Caterpillarwork toolrake-landscape

Caterpillar LR18

Maintenance schedule, common problems & OEM parts breakdown

The Caterpillar LR18 is a bare hydraulic work-tool attachment for skid-steer and compact track loaders, not a stand-alone machine. It carries no engine, fuel tank, cooling system, or onboard transmission; every function runs off the host carrier's auxiliary hydraulic circuit through a gerotor drive motor. That motor drives a roller-chain reduction, which turns a rotating rake rotor fitted with hardened steel teeth. The teeth scarify, aerate, and level soil while sweeping rock and debris into an integrated hopper, and a poppet relief valve reverses hydraulic flow to the rake-head cylinder for a quick dump once the hopper fills. The LR18 carries a nominal working width around 1830 mm (72 in) and was built under the ADP1-UP serial prefix, roughly 1999 to 2005, before Caterpillar replaced it with the wider LR18B.

The LR18B update widened the class to about 1883 mm (74 in) of working width and moved to new DAS/EFS-prefixed serial breakpoints, alongside chain, bearing, and hopper refinements typical of a mid-life update rather than a full redesign; the core gerotor-motor, chain-drive, and quick-dump architecture carried straight through. In the used market the LR18 still turns up on trade-in SSL and CTL fleets bought for turf prep, seedbed conditioning ahead of sod or hydroseed, and windrowing rock and debris off landscaping and light construction sites. Because it has no engine or driveline to fail, resale value and usability come down almost entirely to chain and sprocket wear, tooth condition, gerotor motor health, and hopper and frame weld integrity, items a buyer or parts department can inspect directly rather than pulling fault codes.

Below: full specifications, fluids & capacities, the factory service schedule, common service parts, verified fault codes, what owners discuss, attachment guidance, the complete assembly directory, and a serial-number reference. Complete parts lists with full OEM part numbers, exploded diagrams, quantities, and fitment data are available free in Heavy Parts AI.

Caterpillar LR18 specifications

Engine

None. LR18 is a bare hydraulic work tool with no onboard engine, fuel tank, or cooling system. The rake rotor is driven entirely by the carrier skid-steer/compact loader's auxiliary hydraulic circuit.

Weights

Operating weight

Not published for the original ADP-prefix LR18. Weight figures circulating for the later LR18B nameplate belong to that successor generation and are not confirmed to apply to this unit; check the attachment data plate or your dealer for this specific serial range.

Dimensions

Nominal rake class width	72 in (about 1830 mm) nominal frame/class width, per the model's rated size designation.
Transport length, width, height	Not documented for this exact serial range (ADP1-UP) in available literature.

Performance

Drive method	Rotating rake/conveyor rotor is turned by a gerotor-type hydraulic motor fed from the carrier loader's auxiliary hydraulic circuit.
Dump function	A poppet check valve stops flow to the drive motor and redirects it to the rake-head lift cylinder to dump collected material.
Hydraulic flow/pressure requirement	Not documented for this exact serial range (ADP1-UP) in available literature. Match the carrier loader's auxiliary circuit rating and confirm with your dealer before operation.

Service capacities (summary)

Fuel tank	Not applicable, no engine.
Engine oil	Not applicable, no engine.
Cooling system	Not applicable, no engine.
Hydraulic system	No onboard hydraulic reservoir. The rake runs off the host carrier's hydraulic system.

Values vary by configuration, region, and serial range — confirm against your machine before planning transport or lifts.

LR18 fluids & capacities

System	Capacity	Recommended fluid
Grease points (pivot pins, rotor bearings, drive-chain and idler bearings)	Not capacity-rated - apply at each fitting until grease is visible at the joint	Cat Advanced 3-Moly Grease (NLGI 2 lithium-complex EP grease with moly); Cat Multipurpose Grease (MPGM) is an acceptable general-purpose alternative where moly-fortified grease is not on hand. No separate cold-climate grade is published for this attachment - use the host machine's ambient-temperature grease guidance.
Gerotor drive motor / chain-reduction gearbox	No standalone oil sump on this attachment - not applicable	None published. The gerotor motor is a sealed hydraulic unit driven and lubricated internally by hydraulic oil passed through it from the carrier; it does not take a separate gear or motor oil fill.
Hydraulic supply (drive circuit)	No dedicated reservoir on the rake itself - not applicable	Runs entirely on the host skid-steer/track-loader's own auxiliary hydraulic circuit. Use whatever hydraulic fluid the carrier's OMM specifies (typically Cat HYDO Advanced or Cat TDTO for older SSLs, or Cat BIO HYDO where the host requires biodegradable fluid) - no fluid or capacity is unique to the LR18 attachment.

