Update on the Shepherd Engine Problem

[rv_safetyman]

I was not going to spend more bandwidth talking about my engine issues, but a couple of folks have asked about the status.  Background:  http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=12668.msg132969#msg132969.

I looked long and hard to see if there was some way to come up with the $15K to rebuild my Series 60.  I knew that it was not going to happen (in spite of the fact that I bought extra Lotto tickets).  A good friend in Ogden, UT checked a salvage yard that I knew to be an honest business.  It turned out that they had a Series 60 with 163K miles since a rebuild.  Another good friend was able to get some information on the engine and said that his source said it looked pretty good (was a DDC dealer rebuild). 

Pat and I are in Salt Lake City for Pat's convention and I took the opportunity to inspect the engine.  I took my Pro-Link and checked all of the information available on the ECM.  It all checked according to the information I had been given.  We ran the engine and it sounded good and looked good on the Pro-Link (as much as you can check on an unloaded engine). 

So, I plunked down a ton of money that I don't have and I now own another Series 60.  I will have it shipped to Denver and start the change over of some parts and then stuff it in the Eagle.  This engine cost half of the rebuild and I will have a ton of good parts from my engine.

A very special thanks to Kent and Clifford!!!!  I also want to thank all of the folks of the various boards that gave me good thoughts and ideas.  Several of you called and I always enjoy the conversations.

I will let you know when we are back on the road.  I have a one week trip to do some installations and I have other projects I want to get done while the engine is out.  I plan to have it in and running by  September 5th (our 45 th wedding anniversary).

I have learned a lot from this experience, but the overwhelming item is how much we enjoy our bus.  When you have to travel "normally" it is a real pain and very expensive.

Jim

[Dreamscape]

Jim,

Glad to hear the good news!

Hope this one lasts longer than you! 

Take Care,

Paul

[Sojourner]

Jim,

Glad to hear the good news!

Hope this one lasts longer than you! 

Take Care,

Paul

Amen Paul!

Jim...your experience and history reports of the used state-of-art engine to replace the old engine is a valuable lesson to me & other bus nuts. You and others acknowledgeable bus nut open up the some of the unknown factory engine's update as well reach the suggested mileages limit of take-out used engine.

I greatly appreciate this board and your reports with the up dates.

Thank you.

Hope everything goes well and running before your wonderful wedding 45th  wedding anniversary.

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald

[TomC]

Jim- you might consider opening up the oil pan and inspecting the main and rod bearings.  Relatively cheap, and will at least give you piece of mind on the state of the lower end.  Good Luck, TomC

[rv_safetyman]

May get a double post here - thought I had posted a reply.

Tom good suggestion.  I have to swap out my shallow oil pan, so I will do that.

Jim

[DaveG]

Jim, everything used is a gamble, but like the sign on the junkyard wall says, "what is wrong with used parts, you drove in on used parts'

Sorry your first 60 didn't work out...sometimes stuff happens, you know, sometimes bad stuff happens to good people.

Anyway, sounds like this one is pretty good...if were a little closer I'd volunteer to help you change it: or you could by me an airplane ride!

Anyway, good luck.

[rv_safetyman]

Several folks have called or emailed to ask what the status of my "challenge" is.

This week I picked up the used engine I bought in Ogden.  I was able to talk to the owner of the donor truck and he sent me several repair invoices including one for a DDC "Stage 2" rebuild (just short of a remanufactured engine).  It appears to have about 210K miles since rebuild.  I contacted the DDC dealer who did the rebuild and he sent me some more repair invoices.

However, I am getting cold feet.  The owner did not replace the "bull gear" and that is probably a real issue.  It is over $2K to replace with then engine out.  Also, I owe Stewart Stevenson what appears to be $2K for the work they did to tear down the engine and inspect the parts (that is a very high number, and I think I could get them down a bit). So, when I add up all the numbers I am getting very close to the cost of rebuilding my engine.

Bottom line, I have listed the engine on Craigslist and will put it on the E place in a couple of days.  I am going to rebuild my engine and avoid all the stress (can it get any worse?) of another used engine.

Thanks for all the support a good input.  Hopefully I am heading in the right direction. 

Just have to find a bank that does not have security cameras .

Jim

[Chuck Newman]

Jim,

Your rebuilt will be a known quantity.  No sizing or DDEC mods.  You know it will fit.  And you will know exactly what you have behind you.  In the long run, I think you will be dollars ahead.

Good luck, no better luck to you this time.

Chuck

PS:  Thank you for the push-to-connect information.

[bobofthenorth]

Its easy for us to spend your money Jim but I don't think you will ever regret doing the full rebuild.  There's been many times in life when I have agonized over a decision, ended up doing it "right" no matter how much it hurt at the time and never regretted it.  On those occasions when I have decided to cheap out I have often lived to regret the temporary savings.

[TomC]

Jim- have a quality shop do an overhaul on your engine.  Don't just replace all the parts-you don't need a million mile engine.  Just replace what's needed and typically can save several thousand over a full rebuild.  Don't let the shop talk you into it just because they won't be able to warranty an overhaul since some of the parts are being reused.  You should be able to get out the door under $10k.  Good Luck, TomC