Killer Dowel Pin gear case bolts

[RedRamAndy]

I wanted to post a few pics to help those still wanting to kill their pin. I did mine this weekend. It hadn't moved at all I don't think in the truck's 182k miles. I seated it (moved back about 20 thou) and peened the bore. for those wanting to tighten the 10mm gear case bolts too, there are three of the little buggers hiding behind the cam gear. One is at 12:30 and one is at 2:00 and easily accessed thru a hole in the gear when rotated. The last one is a b__tch and is at about 4:30. I cut the head off a 10mm wrench and welded it to a screwdriver to make a sort of crow's foot to get to it. You may want to have a cheap 10mm wrench or two to sacrifice for this project. Oh, BTW, cut up a 13mm one to adjust my VE pump. Now I can finally get to that bottom bolt.

 

[RSchwarzli]

Very nice! Thank you! Have to look into mine in the next week or two so this post is good timing!

 

[RedRamAndy]

Glad to help. I know I put off killing this pin for awhile. That bolt at 4:30 is a lot easier to get to if you remove the lower 13mm head cam retaining bolt. I tightened those 2 13mm bolts and the 4 13mm bolts around the oil pump just for good measure. There are two 10mm case bolts that are easy to get to, one by the pin and on down about 8 inches in a 7:30 direction from the pin. Good luck man!

 

[RSchwarzli]

Thanks! I may need it! Also want to do the timing while I am in there.....

 

[Ncostello]

Why do you need to cut up a 13mm wrench to adjust the VE from the inside? Or are you talking about 13mm bolts on the outside?



The best wrench is a very thin (yet strong) 10mm ignition type closed end. You can bend it easily and it fits between the gear and bolt no problem so it remains a closed end.

 

[RedRamAndy]

My fuel gear was cracked, bought a new one. I had to loosen my VE pump from the back side to let it twist with the gear teeth to remove the gear. Since the teeth are cut on an angle, either the pump has to rotate. or the engine has to turn over while pulling the gear.

Good idea on the 10mm wrench. Haven't seen a skinny on before, but that would be very handy.

 

[JDerrig]

I also have a '92 Cummins auto I'd like to take alook at the dowel pin this Fall. I was going to try one of those little optic inspection cameras and fish it throught the oil filler cap and see if I can notice any movement on the dowel pin. Has anyone ever tried that to see if you really need service soon?

 

[RedRamAndy]

Never tried the camera. That might work. It seems that the bolts for the gear case, cam retainer, and oil pump may be more of a danger than the pin. There's more of them and they seem to loosen over time. One of our members here recently had his motor damaged apparently by one of the bolts falling out. They only way you'll be able to truely rest is to pull the cover and stake the pin and tighten the bolts. I know I feel better.

It would be cool to have one of those cameras though. If you have one, I'd give it a try.

 

[hbowers]

on the 1st gen trucks one of the bolts is as apt or more apt to fall out than the pull the cover dowel pin. cummins didn't start loc-titing those bolts until 95 0r 96. I got a 91 in my shop a few years back w/ a broken cam shaft. the pin was still seated. the bolt just above the oil pump fell out,went thru the gears broke the cam. and just recently I saw a 92 where the very same bolt had fallen out broke the cam and even sheared the woodruf key in the crankshaft, spun the crank gear about 180. talk about a mess. so I would definitly pull the cover,tab the pin and remove the bolts one at a time,clean the hole and bolt and loc-tite them.

myself I pull the cover on all of them now. 1st and 2nd gens both. I believe it's not a matter if a pin,or bolt will fall out. it's a matter of when!

 

[RSchwarzli]

Well, did my pin. Was flush with the cover. Is that bad?

 

[hbowers]

on 1st gen trucks the pin should be approx 1/4 inch deeper than flush. I would take care of the bolts for sure.

 

[RedRamAndy]

Well, did my pin. Was flush with the cover. Is that bad?

Nope, That's not bad. Bad is when the stuff all blew up. Good job! Mine barely moved in 182k. It took way less than 1/32nd to seat it. It ended up about 3/16th back in the bore.

You did do the bolts, right?

 

[RSchwarzli]

Yes, checked bolts. None seemed that loose.



As for the KDP, i peened the bore and did a tab. Should be safe now!