lock-n-stitch

[ROADWARRIOR]

Any opinions on the effectiveness of the lock-n-stitch reinforcement bracket for the infamous 53 blocks?



http://www.locknstitch.com/Repair pdf files/Cummins 5.9 reinforcement instructions.pdf



Dan

 

[Graphic man]

looks good, but i wonder if it would really help



Scott

 

[lmills]

Some guys have used it with good results, others have had it fail afterwards anyway. A local TDR member that goes by CTD8999 had done the lock-n-stitch. He drove the truck for a little while then the crack let go again. Cummins ended up giving him a new block and any parts needed to fix it. He had to do the labor though.



On a side note, that truck runs pretty darn good now.

 

[Hammer]

I know a couple of guys other than Steve who used the Lock-N-Stitch method of fixing the block and all now have had their blocks changed,either on their own or by Cummins. Lock-N-Stitch is like a Lukes Link,a great band-aid until you can get it fixed correctly. It doesn't seem to hold up in applications where the owners heavily use their trucks by hauling or towing and usually the pan rail cracks all the way down afterwards and leaks worse... ... ... ... ... ... . Andy

 

[EricBu12]

I tried the LS and it didn't hold... I ended up getting another block. ... One person I know said it held then developed a new crack 3" from the fix... .



The main reason it don't work is the metal is thin in that area (5. 5 mm) ... the LS would work better on blocks or whtever that had more thickness to it... if you have a crack, replace the block or get a e truck... the 3rd gen engines are even stiffer on the sides.

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

I was interested in opinions of the "reinforcement bracket" effectiveness as a block stiffener, not the actual stitching repair.



Dan

 

[VicR]

I'll second that question Roadwarrior. If it would strengthen the block before a crack, I would think it would be a good investment. But from looking at all of the pictures of it, I'm trying to figure out how that bracket in that position would solve the problem (but I'm not an engineer).



-Vic

 

[Forrest Nearing]

doesn't really look like it would do much IMO