Capacities are refill values from factory literature — always fill to the dipstick/sight gauge, not the number.

Caterpillar LR18 maintenance schedule

Service interval	Tasks
Every 10 h	Inspect hydraulic hoses, quick-couplers, and fittings for leaks, abrasion, or loose connections before hooking up to the carrier. Check rake teeth for cracks, excessive wear, or missing teeth and replace as needed. Clear packed soil, roots, and debris from the hopper and around the rotor. Grease the hopper dump-linkage pivot points. Verify the mounting plate and carrier locking pins are fully engaged and secure.
Every 50 h	Grease all rotor bearing and chain-idler fittings per the lubrication chart. Check roller-chain tension and adjust the idler or tensioner if slack exceeds spec. Inspect the chain guard and cover for damage and secure mounting. Check the gerotor drive motor case and shaft seal for oil seepage. Inspect tooth mounting hardware for looseness.
Every 250 h	Remove the chain guard and inspect the roller chain and sprockets for wear, stretch, or damaged links. Clean and re-lubricate the roller chain with the recommended chain lubricant. Inspect gerotor motor mounting hardware and the drive coupling for wear. Check poppet relief-valve operation for smooth, quick dump actuation. Inspect hopper and frame welds for cracks, especially at the rotor bearing towers. Check hydraulic hose routing and clamps for chafing against the frame.
Every 500 h	Inspect the rotor shaft and bearing housings for play or abnormal noise under load. Replace the roller chain and sprockets as a set if wear or stretch exceeds the service limit. Test gerotor motor output flow and relief pressure against spec; rebuild or exchange the unit if it has dropped off. Inspect all hydraulic couplers, O-rings, and hose ends and replace worn seals. Check and retorque mounting frame and pivot hardware to spec.
Every 1,000 h	Disassemble and inspect gerotor motor internals; replace worn gears and seals or exchange the unit. Inspect and replace pivot bushings and pins at the hopper dump cylinder. Rebuild or replace worn rotor bearings and seals. Inspect the tooth mounting bar and reface or replace it if worn beyond limits.

Servicing the LR18 beyond the schedule

Predictive Maintenance & Fluid Analysis

The LR18 has no reservoir of its own; hydraulic oil condition reflects the host carrier's system. Pull a sample at the carrier's scheduled oil-analysis intervals and watch for metal fines, which point to gerotor motor or chain-drive wear before a failure strands the rotor. Track roller-chain elongation over time rather than waiting for it to jump a sprocket. Listen for rotor bearing noise and watch poppet-valve dump response; a sluggish dump cycle often signals valve or seal wear starting well before a full failure.

Corrective & Common Repairs

Most LR18 downtime traces to a handful of repeat failures: stretched or jumped roller chain from skipped tension checks, cracked or missing hardened teeth after rock strikes, and a weeping gerotor motor shaft seal that shows up as oil film around the drive housing. Hopper dump-linkage pivots wear oval and start knocking under load; rebush rather than run them loose. A poppet valve that will not hold or will not shift usually means trapped debris or a worn seat, not a bad motor, so inspect it first.

Overhaul & Rebuild Points

Plan overhaul around the rotor and drive train, not an engine. Rebuild or exchange the gerotor motor when case-drain flow or output torque drops below spec; internal wear there is gradual and easy to miss until raking speed sags. Replace the roller chain and sprockets as a set once elongation passes the service limit, since a new chain on worn sprockets wears fast. Rebuild rotor bearings and shaft seals together, and weld-repair or reinforce hopper and frame cracks at the bearing towers before they propagate.

