Killer dowel pin in 24 valves???????????????

Gonzo 1066 · May 6, 2001

I had a alignment dowel pin in the timing cover fall out and break the timing housing on my 95 12 valve. Is this a problem in my 2001 24 valve engine? I would hope Cummins fixed the engeneering problem when they designed the new engine. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

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1995 2500 5 spd US Gear 2 speed,PackBrake, bombed,big turbo, injectors CUMMINS POWER!!. 2001 ETH 3500 PackBrake, gagues,otherwise stock. 1972 "1066" International Harvester 414 ci diesel pulling tractor, big pump,turbo and injectors. Alcohol injection,BINDER POWER!! .
GONZO

work2muchplay2little · May 6, 2001

Robert, although I don't consider myself an authority by any means, I've read the forums extensively for several months and have never seen this issue come up with regard to the 24V engines. I'm sure you'll hear from some of the gurus soon. Happy Rammin'

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Kurt Voss
********* 1999 2500 24VCTD AUTO 4x4 QC LB Laramie SLT, Luverne stainless steel nerf bars, 3 piece bug deflector, mopar mud flaps, Line-X bedliner, Blue Chip Fuel Management System (Premium), Psychotty Air, DD3's,TTPM, DD 4" exhaust, HX40, DTT VB/TC(91%) , Mag-Hytec transmission pan... YEEEEEHAAAA!!

Evan A. Beck · May 6, 2001

I believe the pin you are talking about is the #1 cylinder TDC locating pin. On the 12-vavlve engines, it was located on the back of the timing gear housing, under the injection pump. When cylinder #1 was at TDC, the pin would fit into a hole in the camshaft gear.

So now some of you may ask, "what's it for?"

Well, two things...

First, it is used for aligning the engine to do a fuel injection pump timing check/adjustement. Second, it can be used as the starting point to do a valve adjustement. Both of thse things require you to have cylinder #1 at TDC. If you ask me, using this little pin to find TDC is fairly difficult. I prefer to do it other ways, such as using a TDC locator when doing timing check/adjustment.

If after doing one of the above tasks the timing pin is NOT pulled back out, it will break off once the engine is started. The part that breaks off could get itself jammed in the timing geartrain, casuing extensive damage. Or it could just fall to the bottom of the timing gear cover and not cause any problem. I for one, would reomve the gear cover and get the piece out to avoid any problems down the line.

So to answer your question... The 24-valve does not have a timing pin. The 24-valve uses a stamped mark on the front of the timing cover to locate TDC. Just pull off the crankcase breather filter assembly, and align the keyway on the injection pump shaft with the TDC mark on the cover. Simple as that.

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Hope this answers your question.

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Bill Lins · May 6, 2001

Evan- the pin they're referring to is a locating dowel which goes from the front of the block into the timing cover. What sometimes happens is that the pin will work loose and fall forward into the area of the gear drive on the front of the engine. There are various fixes which have been proposed- see "Killer dowel pin" threads in the 12v forum. I don't know if the 24v engines have the same design flaw or not.

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Bill Lins Wharton, TX 98 2500 QC SLT,12 (the CORRECT # of)valves,NV4500,3. 54 LSD,Manik grille guard,Semi-Psychotty Air,Amsoil everywhere, Reading aluminum utility body and bumper,Optima yellow tops- silencer ring & muffler stolen.

Evan A. Beck · May 6, 2001

That was my other guess, seems equally as devastating as the timing pin thing...

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Joseph Donnelly · May 6, 2001

Evan, the timing pin is plastic and breaking off the tip is not likely to cause a problem. Around one or two years ago Cummins extended the housing at the dowel pin and necked down the housing hole diameter past the area where the pin is inserted. I think they should have blanked off the end of the hole, but supposedly the restriction will retain the pin if it loosens.

Gonzo 1066 · May 6, 2001

Thanks for the info Joe. I had hoped that Cummins had made a change in the design of the timing housing. I really was not looking forward to removing the cover on my new engine just to see if there was a poitential for a fatal design flaw. I have a email into Cummins to try to find out if the problem exists in the 24 valve engine. I will report to the site with there answer. PS it is NOT the timing check pin. It IS a cover alignment dowel located just beside the fan bearing mount in the aluminum timing gear housing.

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1995 2500 5 spd US Gear 2 speed,PackBrake, bombed,big turbo, injectors CUMMINS POWER!!. 2001 ETH 3500 PackBrake, gagues,otherwise stock. 1972 "1066" International Harvester 414 ci diesel pulling tractor, big pump,turbo and injectors. Alcohol injection,BINDER POWER!! .
GONZO

Gonzo 1066 · May 6, 2001

I know the timing locator pin you are talking about but this is not that pin. It is a engine block to timing gear housing alignment dowel pin. Located just to the right of the engine cooling fan inside the timing cover. Thanks for the input.

Originally posted by Evan A. Beck:
I believe the pin you are talking about is the #1 cylinder TDC locating pin. On the 12-vavlve engines, it was located on the back of the timing gear housing, under the injection pump. When cylinder #1 was at TDC, the pin would fit into a hole in the camshaft gear.

So now some of you may ask, "what's it for?"

Well, two things...

First, it is used for aligning the engine to do a fuel injection pump timing check/adjustement. Second, it can be used as the starting point to do a valve adjustement. Both of thse things require you to have cylinder #1 at TDC. If you ask me, using this little pin to find TDC is fairly difficult. I prefer to do it other ways, such as using a TDC locator when doing timing check/adjustment.

If after doing one of the above tasks the timing pin is NOT pulled back out, it will break off once the engine is started. The part that breaks off could get itself jammed in the timing geartrain, casuing extensive damage. Or it could just fall to the bottom of the timing gear cover and not cause any problem. I for one, would reomve the gear cover and get the piece out to avoid any problems down the line.

So to answer your question... The 24-valve does not have a timing pin. The 24-valve uses a stamped mark on the front of the timing cover to locate TDC. Just pull off the crankcase breather filter assembly, and align the keyway on the injection pump shaft with the TDC mark on the cover. Simple as that. #ad

Hope this answers your question. #ad

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1995 2500 5 spd US Gear 2 speed,PackBrake, bombed,big turbo, injectors CUMMINS POWER!!. 2001 ETH 3500 PackBrake, gagues,otherwise stock. 1972 "1066" International Harvester 414 ci diesel pulling tractor, big pump,turbo and injectors. Alcohol injection,BINDER POWER!! .
GONZO

Killer dowel pin in 24 valves???????????????

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