Turbo dies a terrible death tonight

[Don M]

Well after about a 1500 miles the Kwikspool HX-40 decided to explode and die a terrible death. I was cruising along about 30 MPH and floored it. I heard a loud pop and the white smoke started flowing out. I knew what it was as soon as it happened.



I have been tough on this little booger and cant blame anyone but me. I think my tires were slipping and thats what caused the fast overspeed causing it to blow it up.



You should have seen the trail of white smoke this thing was leaving behind and the trail of oil that was dripping out of the tailpipe. Not a pretty sight to most folks.

My wife was not laughing as hard as I was when I told her what happened.



I was expecting this could happen just not this soon.



I will pull her off tomorrow and see exactly how bad the damage is. I could see a bunch of oil dripping from the exhaust housing and downpipe.



Don~

 

[KatDiesel]

Welcome to the club!



Scares ya at first doesn't it? Your really gonna hate life when ya put your old turbo back on tho... ... ... ...

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Glad to have you in the club, Don.



I almost didn't dyno my truck last weekend for fear of sending the turbine wheel out the tailpipe and being 100 miles from home.

 

[DEZLPWR]

What's with the HX-40's?

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like the HX-40's blow up way more often than the modified HX-35's. Is this due to fact that the guys running the HX-40's are putting out way more hp than the HX-35 guys, or are the HX-40's just more prone to failure?

 

[HVAC]

HX40 Mortality

DEZLPWR,



You make a good point. Going back a couple years now the HX40 has had premature failures. You also make the point that the HX40's usually exist on hyper motors. Of course this is going to tax the charger to a greater degree.



Over spooling is what seems to spell the demise of the HX40. Hot rodding will overspool the turbo. Take my advice and PLEASE don't buy a HX40 with a smaller housing for hot rodding. It surely is an awesome turbo for towing, no problem there. I think that is where it excells. The shaft is breaking in these turbos and it's from the force on the turbine wheel on one end vs the drag on the compressor wheel on the other end. The shaft in the 40 is the same size as the 35 but the wheels are slightly larger on the 40. This would create more leverage on the shaft. BANG!!! The 35's will blow up too BTW.



My recommendation for a hot rod turbo is to start with a turbo that has a stronger center section with a bigger main shaft. The H2E is a good example. It has proven to be much more durable then the HX40 or 35. It also appears that Kurt's new B1 turbo is such a unit. It has a stouter shaft assembly.



Now you can run the HX40 hard, cuz I've done it. But you have to know the limitations. We use a wastegated housing for a reason, to control overboost. Make sure you stay under 45 psi by adjusting the waste gate acuator rod. And do NOT use undersize housings! Use the 16cm or 18cm housings.



I'm not a turbo charger expert. These are just my opinions based on first hand experiences.

 

[Devildog]

Kwikspool HX-40 12cm

I have my Kwikspool waste-gated at about 42lbs. (Kurt's pre-delivery setting) and it's indestructable so far, and I have done alot of testing .



disclamer; I paid full price for my turbo like everyone else, I just feel that it's a great product and I'm very happy with it but, I think I see a B-1 bomber in my future

 

[KWIKKURT]

Originally posted by Don M



I have been tough on this little booger and cant blame anyone but me. I think my tires were slipping and thats what caused the fast overspeed causing it to blow it up.





Don~

Don, I am sorry to hear about the KS12cm2 HX40 They are a blast while the stay together. I agree with Hvac on the twisting of the shaft. Because even At 38-40 psi and (Slightly) rough abuse I have seen one break. (Right KAT!)



I want to shoulder part of the responsibilty as I have learned to keep the KS12cm2 HX40 on lower HP trucks. They are good for this application.



In the future I plan on switching my R&D back to the HX40's to help stop the failures in all of the configs even the stock ones.



