Here I am

My Fluidamper saga.

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48RE shifting problems "start in 2nd"?

Code PO868 Sluggish transmission

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I contacted them directly and asked or a refund but I know they don't want the "flood gates" to open. So do it fast!

I'm really disappointed how this has been handled. At this point I don't believe anything more will happen. It's really too bad, I want my FD back if they can stop the noise.
 
Well then if the FD is toast, then I am assuming the 6. 7 damper is the way to go then? I have read that it will fit our 5. 9's. What about the ATI unit? I am not having a problem with my stock unit with over 200K. It is not seperating as of this writing.
 
I know the delay has been frustrating. However, as stated in previous posts, we took back a couple of the Fluidamprs in question. When we installed the Fluidampr the noise is not there and we posted a video showing such. . The truck in the video has gone to Texas and back (from New York) and as of today, no noise is evident. Of course we would like to have this solved. We have reviewed the data supplied to us by some of you having issues, but we could not find any commonalities or something that would highlight a possibility of the cause. Testing the dampers and knowing the internals, the damper itself could not be making the noise. Throughout this thread there is significant speculation of what the cause of the noise is, could be, or if it has been there and now appears because of the quieting and controlling of vibration and other noise. We have offered a couple of suggestions from dealers/mechanics but again without having a vehicle or engine with "chirping" sound we cannot accurately troubleshoot the direct cause. Everyone involved wants the reason or reasons causing this “chirping” to be solved including Fluidampr. We have continued to follow up on this issue, including contacting recent purchases for these year engines and there have been no further issues or noises reported. Fluidampr is going to continue to look at.



Thank you,

Ivan
 
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I am still running my FD. It is still doing its job WELL and as to the noise I dont pay any attention to it anymore. Lets not just sweep this under the rug either fellas.
 
So, I guess this issue is closed? My Fluidampr is still sitting on my workbench where it will remain.

My engine makes noise with the Fluidampr installed, no noise with the stock damper.



Lesson learned: Use Cummins parts.

Cost of lesson: $400
 
I know the delay has been frustrating. However, as stated in previous posts, we took back a couple of the Fluidamprs in question. When we installed the Fluidampr the noise is not there and we posted a video showing such. . The truck in the video has gone to Texas and back (from New York) and as of today, no noise is evident. Of course we would like to have this solved. We have reviewed the data supplied to us by some of you having issues, but we could not find any commonalities or something that would highlight a possibility of the cause. Testing the dampers and knowing the internals, the damper itself could not be making the noise. Throughout this thread there is significant speculation of what the cause of the noise is, could be, or if it has been there and now appears because of the quieting and controlling of vibration and other noise. We have offered a couple of suggestions from dealers/mechanics but again without having a vehicle or engine with "chirping" sound we cannot accurately troubleshoot the direct cause. Everyone involved wants the reason or reasons causing this “chirping” to be solved including Fluidampr. We have continued to follow up on this issue, including contacting recent purchases for these year engines and there have been no further issues or noises reported. Fluidampr is going to continue to look at.



Thank you,

Ivan





Where are you guys located? I'm sure one of us, myself included, would be happy to volunteer our own vehicle as a tester for you. Since those of us that have experienced the issue, some of us with more than one damper on the same truck, are driving vehicles that obviously produce the noise, maybe something can be learned using our trucks.
 
I had kinda half way gotten used to the Fluidampr "spark knock" until a couple of days ago. We had a cooler morning and the noise really cranked up. Ivan the Terrible and his Jack Schidt company are obviously real good Demcraps---you know---just deny that there is a problem. All this is kinda like the fox that was caught in the hen house with feathers around his mouth that denied with an oath that he had anything to do with the chicken's death. I see that TDR is still taking their advertising money.
 
Yes, I'm disappointed but I have no idea what politics has to do with it. Very foolish to think everyone on there thinks the same way you do and enjoys such idiocy.
Pretty sure that about half the members here just rolled their eyes at you, even if they subscribe to the same politics.
 
Background: My Instrument Technician experience included vibration analysis of rotating equip. from 5HP to 5000HP, using accelerometers & microphone sensors. The vibration/noise data was evaluated with Vibration Analysis software that helped identify if the peaks at specific frequencies coincided with any of the rotating components, via balance, spalling, galling, resonance, etc. that were accumulated in a database of "vibration signatures".

