Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) My 95 should I fix dowel pin before it breaks?

[KennethS]

My 95 Dodge diesel 3500 has 52,000 miles on it. I never had a problem with the dowel pin as yet. What should I do so I won't have a problem down the road. I change the oil every 5000 miles and the filter also. The truck is garage kept and still looks new. It a Scotty motor Home on a 3500 Dodge chassie. I pull a car trailer with a 39 Ford in the trailer. You guys got me scared to death about the dowel pin. What should I do?

 

[ANicklas]

You can either drill with a jig and insert a bolt to hold the pin in place, or pull the gear case cover and tab the hole the pin can fall out of.

Having pulled the cover, I'd rather do that again; it didn't take incredibly long, and confirmed for me that I have the new-and-improved case that the pin can't fall out of (some 24-valves have it, some don't).

If you jig it, you can't see inside to figure out what's going on - the pin might be almost out, it could have fallen out and not gotten munched by the gears, etc... .

To pull the cover, you need to remove the fan, serpentine belt, fan shroud, coolant and windshield washer tanks, crank balancer, idler pulley, and about 25 bolts. You'll need a tab (search for "KDP tab," I think PDR and BD both sell kits), new crank seal and installer, and a gasket for the cover.

I got all my stuff through PDR, and I think it was about $90 shipped. All in all, the project took about six hours, but I was cleaning as I went and taking my sweet time.

I'm sure others will chime in if I missed anything.

 

[BTighe]

do it! dont want that ruining a nice vacation and the damage it can cause is expencive!

 

[GCroyle]

I vote for a Tab.

Ken,



Repair it! Thats a nice looking camper rig.



I have never fixed one by drilling but we just got done replacing the gear case to fix a '97.



I don't know your skill level, but the tricks to pull the front cover off is no big deal.



Fix it!

 

[KennethS]

I am not the person to do it but could help. I think it a bit deep for me to do. I went to the Dodge garage and ask them about doing the fix. They have never fixed one to my surprise. They were no help so far.

 

[Joe G.]

Email me at -- email address removed -- for the instructions on how to do the job. You can make a tab pretty easy. The rest of the parts you need are less than $40 from Cummins. TST products has a nice kit plus instructions for a little more than that. However you do it, do it. Mileage does not matter. Some have fallen out and fixed by warrantee. Some have never fallen out. Big hairy deal to fix the damage if it falls out.

 

[ANicklas]

If you decide to do it yourself/with someone else, shoot me a PM and I'll send you the tab I didn't use.

 

[T Peterson]

Not to hijack the thread but I have a friend in Long Beach, CA. Needs his KDP killed and some other work he's not capable of (air leak in fuel system somewhere, hard starts) otherwise cherry. Can someone here recommend a reputable shop in the area?



Many Thanks, Tom

 

[GCroyle]

Issue 57

Ken,



Issue 57, page 64-66 has a nice write up on fixing one before it goes KABOOM!



It will give you a good turn by turn look at the problem. When I removed the fan assembly I took my 10mm wrench and thinned it down on a grinder to get it on the bolt.

 

[Dfuruness]

Get it done as already recommended. I have a 1995 and when I tabbed it, the KDP was on it's way out!

 

[MFalkinham]

Ken, there's gotta be a Cummins service center up near Pittsburgh that can take care of this for you. Use the link below to find the closest one, and take the instructions you get from Joe George up to them to show what you want done. They will have all of the parts necessary in stock, or can get them easily.

It will be infinitely cheaper to fix the KDP before it comes out than to deal with the potential carnage afterwards. If Cummins doesn't want to fix it for you, then hop in the motorhome and drive 11 hours west to Wisconsin and we'll "get 'r done". PS - bring beer.

Worldwide Service Locator

 

[JHenry]

I took my truck down to the dowel pin and it was as solid as new. I am still glad I did the fix, even though I didn't need it now. Better to fix it when it doesn't need it than to fix it when it goes.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

tab it! ASAP!

 

[LandShark]

Get it tabbed for peace of mind. If it comes out you could be looking at a bill in the thousands and loss of the truck for a couple of weeks. The tab fix will run about $40 in parts and a few hours labor.
I did my tab about 6 years ago and the pin was out about 1/8". It would of come out eventually!

 

[Breed]

I did my 98 with 78k on it about a month ago, I had bought the truck brand new and really worried about the Dowel Pin. I got the TST kit for $50. 00 and it was a fairly easy job and the pin was out 1/8 inch, it was just a matter of time before it fell out and it was a simple fix and I'm so glad I did it. I also also fixed the vacuum pump seal from the kit from Pete Gould and it works great.

 

[T Peterson]

OK guys, I'm not a 12v guy but I need to do my friends 95, unless we can find a shop near Long Beach CA. In your opinion apparently there are 2 ways to fix this; 1 being the "KDP jig" and 2 a kit with whatever in it. I need to know the best way to go, I'm ok with a wrench, wouldn't want to pull the rad. or anything.

What do you think? TIA

Tom

 

[Forrest Nearing]

the tab method is the best way. you don't need any specialty tools. just a tube of silicone, a ground down fender washer (or buy the washer from Cummins) and a longer bolt)



pulling the front cover also allows you to locktiite and torque the timing case bolts that are prone to backing out.



you're looking at a couple hours tops

 

[Joe G.]

OK guys, I'm not a 12v guy but I need to do my friends 95, unless we can find a shop near Long Beach CA. In your opinion apparently there are 2 ways to fix this; 1 being the "KDP jig" and 2 a kit with whatever in it. I need to know the best way to go, I'm ok with a wrench, wouldn't want to pull the rad. or anything.

What do you think? TIA

Tom

Email me at -- email address removed -- for my instructions on how to do it. Removing the radiator is pretty easy on these things and will give you more room to work. I didn't remove it when I did mine so my instructions do not involve removeing the radiator. I had to replace my radiator a couple of years ago and was surprised at how easy a job that was.