Repair link kits are matched by machine brand, chain pitch, and part number. AFT uses KM-style and CR-style product identifiers for selected kit families, and the serial number confirms the fit — the style name is a starting point, not a substitute for matching the OEM part number and pitch. Provide the old kit or chain part number and let the cross-reference settle the order.
Related reading: for chain elongation, see our chain elongation guide, and for the kit decision, see our repair link kit guide.
Repair-Link Cross-Reference Fields
- Supplier: AFT Parts — aftermarket undercarriage components.
- Scope: Repair link kit naming, cross-reference, and fitment
- Compatibility: Komatsu (KM) and CAT (CR) chain families
- Application coverage: Alberta.
- Fitment: kit part number, chain pitch, and serial confirmed before dispatch.
How AFT Names Its Repair Kits
AFT uses KM-style and CR-style product identifiers for selected kit families. These labels are not universal industry naming, and they are not a substitute for matching the OEM part number, chain pitch, link configuration, and machine serial number.
For an Alberta fleet running both brands, the naming keeps the two families separate at a glance. The glance is useful; the part number and pitch are the confirmation.
The identifier convention also makes the catalogue easier to search, which is its real job: it points the buyer to the right family before the cross-reference begins. The search is faster, and the confirmation is still the same.
KM-Style Kits: Matching Komatsu Chains by Pitch and Part Number
KM-style identifiers appear on selected AFT kit families. Match them to the OEM part number, pitch, and machine serial number before ordering, and provide the old kit or chain part number with the request.
The Komatsu chain family is the starting point for the search. The pitch and link count narrow it, and the serial number settles it.
Komatsu machines of the same model name span generations with different chains, so the model name alone narrows nothing. The parts book for the serial number shows which chain the machine actually runs, and the kit is confirmed against that chain.
CR-Style Kits: The Same Cross-Check on the CAT Side
CR-style identifiers appear on selected AFT kit families. Verify the kit part number and pitch against the machine configuration before ordering, because the CAT chain family covers many pitches and link types.
The cross-reference works the same way as the KM side: OEM part number, pitch, and serial number together. The style name only points to the family.
The same care applies in both directions: a CR-style kit confirmed against the wrong generation is still the wrong kit, and the confirmation is what catches it. The style identifier saves time at the counter, not at the fitment check.
Cross-Referencing Part Numbers
Cross-reference the OEM part number with the supplier's kit number, and confirm the pitch matches the chain. The cross-reference is the fastest way to a confirmed fit, and it is the step that prevents the wrong kit from shipping.
Keep the old part number and the cross-reference with the order. The record makes the next kit order a lookup instead of a second investigation.
Reading Kit Part Numbers: What the Digits Tell You
Kit part numbers carry information in their structure: the family identifier, the pitch or link size, and the variant. Learn to read the structure for the brands you run, and the number becomes a first check before the supplier is called.
The digits are a cross-check, not a substitute for the parts book. When the kit number, the chain pitch, and the serial-number parts book agree, the order is confirmed three ways.
Verifying Fit by Machine Model
The model name narrows the search; the serial number settles the fit. Confirm the kit against the serial number before dispatch, because the same model can carry different chains across generations.
The supplier's written confirmation is the deliverable. A kit confirmed against the serial number arrives as the part that was checked, which keeps the maintenance stop on schedule rather than waiting on a return.
Check the confirmation against the chain pitch at delivery, because the paper and the part should agree before the kit is opened. The delivery check is the last confirmation, and it takes less time than the return.
Keep the confirmation with the machine record, because the next chain decision starts from the same serial number. A record that already contains the last kit's confirmation makes the next order faster and safer.
Ordering the Right Kit the First Time
Provide the machine serial number, chain pitch, and the old part number, and ask for written fitment confirmation. The right kit ordered once beats a return and a second wait.
Check the kit contents against the repair: link section, hardware, and any special tooling. A kit that arrives complete is a kit that can be installed the same day.
Confirm the delivery window against the maintenance stop at the same time as the fitment. A confirmed kit that lands after the stop is a confirmed kit that missed the job.
KM vs CR at a Glance: A Cross-Reference Sheet
The sheet below is the information a supplier needs to confirm either family. Send all fields, and the fitment confirmation comes back with the part number.
| Field | What it settles |
|---|---|
| Machine brand and model | Points to the chain family |
| Machine serial number | Settles the generation and configuration |
| Old kit or chain part number | The primary cross-reference |
| Chain pitch | Confirms the kit matches the chain |
| Link configuration | Confirms the repair section type |
The Cost of the Wrong Kit: Returns, Wait, and Downtime
The wrong kit costs more than the return shipping: it costs the delivery window, the maintenance stop, and the day the machine sits waiting for the right part. On an Alberta site, a day of machine downtime is the real price of skipping the cross-reference.
The confirmation takes minutes at order time and removes the whole risk. It is the cheapest insurance in the undercarriage parts list.
The comparison belongs in the fleet record: every wrong part, its return, and its wait time is a case study in the cost of guessing. Fleets that track the misses stop making them, because the record makes the cross-reference the standard step rather than the careful one.
Before Ordering
- Confirm the machine serial number and chain pitch.
- Provide the old kit or chain part number.
- Ask for written fitment confirmation before dispatch.
Questions to Ask Before You Order
- Which kit family matches my machine brand and chain?
- What is the chain pitch for my machine?
- What are the kit part numbers for my serial number?
See the Repair Link Kit collection and the KM2233RLK kit for your machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does KM mean in a repair kit name?
KM-style identifiers appear on selected AFT kit families for Komatsu track chains. CR-style names appear on selected families for CAT chains; both are AFT product labels, not universal industry naming.
Can I use a KM kit on a CAT machine?
No. Kits are matched to the chain family and pitch. Confirm the part number and serial number before ordering.
How do I cross-reference a repair kit?
Provide the OEM part number, chain pitch, and machine serial number, and the supplier matches the kit.