bd exhaust brake

[dewdo]

My exhaust brake stuck shut and it was disconnected by the Cummin's shop in Eugene, Or to correct a problem I was having with High EGT, low bosst and low power plus heavy black smoke.



I took it into a shop in Yuma, AZ and they said the valve was bad. I was told that the valve had to be serviced periodically. I wasn't aware of this. I used the brake nearly every day unti it locked up. This is the 2nd time I have had the brake stick closed.



Has anyone else had this problem? What type of maintainence is required on the valve? Help!



Dewdo in the other Washington

 

[Bigsaint]

Guessing that they mean the spool valve. TDR issue 32, page 106 and issue 35, pages 10,11, give a in depth review of what needs to be done. That being said, I've searched high and low on my truck and can't find anything that resembles the spool valve pictured. I didn't install the brake, it was done at Auto Wurks, so I'll have to give Mike or Chris a call at the shop. Mine has been on for over 1 year now and I'm really getting the desire to clean same.



Scott W.

 

[dewdo]

The shop in Yuma pointed out the valve where the vacuum hoses are connected. I am mechanically challenged so I have to rely on the shops. I didn't install mine either.

 

[Bigsaint]

On mine, there is an assembly mounted on the frame, near the brake that the vaccum lines enter/exit. It's much smaller than the spool valve pictured in the TDR mag. and it looks much different. Mine is the 4" brake and I didn't have a choice but to have it installed by someone other than myself as it requires welding and I didn't think my little 110V soldering gun was up to the task .



Scott W.

 

[MikeR]

You never did respond to whatever your 'turbo ordeal' was back in Oregon a few months ago, but I'm glad to see that it was indeed a stuck exhaust brake, and that they didn't sell you a new turbo you didn't need.



The boys at the Powershop have a box of about a dozen or so vacuum brake cylinders that seemed to have jammed up for some reason. I don't know why they swapped them out when BD says they're rebuildable. Maybe it's time to open it up to see if those rubber gaskets are bad in the cylinder.

 

[dewdo]

That ordeal in Oregon is still on going in that I plan to take the dealership in Cottage Grove to Small Claims Court to recover the $600. 00 they charged me for a lift pump I didn't need. Not being able to troubleshoot the problem and sending me to the Cummins Shop where I had to pay another $334. 00 for their trouble shooting.



I had to spend four miserable days down there in the rain and over a weekend where if the had an intelligent mechanic, I could have been out of there and on my way in less than an hour. The dealership in Cottage call them selves "Five Star" I guess they get that rating by how many warranty's they can get voided and how much they can overcharge the general public.



As required by the small claims court I sent the owner a certified letter offering to make a settlement before going to court. I figure if I could get the cost of the lift pump and the Cummin's cost back I would call it even. If they refuse I guess I will shoot for all my expenses and court costs and any punitive dammage I can toss in for the four days I wasted there. The maximum I could get would be $5,000. 00



When I was there I told them I was going to take them to court, and they said we can hire better lawyers than you can and we can keep it in court. I told them not in small claims court. No lawyers. Just you and me!



I have asked BD to send me any and all information on any court cases they might know of that were successfull against DC or their dealers where a warranty was voided because of the VA Box, exhaust brake or othe minor modifications.



I will post the outcome.



Dewdo in the other Washington

 

[WDaniels]

dewdo,

I've had this problem twice. The brake is stuck shut? If so there is a small valve that has two hoses into one side and one out the other. This is a valve and it does stick. The first time it stuck shut I TAPPED the valve about a half dozen times then it started to work. The second time I took it off and cleaned it with tricomethoethelketone or something like that. MEK(methel ethel ketone)will work also. Just wear some good rubber gloves.

WD.

 

[dewdo]

Thanks WD for the infor. I will give that a try, and see if I can get it to operating again. It has been disconnected for two months now and I need to exercise it before it rusts open.



Another ordeal I had on our trip to FL was a front wheel bearing. That was a scary one. coming down a 16 mile 6% grade with with a 4000 lb camper and no place to pull over and bearings falling out of the race. Then having the brake fail just as I pulled into the dealership in Almagordo. Nearly went through the side of his building. That would have really po'd them!



Dewdo in the other Washington.