Running the Rack....cost?

JohnEd · March 20, 2009, 08:30:13 PM

Luvr,

Thank you for that update. It has been years since I had the occasion to visit the shop. At that time there were two buses in there for major stuff and one had the engine out. Both families were living there till the repairs were done. It is sad if Dave has soured....really sad. Six or eight months ago there were six buses on his property. Today, I saw only one and it was back behind some trucks.

Who do you recommend on the I 5 corridor between Roseburg and Portland?

thanks,

John

TomC · March 21, 2009, 08:36:21 AM

When running my 8V-92TA in my truck, I would run the rack every 100,000mi-and even at that, was not really that bad. Would have it done at Delaney and Ahlff (sp?) in Bakersfield-even though it was a 250mile round trip for me. A precision valve adjust, rack adjust and injector setting is paramount to a well running engine. Good Luck, TomC

belfert · March 21, 2009, 11:19:58 AM

Tom, what are your thought on routine tuneups on a Series 60? I paid Interstate Detroit Diesel $295 for a tuneup just because I am pretty sure it had never been done in 350,000 miles, but not sure if I need to have it done on a routine basis.

I believe it was supposed to include adjusting the Jake, but the Jake doesn't work any better and I'm not sure my Jake works as well as other have reported. I suppose I should have someone who has driven other buses with Series 60s and Jakes take my bus out for a spin.

NJT 5573 · March 21, 2009, 12:08:02 PM

Ideally on a rebuild I like to set the valves a couple thousands loose. Seat time is important to new valves, it helps them cool and seat if they have a little more seat time. I usually just use a cold set on a warm engine, (you can't get on top of the mountain "hot" in the shop anyway and that is what I feel is a true hot set). When I set engines up like that I try to get them back in the shop around 20,000 miles and put a true cold set on the valves. This procedure will point you to any trouble areas because all the valves should need to be tightened slightly and if something needs to be loosened then I need to find out why.

Slightly loose valves will not hurt anything, tight valves will not seat and then they burn. Every mechanic is different. They can use the same feeler gauges and they can have two very different feels. If you want racing performance, set them exact and tight. If you want service, set them a little loose and set the jam nuts real tight.

A trip to the shop with a good running engine can backfire easily so make sure you know what you want and hope thats what you get, or just do it yourself, then you know exactly what you have.

JohnEd · March 21, 2009, 08:15:25 PM

NJT,

I once voiced that opinion about the rack and savvy people told me I was nuts cause to run the rack you NEED a couple thousand worth of tools....as in special wrenches from DD. Were they wrong? "Say it ain't so, Joe. Say it ain't so." Be sure that I don't know what is needed but I have nearly every tool in the book.

Thanks,

John

TomC · March 21, 2009, 08:24:04 PM

Series 60 should have the valves, injector and jake clearances checked every 100,000 miles. Since your Jake doesn't feel any different, then they were probably close to being in adjustment anyway. Good Luck, TomC

NJT 5573 · March 22, 2009, 12:27:50 PM

John,

In their day the 2 strokes were probably the best thing going. Simple, reliable, easy to tune up and repair. Parts are still easy to find. The only "special" tool is an injector timing tool and any old 2 stroke mechanic probably has more than 3 laying around.

Used to use a grinder on the end of the rack arm to get some extra RPMs, but nothing special or expensive about that.

Once they are properly tuned the first time, alot of them didn't see a mechanic for a long time. I recently parted a KW to get the 8V/71 TA that has been in service in my local fleet for use in my friends 05. I bought that truck just for the engine to put in the 05 when I owned it and Chris wanted it so I gave it to him. It was running well and we didn't even think about pulling the valve covers and I know it has not been touched in 10 years.

We ran it up Tiger Mountain last week. I think it would have gone over the top in high gear, but it started putting out white smoke at low RPM in 4th so we dropped a gear. Don't think the smoke is rack related so it probably won't get tuned up now either. Likely just old fuel and I don't think Chris changed the filters yet either, so....

Ed Hackenbruch · March 22, 2009, 03:55:35 PM

When we go over Tiger Mountain we are in the slow lane with the 4 way flashers on.

8V71 no turbo.