UPDATE -- Shepherd Engine Saga Cont

rv_safetyman · October 19, 2009, 08:21:30 AM

Some of the relies have a good suggestion that I should talk to at least one other DDC facility and see what they would charge. Craig gave me a private contact. I would like to see if I can find a DDC dealer (not in the Stewart Stevenson organization). What I need is a contact. I can't quite bring myself to making a cold call to just any dealer.

Thank, Jim
three zero three 478 thiry five zero one

belfert · October 19, 2009, 08:36:50 AM

The local DDC dealer here also services Kohler generators. I had some service issues with work on my Kohler generator and wrote a nice letter to the service manager. They agreed with my assessment of the work done and refunded half the cost. I think it will pay off to contact someone higher up at S&S to plead your case.

(My Kohler standby generator never worked right from day one. It didn't run at all after the second visit from the mechanic. I ended up fixing the problem with it not running at all myself. The initial problem turned out to be not breaking it with a heavy load. The unit still doesn't start consistently to this day and Kohler redesigned the unit.)

luvrbus · October 19, 2009, 10:27:03 AM

Jim,I am in Houston now Cole and I are going to the corp office and he is going to see if he can get you a little help I did not know that some of the branches of Stewart and Stevenson are being sold as franchises

good luck

johns4104s · October 20, 2009, 05:59:44 PM

Go for it Luvrbus...That is what I,m talking about.

John

rv_safetyman · November 17, 2009, 04:40:44 PM

The Shepherd engine saga continues.

Stewart Stevenson is no longer holding my engine for ransom!!!

Those of you following the horror story about my Series 60 engine problem, will recall that I bought another used engine in Ogden UT. This engine has 200k on a documented DDC dealer rebuild. However, I needed to get my engine back from SS. I had taken it down there expecting to pay for "Step 1" or "Step 2" rebuild. The damage turned out to be worse and the final estimate was over 15K.

I then tried to get the engine back, but they wanted almost $2K for the tear down and inspection. In truth they had started work on the engine and were trying to recoup some of their costs. I have been negotiating with them for the past couple of months.

Finally, I made a proposal that they keep the block and head as a core (thus they could benefit from their work) and I would get almost all of the other equipment (ECM, turbo, air compressor, shallow pan, clutch/flywheel, etc) plus all of my special fabricated parts. They agreed and said that they would call it even. I was amazed at their offer. Maybe the branch manager got tired of my emails and phone calls.

So, I ended up with $2-3K in parts and no bill to pay! The turbo, ECM and air compressor were new when I installed the engine, so I really wanted to keep them.

Now, I have all of my parts and the FUN??? begins. Getting all the wiring and accessory parts assembled will be a bit of a challenge. The accessory configuration of the two engines was quite different as was the ECM "cab" wiring. Plus it has been so long that I have forgotten where some of the bus electrical and plumbing connections go.

Nobody said this hobby was for the faint of heart.

Jim

DaveG · November 17, 2009, 04:45:38 PM

Hey congratulations...does sound like you came out okay, certainly could have been worse.

RJ · November 17, 2009, 04:56:23 PM

Jim -

And you'll have it all up and running for Quartzsite in January, right?

John316 · November 17, 2009, 05:05:27 PM

Now that's good news. Thanks for the update.

God bless,

John

rv_safetyman · November 17, 2009, 05:34:32 PM

Thanks guys.

RJ, my plan is to have it in Quartzsite!

Jim

Brian Diehl · November 17, 2009, 06:28:23 PM

That is truly GREAT news Jim! Yahoo! I am happy to hear you will finally be able to move forward with getting your bus back on the road. Make sure to keep us posted on your progress.

TomC · November 17, 2009, 07:11:51 PM

Eggcellent! Sounds like as good an ending as possible. Good luck with the swap. TomC

JohnEd · November 17, 2009, 11:44:40 PM

I love it when a plan comes together.

Glad for ya Jim.

John

edroelle · November 18, 2009, 04:47:52 AM

We are all happy for the good conclusion, pre-reassembly.

You sure made lemonade out of a lemon situation.

Ed Roelle
Flint, MI

Busted Knuckle · November 18, 2009, 03:18:56 PM

Quote from: rv_safetyman on November 17, 2009, 05:34:32 PM
Thanks guys.

RJ, my plan is to have it in Quartzsite!

Jim

Be sure to let us know if Sonnie needs to leave the trailer @ home and head out a couple days early to "pull you down there with his sweet yella engine!"

As usual always willing to help!

BK

johns4104s · November 20, 2009, 08:24:37 AM

Great news....