Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Breaking the will of Mr. #6
This is a story about my first injector install. Those of you who have done this before probably know where this story is going despite the weird title. This is not a how-to about installing, though I may sneak in a few tips.
Over 2 months ago, I purchased a set of used Bosch RV275 injectors from a fellow TDR member. This seemed the perfect compliment to my used EZ. Where else can you get this much performance for $550 while keeping just shy of EGT and clutch issues!
Anywho, you may be wondering why it took me so long to get around to doing the job. It's like this; first of all it was a stealth project, in a spousal sort of way. So I needed a block of time alone, just me and the truck... And of course I needed the right tools for the job, there's nothing like it as the saying goes. An inch-lb torque wrench here and a stubby 19mm open-end wrench there and something for my seriously lacking confidence. Let me state for the record that the most important and beneficial thing was the highly comprehensive instructions from one of our esteemed vendors whose initials begin with D's. In my attempt to gain confidence, besides reading and noting every relevant post on the subject, I read the instructions enough times to memorize them.
I didn't want to get stuck part way through the project exposing myself to interrogation, ridicule and unnecessary cost. So finally a timing opportunity arose and I proceeded carefully from step one. The grid heater part was mighty stuck, it was. After much grunting and fermenting over the predicament, me and the crowbar had our way with it. Being careful as I was, I saw that the gasket was not going come peaceably, more like in pieces. I didn't have a spare. So I put everything back and before long paid a visit to the local Cummins shop.
Knowing that I could at least get this far, I was reminded again of the horrors of getting stuck part way. So I decided to tackle the tough stuff first, if that was a no-go, I could back out gracefully again. Having heard how troublesome the way-back-there injector can be, no surprise really when you look at it, I decided to have a go at loosening the fuel line. Stubby wrenches are the antithesis of leverage, and obviously I needed a bunch. Abort attempt two.
Back to the hardware store for a large 19mm open-end wrench. I suspect the tool cost alone is approaching that of professional installation with someone else doing the sweating and cussing for my amusement. For attempt three, I go directly to the injector lines. Drat, foiled again. Apparently a twice-as-big wrench still doesn't cut it when you need 3 times as much leverage!
Back to the hardware store for what ended up being a piece of pipe that fit over the wrench to make a longer handle. Crude but effective. Besides, I always say - a project ain't really a project unless you make at least 2 trips to the hardware store.
Finally, as the year drags on, an opportunity for attempt four arises. Now well armed and partially experienced, I dive in. Of course I made sure that I could break that bad boy loose first thing. Only problem is, I can't count, more on that later. So I proceeds with confidence borne of previous attempts and tools galore. All is going well, I'm rather pleased with myself even though I had to arm-wrestle it a time or two to show who's boss. That back injector wasn't so bad after all. In fact, it wasn't all that far back, being #5. Doh! How many fingers do I have? Yes I have to count the bleeding ones too. Ahhh! So there's Mr. #6, way - way back there. Aw h3ll, I thought #5 was bad, the old pipe on a wrench thing doesn't even fit under the cowl and around all the wiring harnesses much less with room to swing.
So here I am, 5/6 of the way through and stuck, exactly where I didn't want to be. As Winnie the Pooh would say, "Think?, Think?". I thought of my trusty crowbar. Between the wrench, crowbar and cowl, I found my leverage! I broke the will of Mr. #6!
In the end, it was a successful install. No leftover parts, no leaks (keeping fingers crossed and planning a re-torque session). The test drive was good, wasn't all the way warmed up, so I didn't get on it too much, but it felt good.
The moral of the story is, a big strong friend is good to have, especially when dealing with the likes of Mr. #6.
Best regards,
Neil
This is a story about my first injector install. Those of you who have done this before probably know where this story is going despite the weird title. This is not a how-to about installing, though I may sneak in a few tips.
Over 2 months ago, I purchased a set of used Bosch RV275 injectors from a fellow TDR member. This seemed the perfect compliment to my used EZ. Where else can you get this much performance for $550 while keeping just shy of EGT and clutch issues!
Anywho, you may be wondering why it took me so long to get around to doing the job. It's like this; first of all it was a stealth project, in a spousal sort of way. So I needed a block of time alone, just me and the truck... And of course I needed the right tools for the job, there's nothing like it as the saying goes. An inch-lb torque wrench here and a stubby 19mm open-end wrench there and something for my seriously lacking confidence. Let me state for the record that the most important and beneficial thing was the highly comprehensive instructions from one of our esteemed vendors whose initials begin with D's. In my attempt to gain confidence, besides reading and noting every relevant post on the subject, I read the instructions enough times to memorize them.
I didn't want to get stuck part way through the project exposing myself to interrogation, ridicule and unnecessary cost. So finally a timing opportunity arose and I proceeded carefully from step one. The grid heater part was mighty stuck, it was. After much grunting and fermenting over the predicament, me and the crowbar had our way with it. Being careful as I was, I saw that the gasket was not going come peaceably, more like in pieces. I didn't have a spare. So I put everything back and before long paid a visit to the local Cummins shop.
Knowing that I could at least get this far, I was reminded again of the horrors of getting stuck part way. So I decided to tackle the tough stuff first, if that was a no-go, I could back out gracefully again. Having heard how troublesome the way-back-there injector can be, no surprise really when you look at it, I decided to have a go at loosening the fuel line. Stubby wrenches are the antithesis of leverage, and obviously I needed a bunch. Abort attempt two.
Back to the hardware store for a large 19mm open-end wrench. I suspect the tool cost alone is approaching that of professional installation with someone else doing the sweating and cussing for my amusement. For attempt three, I go directly to the injector lines. Drat, foiled again. Apparently a twice-as-big wrench still doesn't cut it when you need 3 times as much leverage!
Back to the hardware store for what ended up being a piece of pipe that fit over the wrench to make a longer handle. Crude but effective. Besides, I always say - a project ain't really a project unless you make at least 2 trips to the hardware store.
Finally, as the year drags on, an opportunity for attempt four arises. Now well armed and partially experienced, I dive in. Of course I made sure that I could break that bad boy loose first thing. Only problem is, I can't count, more on that later. So I proceeds with confidence borne of previous attempts and tools galore. All is going well, I'm rather pleased with myself even though I had to arm-wrestle it a time or two to show who's boss. That back injector wasn't so bad after all. In fact, it wasn't all that far back, being #5. Doh! How many fingers do I have? Yes I have to count the bleeding ones too. Ahhh! So there's Mr. #6, way - way back there. Aw h3ll, I thought #5 was bad, the old pipe on a wrench thing doesn't even fit under the cowl and around all the wiring harnesses much less with room to swing.
So here I am, 5/6 of the way through and stuck, exactly where I didn't want to be. As Winnie the Pooh would say, "Think?, Think?". I thought of my trusty crowbar. Between the wrench, crowbar and cowl, I found my leverage! I broke the will of Mr. #6!
In the end, it was a successful install. No leftover parts, no leaks (keeping fingers crossed and planning a re-torque session). The test drive was good, wasn't all the way warmed up, so I didn't get on it too much, but it felt good.
The moral of the story is, a big strong friend is good to have, especially when dealing with the likes of Mr. #6.
Best regards,
Neil
Something had to give. Fortunately, my hand was between the bar and the upper rad. hose clamp to cushion the blow from the bar. 
