine. The VIMS data will be
collected from the machine using the VIMSpc software. VIMS Application training may also be
required if the users are not familiar with the analysis of VIMS data.

6.0 Supporting Attachments / References

VIMSpc Subscription numbers: JERD2137 (Dealer Site License)

JERD2138 (Dealer Annual Subscription)
JERD2175 (Customer Annual Subscription)

VIMS Supervisor YERA1403 (Dealer and Customer Subscription)

VIMS PM Planner.doc (attached)

VIMS Application Guide SELD7001

TC LUC Documentation.ppt (attached)

7.0 Related Best Practices

Using VIMS Data for Effective Planned Maintenance 1006-2.15-1027

8.0 Acknowledgements

This Best Practice was written by:

Justin C. Swisher
Product Evaluation Engineer
Cat Global Mining
swisher_justin_c @cat.com
1-309-494-4169

THE INFORMATION HERON IS THE PROPERTY OF CATERPILLAR INC. AND/OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES. WITHOUT WRITTEN
PERMISSION, ANY COPYING, TRANSMITTAL TO OTHERS, AND ANY USE EXCEPT THAT FOR WHICH IT IS LOANED, IS PROHIBITED.

DATE CHG
Utilizing VIMSTM Clutch Slip & Clutch Engagement Data to NO NUMBER
Make Maintenance Decisions 3/2/2007 0207-2.15-1065
01