Seasonal & Environmental Servicing

Sandy or abrasive soil accelerates chain, sprocket, and tooth wear, so shorten grease and chain-tension checks when working in those conditions. Before winter storage, cap or plug hydraulic couplers to keep moisture and grit out of the circuit, back off chain tension slightly, and store the hopper in the down position to relieve pivot-cylinder load. In frozen or rocky ground, inspect teeth and chain right after use; frozen clods load the rotor like rock and can bend teeth or snap a chain link without warning.

LR18 attachments & work tools

Carrier Compatibility

Mounts to Cat skid steer loaders (SSL) and compact track loaders (CTL) in the small-to-mid frame classes, with compatible multi terrain loaders (MTL) and small compact wheel loaders also documented for this rake family. As a nominal 1.8 m (72 in) class rake it pairs with loaders in that operating-capacity range rather than the largest frame sizes. Exact compatible model list shifts across loader generations - confirm fitment for your specific carrier serial range with your dealer.

Mounting / Coupler System

Attaches to the carrier's standard SSL/CTL universal quick-coupler face plate; no separate mounting adapter is needed on a loader already fitted with a Cat-style quick attach. The rake has no engine of its own - hydraulic supply and return lines connect through the carrier's auxiliary hydraulic quick-disconnect couplers, letting the operator change tools without leaving the cab.

Hydraulic Flow Requirement

Runs off the carrier's auxiliary hydraulic circuit at roughly 42-86 L/min (11-23 GPM) for this rake family, which sits within a standard-flow SSL/CTL aux circuit rather than requiring a dedicated high-flow package. Actual flow needed varies with carrier model and rake configuration - treat as a working range, not a fixed value.

Hydraulic Pressure Requirement

Operating pressure for the rake's hydraulic drive motor falls in roughly the 145-235 bar (2,100-3,400 psi) range documented for this rake family. Confirm against the carrier's auxiliary circuit relief-valve setting before use, since pressure needs can vary by configuration.

Rake Drive & Teeth

A hydraulic motor drives the rotating rake reel, which carries hardened carbon-steel teeth that scarify, pulverize, aerate, and level soil. No factory tine-spacing kit or tooth-interchange option is documented for this model - teeth are a fixed fitment for the rake.

Debris Collection

An integrated hopper/bucket at the rear of the rake collects rock and debris lifted by the teeth for quick dumping, reducing separate cleanup passes. No dedicated rock-guard accessory is documented for this rake; the hopper itself serves that collection role.

All LR18 assemblies by section

Every catalogued assembly group for the Caterpillar LR18. Open an assembly to preview the parts inside — full OEM part numbers are available in Heavy Parts AI.

Frame And Body

159-5348 Frame Gp-Landscape Rake

15***48	Frame Group-Landscape Rake	1
15***57	Conveyor Group-Landscape Rake	1
15***87	Bucket As-Landscape Rake	1
15***93	Plate	2

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159-5386 Frame Gp-Landscape Rake

15***58	Conveyor Group-Landscape Rake	1
15***86	Frame Group-Landscape Rake	1
15***88	Bucket As-Landscape Rake	1
15***93	Plate	2

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159-5374 Guard Gp-Sprocket

15***26	Screw; (M8x1.25x20-mm)	4
15***74	Guard Group-Sprocket	1
15***75	Cover	1

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Hydraulic System

159-5396 Cylinder Gp-Hydraulic

15***96	Cylinder Group-Hydraulic	1
15***98	Kit-Seal	1
25***29	Rod	1
3B***89	Fitting-Grease; (Fan And Alternator Drive)	1

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159-5376 Lines Gp-Hydraulic

14***15	Connector As	4
15***94	Coupler As-Quick Disconnect; (Female)(Quick Disconnect)	1
15***95	Fitting As; (Quick Disconnect, Male)	1
15***26	Screw; (M8x1.25x20-mm)	2

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159-5353 Manifold Gp-Control

