Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) KILLER DOWEL PIN [again]

[J.BURCHFIELD]

I have a 98 12 valve that I bought new. Article I re-read in TDR from a couple of years ago concerned me because I had thought my dowel pin was OK. I ordered the kit from TST and gave the job to a long time trusted shop. The dowel pin had started out. Once again I had been saved by the TDR Magazine. The use of other vehicles available has kept the milage low 130K. If it had started out how much further could I have gone without flying pieces of my engine landing in the next county. Switching subjects. The best thing I ever did was to buy the conversion kit from EGR (in 2008) and now I have Disc brakes in my rear axle. Huge difference. Stopping distance is about half of what it was. Expensive but worth it. A fender bender with injuries could mean a law suit. So I consider it cheap insurance.

 

[DSpringstead]

What did the kit cost & what was the time involved?

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

What did the kit cost & what was the time involved?

The kit was $65 including shipping. It was a 3 hour job. The fan clutch gave them trouble even though they had the special kit for it. I put it on myself (Horton) 10 plus years ago. It involves a 2 inch plus nut with a left hand thread. They cleaned everything and used locktite on every bolt. Labor was $305 plus tax. Tax is 6% in my county here in Florida. The kit included 2 seals and a tube of sealer (black) and locktite (red) for the bolt that holds the egg shaped washer that prevents the pin from moving out. I would have done it myself but I am not doing that stuff anymore. Altho in good health 82 years gets in the way. I almost forgot included in the cost was a new serpentine belt ($60, Gates). They have a way of wearing out. Loose one on a trip away from home and it might cost you a Motel room if you can't find one right away. It is something I should have checked but had failed to do so. They last about 60K if memory serves. You want to dance you got to pay the fiddler. -- email address removed --

 

[Missouri Mule]

Since it was already out a little the pin could of fallen out anytime. If you were lucky the pin could have fallen into the oil pan doing no harm but than again it could of jammed the cam gear which would of cost $3000 to $5000 to fix or put a reman engine in. :{

What you paid to have it not come out and not having to worry about is worth the money you did not have to spend.

BTW I had my Mule and Freightliner(Moose) dowel pin taken care of.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

I was lucky that is for sure. Somehow I was misinformed. I thought the 98's were OK. Then I just happened to be re-reading an old issue of TDR and saw where a 2002 was found to have the dowel pin on the way out. Great comment, worth the money I did not have to spend. I have been retired 20 years and found the cost of retirement to be much more than expected. I plan to keep my 98 12 V.

 

[champspa]

just cheap manufacturing Cummins knew that they had a problem with the kdp long before 2002 but chose to allow the lack of quality to continue .

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

I hope the cover pan has been changed so that it holds the KDP in. Why Cummins thought the Pin would stay in I have no idea.