killer Dowl Pen

[GOODE11]

The front seal was leaking on my '97 and somebody told me it was probibly because of the killer dowl pen comeing out. I removed the front plate to replace the seal and I the pen was gone. I can see where it had been beating around but the pen is gone. Does any-one know where I sould look for it at?

 

[Jim Fulmer]

KDP

If it indeed made it out and missed hitting the cam gear then you are lucky, were is it, probably in the pan.



Jim

 

[DieselB59]

I just pulled an engine yesterday that was the result of a Killer Dowel Pin. This one got pretty beat up by the cam gear, then was launched out just under the fan hub. Broke a good 3" of the front case clear off. I found the dowel, as it was stuck to the gelatinous mess of congealed oil on the bottom of the front cover. The dowel is half its original diameter, and you can see cam teeth marks on it as it "rolled" on top of the cam gear for a while before finally being thrown clear. This is beginning to happen on a more regular basis, and I'm figuring that there is a reason for this... . the 12 valve engine is beginning to reach an age where this will begin to be more normal. Vibrations, over time, will take their toll on the dowels. The other engine I pulled this week for a trashed cylinder also had the beginnings of a dowel problem. The dowel pin was about . 060" out of it's bore. I tapped it in just to see how much it actually moved. Wow!

 

[GOODE11]

So do you think I will be alright or should I drop the pan to get it. If I can just leave it should I replace it or would it be that big of a deal to leave it without one.

 

[Cooker]

Before dropping the pan, I'd run a magnet around in there to see if you can grab it.



JMHO,

Ryan

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

Let the sleeping dog lay

Why do you want it??I believe it is only for assembly purposes. Consider yourself very lucky. If you do find it have it gold plated for a goodluck charm. No way I'd drop the pan to find it.

 

[illflem]

The KDP is there for more than just assembly, it holds the gear case in place to keep things aligned. Without the pin the only thing to keep your case in place are the bolts, which have some slop and will allow the case to move. This can result in problems ranging a damaged crank seal to a fuel pump bearing. No fun, put the pin back in and contain it.

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

I stand corrected

By Master Bill

 

[R.ebel]

KDP

The KDP missing could also affect injector pump timing if the housing moved much at all

 

[Deezul1]

I dont believe the pin in the pan will hurt anything but it should be replaced with a new one in its original hole and "tabbed" as it does precisely align the gear case to the block which in turn maintains precise alignment on several other important things.

If the pin in the pan worries you get a strong magnet and slap it on the outside of the pan on the bottom and it will grab the pin and keep it out of the way.

 

[GOODE11]

Thanks for the info guys!



Real bummer, I guess Monday I'm on my way back to Cummins (1hr each way). I wanted to get the truck back together before the Super Bowl.



Another ?, the front seal I bought was in two pieces, the red main seal itself and then a black rubber o-ring seal, does this install on the back side of the main seal? If it does I wonder why its not preassembled.



Thanks



David

 

[rrausch]

I once made a U-shaped piece of copper pipe, which I used with a turkey baster, when I was feeling particularly "anal", to suck out "every last drop" of engine oil from the Cummins pan. (I gave it up since then)



But it gives me an idea. The drain hole IS pretty big. I bet with a magnet to move the offending dowel pin around, you could inch it over near the hole and rig up SOMETHING to reach up and in and snag it. Heck if you got it right next to the hole you might even be able to reach in with your finger and "roll" it up and out.

 

[Deezul1]

That hard rubber/plastic seal piece that comes with the seal kit gets left out on a lot of these trucks as nobody seems to know why its there and it isnt in there from the factory. If anyone knows what its there for please let us know, I think it may be for a different application than Dodge trucks.

 

[Joe G.]

It's a dust seal that goes over the end of the crank before you put the pulley on. I didn't know either so mine is still on the shelf. I'll put it on one of these days when I get aroundtoit.

 

[GOODE11]

Good thing I asked I was going to put it in the back side of the seal (it fits perfect).

My thinking was that it would give extra support for the flanged material that makes up the interior part of the seal. So just push it on btwn the seal and the crank pulley,eh?



Does anybody know the part # to the dowel pin? I would hate to drive 50 miles then get the wrong part.

 

[Joe G.]

That's what I was told when I went in to Dodge and asked them. I haven't put mine on yet so I don't know if it will interfere with anything. I'm not exactly worried about it. It was not in there before. I probably live in the most dust free place in the country so I think it would be overkill on my truck.