15***53	Manifold Group-Control	1
15***81	Manifold Group-Control	1
2M***80	Seal--To Connector Pump Outlet	4
3J***07	Seal Valve Assembly To; Seal- Tube Assembly To Logic Valve	2

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159-5381 Manifold Gp-Control

15***81	Manifold Group-Control	1
15***82	Plug-Orifice	1
15***83	Plug As	1
15***84	Valve Group-Relief	1

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159-5351 Motor Gp-Gerotor

03***53	Bolt; (3/8-24x6.5in)	4
09***38	Plug	1
15***51	Motor Group-Gerotor	1
5E***56	Seal	4

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159-5399 Mounting Gp-Cylinder

15***20	Washer; (17x56x5-mm Thk)	1
15***13	Pin	1
15***63	Spring	1
15***99	Mounting Group-Cylinder	1

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Service Equipment And Supplies

176-2619 Kit-Roading Film -Roading

17***19	Kit-Roading Film; -Roading	1
17***14	Film-Stripe; (Reflective, Red, White)	2
17***15	Film; (Reflective)(Warning)	2

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159-5394 Plate & Film Gp

15***94	Plate & Film Group	1
15***36	Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual)	1
15***38	Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back)	2
15***41	Film-Warning; (Cutter Hazard, Stay Back)	1

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159-5405 Plate & Film Gp

15***05	Plate & Film Group	1
15***36	Film-Warning; (Read Operation Manual)	1
15***38	Film-Warning; (Crush Hazard, Stay Back)	2
15***41	Film-Warning; (Cutter Hazard, Stay Back)	1

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Work Tool Arrangement

159-5385 Landscape Rake Ar

15***48	Frame Group-Landscape Rake	1
15***50	Drive Group-Landscape Rake	1
15***74	Guard Group-Sprocket	1
15***76	Lines Group-Hydraulic	1

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159-5349 Landscape Rake Ar

15***49	Landscape Rake Ar	1
15***50	Drive Group-Landscape Rake	1
15***74	Guard Group-Sprocket	1
15***76	Lines Group-Hydraulic	1

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Work Tools

159-5358 Conveyor Gp-Landscape Rake

15***54	Link As	3
15***58	Conveyor Group-Landscape Rake	1
15***65	Chain As	1
15***67	Tube As	6

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159-5357 Conveyor Gp-Landscape Rake

15***54	Link As	3
15***57	Conveyor Group-Landscape Rake	1
15***60	Tube As	6
15***61	Tube As	6

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159-5350 Drive Gp-Landscape Rake

01***80	Setscrew-Hex Socket	4
11***54	Shim; (1-mm Thk)(Round)	1
13***93	Key	1
15***50	Drive Group-Landscape Rake	1

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LR18 serial number reference

The LR18 is a bare hydraulic attachment, not a self-powered machine, so its ID plate is a riveted identification film/plate on the rake frame rather than an operator-station data plate. The plate shows the model designation and a serial number; the first three letters are the PIN prefix tied to this model/generation and parts-book range, and the digits following it are the unit sequence number within that range (a '-UP' notation in parts literature just means 'this prefix and higher').

Prefix	Identifies	Notes
ADP1-UP	LR18 72-inch (1.83 m) hydraulic landscape rake, original generation	Standard PIN prefix for the LR18 landscape rake arrangement and frame group, built around 1999-2000. Distinct from the 60-inch LR15 (separate prefix, same-era parts book) and from the later, wider LR18B generation, which carries its own separate prefix range. No plant/region breakout documented; treat as a single continuous range for this generation unless a dealer parts lookup shows a mid-run break.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Cat LR18 landscape rake have an engine?

No. The LR18 is a bare hydraulic attachment with no engine, fuel tank, cooling system, or onboard transmission. It runs entirely off the host skid-steer or compact track loader's auxiliary hydraulic circuit, which drives a gerotor motor and roller-chain reduction to turn the rake rotor.

What is the LR18's working width and operating weight?

The LR18 carries a nominal working width around 1830 mm (72 in). Exact operating weight and hydraulic flow specs vary by configuration and are not consistently documented for this ADP-prefix generation, so check the build plate or your dealer for a specific unit. The later LR18B widened the class to about 1883 mm (74 in) at roughly 653 kg (1440 lb).