The high pitched metallic sounds I heard from a contributors video, seemed to be resonance induced by the rich supply of ambient sources under the hood. A component, maybe a pulley or bracket or housing, is being excited or "rung like a bell". Why now with this XYZ damper/pulley change, could be as elementary as causing the engine to supply a different frequency source than existed prior. No doubt the low frequencies of engine component vibration were damped as designed, but that might have had a minor effect elsewhere. I agree the "sound" is annoying. Try [safely] to change some mechanical characteristics of the equipment under the hood, e. g. loosen a bracket bolt, placed some large rubber bands around the alternator housing, or power steering pump reservoir, etc.

"Estwing" manufactures high quality construction hand tools. Some years ago they suffered a PR hit, when a model of their steel shank claw hammers began failing, as the head cracked off! Very hard to imagine if you've ever handled one of those beauties. Long story [kinda] short, hitting framing nails supplied enough energy of the correct frequency to force the shank into resonance; it broke. They made minor changes to the shank geometry, changing [shifting] its natural resonance to a frequency not attained by hitting big nails.

Hope this helps someone.
 
Background: My Instrument Technician experience included vibration analysis of rotating equip. from 5HP to 5000HP, using accelerometers & microphone sensors. The vibration/noise data was evaluated with Vibration Analysis software that helped identify if the peaks at specific frequencies coincided with any of the rotating components, via balance, spalling, galling, resonance, etc. that were accumulated in a database of "vibration signatures".

The high pitched metallic sounds I heard from a contributors video, seemed to be resonance induced by the rich supply of ambient sources under the hood. A component, maybe a pulley or bracket or housing, is being excited or "rung like a bell". Why now with this XYZ damper/pulley change, could be as elementary as causing the engine to supply a different frequency source than existed prior. No doubt the low frequencies of engine component vibration were damped as designed, but that might have had a minor effect elsewhere. I agree the "sound" is annoying. Try [safely] to change some mechanical characteristics of the equipment under the hood, e. g. loosen a bracket bolt, placed some large rubber bands around the alternator housing, or power steering pump reservoir, etc.

"Estwing" manufactures high quality construction hand tools. Some years ago they suffered a PR hit, when a model of their steel shank claw hammers began failing, as the head cracked off! Very hard to imagine if you've ever handled one of those beauties. Long story [kinda] short, hitting framing nails supplied enough energy of the correct frequency to force the shank into resonance; it broke. They made minor changes to the shank geometry, changing [shifting] its natural resonance to a frequency not attained by hitting big nails.

Hope this helps someone.

That was my video and the sound was not coming from any bracket or other source. I'm competent at locating these kinds of things and the sound only came from the balancer area. Not from the CP3, brackets, mounts, radiator, bumper or anything else. In my post I also explained that it was run w/o the belt. I then explained that the sound went away completely when the balancer was replaced.
You never know who your talking to here so I should tell you I have also spent much time chasing vibes and odd noises in the aircraft business. I would put the amount of time I've spent with vibration testing in the many thousands of hours so I'm not fooled so easily but errant noises.

IMO, the sound is that of something binding and releasing very quickly. Either the dampener itself or something directly behind it. It's more than "annoying" because it sounds like a bearing binding and would absolutely mask such a symptom if it did exist. This alone makes using the FD a real problem.
 
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Prairie Dog: You're right, we often know little about 'contributors'. I can relate to your 2nd para. analogy, i. e. more like a chirp than resonant ringing. Do the 6. 7 fluid damper installs have any commonality with these FD woes? Is it feasible that the 'chirp' might be cavitation within the FD unit? Good luck with your endeavors & thanks for your history of educational info.
 
After reading both WalterJ's and Prairie Dog's posts I wonder if the problem is a vibration peculiar to your truck that causes the FD to make the noise. If so, that would explain why Ivan can't hear anything when the same FD is installed on a different truck.

I agree with Got HO, it would be in everyone's best interest for Ivan to listen to a truck with FD that makes the noise and investigate from there.

Godspeed,
Trent
 
This sounds like a individual engine issue. I installed a FD on my 04 about a year ago and am totally happy with the difference. I have WAY less transmission-clutch noise. Especially when towing up hard grades. With the quieter engine operation I now hear things like tire and exhaust noise. .
 
I agree the FD is an unreal performer. I had no drone and the trans clutch noise was 99% better.
However, this isn't a noise that's always there and just more noticeable with the FD.
 
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