Let me know what I can do to help. I would be happy to give you a B-1 at a discounted rate. Kurt

 

[Pit Bull]

Newbie questions

I have a 2000, 215 HP 420 lbs torque. Stock engine. what Turbo comes on my engine? I think they changed in 2001 when they went to 235 HP 460 lbs torque. How dependable are these Turbo's in a stock configuration? When my warranty is up and I start to BOMB, at what point do you need to change out the Turbo? I know you guys are way ahead of me on this knowledge, I kinda feel like a 5th grader asking questions in a collage class room . But I have to learn some where, if you have any sites that you can refer me to on Turbo's for dumbies that would also be helpful. I have never had a turbo before, even on a car.

 

[KatDiesel]

Re: Re: Turbo dies a terrible death tonight

Originally posted by KWIKKURT

Don, I am sorry to hear about the KS12cm2 HX40 They are a blast while the stay together. I agree with Hvac on the twisting of the shaft. Because even At 38-40 psi and (Slightly) rough abuse I have seen one break. (Right KAT!)

I wouldn't exactly use the word "slightly rough abuse"..... even tho I never spun it past 40 psi, I was very very hard on that turbo because I loved the damn thing so much. I'm wondering if it was just the drag stripping that killed it... ... ... ... going from 8lbs to 35 lbs in under a second can't be good for it



With it being the holiday when are you going to be in the shop again so I can call like you asked me to. Never did get an email from you, but then again I am only getting roughly 50 % of my email... ... ... .....

 

[KWIKKURT]

Big Toy & Kat D, I will be offline for about 24 to 36 hrs. Sorry for the delay I will reply on the 26th... MerryXmas to all ... Kurt

 

[KWIKKURT]

Re: Re: Re: Turbo dies a terrible death tonight

Originally posted by KatDiesel





I wouldn't exactly use the word "slightly rough abuse"..... even tho I never spun it past 40 psi, I was very very hard on that turbo because I loved the damn thing so much. I'm wondering if it was just the drag stripping that killed it... ... ... ... going from 8lbs to 35 lbs in under a second can't be good for it



With it being the holiday when are you going to be in the shop again so I can call like you asked me to. Never did get an email from you, but then again I am only getting roughly 50 % of my email... ... ... .....

KAT, I got stuck in my shop for a few more minutes so here's a "KWIK" reply.

After we have been keeping the boost levels down and still had two failures I am sure it has been the shafts and not the turbine blades fatiuge.



It is from the Instant Boost that the KS12 has that has snapped the last two shafts. They would handle lower power but not above 350hp. I am going to pursue this issue and fix IT!!! the hx40 are a good turbo and as you know with a 12cm2 housing they are a BLAST to drive. If we can fix this one problem with them it will be the best setup for most under 400 HP. But they have to be reliable!!!



Merry Xmas. I will be in LA California tomorrow picking up parts for the B-1's. Then I will go thru Phx on fri or sat and stop at my turbomachinest's shop. so it will be sunday before I will be back in my shop. I will be online though and will give you the Phone # to my brothers in LA. . Thx Kurt

 

[Sled Puller]

This may have been discussed before or in place already, but has anyone loooked into a titanium shaft?



I live near Meadeville Pa, and we have a zillion machine shops here, somebody would be willing to try a different material.



Gene

 

[Don M]

Kurt,



I am thankful to see you step up to the plate and offer to "shoulder" some of the cost of the turbo. That is more than anyone can expect. I just got back from a loooonng roadtrip with the wife and all three kiddos. Betcha can guess I was happy to be back home



Anyway, I have all the pictures and have disassembled the turbo and will box it up and send it your way. I cant find the main body of the exhaust impeller. Just some pieces, the main body must have shot out the back of the tailpipe. LOL!!

I do have the shaft and it broke off just in front of the exhaust impeller. It was in the muffler. Since the impeller was probably round in shape after the explosion I assume it rocketed out at a pretty fast pace. LOL!!



My original post was not intended to start any negative crap. I was and still remain fully responsable for any damage to the turbo.

You need not pay for anything Kurt.



Don~

 

[cumminsgetme]

So your home huh???... ... ... I've got some goodies for ya'

 

[Don M]

Cord,



Call me as soon as you get a chance. I dont have your numbers or I would call you.



I need to get that head to the machine shop ASAP to get the valves and seats a good two or three angle job.



Don~