What replaced the Caterpillar LR18?

Caterpillar replaced the LR18 with the LR18B, built under DAS- and EFS-prefixed serials. The LR18B kept the same gerotor-motor, chain-drive, and poppet-valve quick-dump architecture but widened the raking path to about 1883 mm (74 in) and refined the chain and bearing components.

What LR18 owners discuss

What wears out first on the LR18's drive system?

On chain-and-rotor style landscape rakes like this one, the roller chain and sprockets between the hydraulic motor and the rake rotor wear fastest. Dirt and grit work into the chain links over time, stretching the chain and letting it ride loose on the sprockets, which shows up as a rotor that lags or chatters under load. Retensioning or replacing the chain restores smooth rotor drive. Specific LR18 wear reports are scarce online; this reflects general consensus for hydraulic chain-drive rakes across brands rather than an LR18-only finding.

Can rocks, roots, or wire jam the rotor, and how should a jam be cleared?

Yes. Oversized rock, root, or wire and cable can wrap around the rotating tine bar and bind the chain drive. Forcing the rotor through a jam risks bending a tine bar or breaking a chain link. Shut off the loader, relieve hydraulic pressure, and clear the obstruction by hand rather than powering through it. This is typical behavior for rotor-and-chain rake attachments generally, not a documented LR18-specific failure. Have your dealer verify chain tension and rotor alignment before returning the attachment to service after clearing a jam.

Does the LR18 need a high-flow skid steer, or will standard flow work?

Standard-flow auxiliary hydraulics are normally enough for this class of attachment. Similarly sized hydraulic landscape rakes commonly run on roughly 40-95 L/min (10-25 gpm) at standard auxiliary pressure, well inside what a standard-flow loader circuit supplies. High flow is not required and can spin the rotor faster than intended if not throttled back. No LR18-specific flow figure turned up in owner discussion, so match the rate on the attachment's ID plate or operator's manual to the host machine before running it.

How do the rake teeth hold up, and can a broken one be fixed in the field?

The hardened teeth wear gradually from abrasive soil contact and occasionally snap off after hitting a buried rock or root. A broken tooth usually does not stop the job outright, since a few missing teeth generally don't unbalance the rotor enough to hurt performance, and individual tooth bars can be swapped without replacing the whole rotor. This matches general consensus across the hydraulic landscape-rake category; LR18-specific tooth-wear reports were not found, so this is a category-level generalization.

What is this rake best used for compared to a rotary power rake?

This rotor-and-hopper style rake is best at pulling rock and debris out of the topsoil in the same pass that conditions and levels it, since the rotating tines carry material back into the hopper for dumping. Rotary power rakes with a rear leveling bar are generally better suited to fine-finish grading and seedbed prep but do not collect debris the way a hopper rake does. Owners typically choose between the two based on whether rock removal or finish grading matters more for the job at hand. This reflects general community consensus for the attachment category; no LR18-specific comparison was found.

Does soil moisture affect how well the rake works?

Yes, in general for this type of rake. Dry, workable soil passes through the rotor and drops cleanly into the hopper, while wet or soft, sticky soil tends to ball up on the tines and pack into the hopper area instead of shedding cleanly. Waiting for the ground to dry out somewhat before running the rake gives better results. Specific LR18 discussion on this point is limited, so this generalizes honestly from the broader hydraulic landscape-rake category rather than confirmed LR18-only reports.

What should be checked before buying a used LR18?

Hand-rotate the rake rotor and check chain slack; excess play or a chain that skips over the sprocket teeth means it needs tensioning or replacement soon. Inspect the hydraulic motor case and hose fittings for weeping or drips, and check the frame and hopper for cracked welds or bent tine bars from past rock strikes. Confirm the skid-steer coupler faceplate and hydraulic quick-connects are not worn oval or leaking. Have your dealer verify hydraulic motor internal wear with a flow and pressure test, and check rotor bearing play, before final purchase.

Compiled from owner and technician discussions across the industry — experiences vary by serial range and machine history.

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