Identify the right sprocket by machine serial, part number, tooth count, pitch, and bolt pattern. Cross-reference the OEM number with the supplier and confirm all signals before ordering, because the model name alone cannot tell a Manitoba parts buyer which of several sprocket configurations a machine carries. Five checks, one order, one confirmed fit.
Related reading: for chain and shoe wear, see our chain and shoe guide, and for sprocket matching, see our sprocket and chain guide.
Sprocket Identification Checklist
- Supplier: AFT Parts — aftermarket undercarriage components.
- Scope: Sprocket identification — serial, part number, tooth count, pitch, mounting
- Compatibility: CAT, Komatsu, Kubota, Bobcat, Hitachi, Takeuchi, and more
- Application coverage: Manitoba.
- Fitment: sprocket part number and machine serial confirmed before dispatch.
Where to Find Your Machine Serial and Why It Comes First
The machine serial number identifies the model generation and undercarriage configuration, which the model name alone cannot. Find it on the machine plate and keep it with the parts records, because every other check on this list is cross-referenced against it.
In Manitoba, machines from different years can carry different sprockets under the same model name. The serial number settles which configuration applies, and it is the field that prevents a same-looking sprocket from being the wrong sprocket.
Reading Sprocket Part Numbers and Photographing Them Before Removal
The part number identifies the sprocket family, tooth count, and mounting. Read it from the old sprocket or the parts book, and photograph it before removal so the number survives the job.
Part numbers vary by manufacturer, so use them as a cross-reference with the serial number rather than decoding from memory. A photographed number is worth more than a remembered one, and it travels cleanly to the supplier.
Measuring Tooth Count and Pitch
Count the teeth and measure the pitch when the part number is unavailable. Record both values in millimetres and compare them with the machine specification, because tooth count and pitch must match the chain.
A sprocket that is a few teeth or a pitch size off will never engage correctly. The two values are measured on the old part, and the chain pitch is measured at the same time so the pair is confirmed together.
Count the teeth twice and have the count confirmed by a second person where the machine is critical. A miscounted tooth set is the classic wrong-order, and the second count takes the same seconds that the return takes days.
Measure the pitch with the chain relaxed, because a tensioned chain changes the reading. The relaxed measurement is the number the supplier can compare against the specification.
Checking Bolt Pattern and Hub
The mounting bolts and hub decide whether the sprocket fits the final drive. Check the bolt pattern, bolt size, and hub fit before ordering, because a sprocket with the right teeth but the wrong hub cannot be installed.
Measure the bolt circle and hub bore where the part number is unavailable, and compare them with the machine specification. Mounting is the check that most parts lookalikes fail.
Cross-Referencing AFT and OEM Sprocket Numbers
Suppliers cross-reference OEM numbers to aftermarket part numbers, which is the fastest way to confirm a match. Provide the OEM number, serial, and measurements, and the cross-reference becomes a written confirmation rather than a guess.
AFT Parts confirms sprocket part numbers against the machine serial number before dispatch, and the confirmation travels with the order for the machine record.
Verifying the Match: When to Ask the Supplier for Confirmation in Writing
When the teeth, pitch, and mounting all check out on paper, the last step is written confirmation from the supplier. Ask for the part number, the serial number it was confirmed against, and the delivery details in the order confirmation.
Written confirmation matters because the fit is decided by details that a photo cannot show: the bolt circle, the hub bore, and the tooth profile. When the supplier commits those details in writing, the return window stops being the safety net for the order.
Confirming Fit Before Purchase
Confirm the sprocket fits before purchase: serial number, part number, tooth count, pitch, and bolt pattern all agree. Ask for written confirmation with the order, because a verbal "it should fit" does not survive a return window.
The five checks take minutes on the old part and minutes at the counter. That is the same time a wrong sprocket takes to ship, receive, and return.
Keep the identification sheet with the machine record after the order. The next sprocket, the next serial-number change, and the next parts inquiry all start from the same sheet, which makes the second order faster than the first.
A Sprocket Identification Sheet to Send Your Supplier
The fastest way to work with a supplier is to send everything in one sheet. The table below lists the fields that settle a sprocket match, and every field is available before the old sprocket comes off.
| Identification field | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Machine serial number | Machine plate |
| Old sprocket part number | Stamped on the part or in the parts book |
| Tooth count | Count around the sprocket |
| Chain pitch | Measure pin centre to pin centre |
| Bolt pattern and hub | Measure the mounting face |
Common Sprocket Identification Mistakes
The first mistake is ordering by model name alone, which misses generation changes. The second is trusting a part number read from memory instead of from the part, and the third is skipping the bolt pattern check when the teeth look right.
Each mistake produces the same result: a sprocket that almost fits, discovered at the maintenance stop. The five-check routine exists to catch those three errors before the order, not after the delivery.
The fourth mistake is measuring the old part after it has been blasted, cleaned, or painted, because the coating hides the true dimensions. Measure the mounting and the tooth geometry before any surface treatment, and photograph the part number before it is touched.
The fifth is ordering from a photo of the part without the measurements. A photo shows the shape; it does not show the pitch or the bolt circle, and the two numbers are the ones that decide the fit.
Before Ordering
- Confirm the serial number and OEM part number together.
- Check tooth count, pitch, and bolt pattern against the old part.
- Ask for written fitment confirmation before dispatch.
Questions to Ask Before You Order
- What are the sprocket part numbers for my machine serial number?
- Do the tooth count, pitch, and bolt pattern match the old part?
- How is fitment confirmed before dispatch?
See the Sprocket collection and the 02716-00100 Takeuchi sprocket for your machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to identify a sprocket?
The machine serial number, the old part number, tooth count, pitch, and bolt pattern. Cross-reference them with the supplier before ordering.
Can I identify a sprocket without the part number?
Yes. Count the teeth, measure the pitch, and check the bolt pattern and hub, then confirm against the machine serial number.
Why do sprocket part numbers matter?
The part number identifies the exact tooth count, pitch, and mounting for the machine configuration. The model name is not enough.