Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Recently I posted concerning the note I had received from the local Cummins Rep.
Well, this morning I went out to Victoria Engineering to meet the Service Manager. All the mechanics stopped working and came out and and oohed and aahed for awhile. They took down the engine # and then ran it through their computer and gave me the readout on my engine's build date, specs, etc. On the negative side, they don't have the INSITE service tool for our engine (nobody here has completed the course yet).
On the positive side, they insisted that shouldn't be a problem. They said that if I keep up with routine maintenance, the engine should be extremely reliable and that they can order all parts and maintenance items. They also said that even without INSITE, as long as they can read the codes for what's gone wrong, they can repair it. So I guess I'll buy a scan tool to read and reset error codes.
The service manager showed me around their work area. They are reps for Cummins, Komatsu, Case IH, and others, but they will work on almost anything. He showed me their "clean room" where they rebuild pumps and injectors. Most importantly, he took me into the back of the garage area where he showed me his heavily modified, Range Rover-based, racing buggy. He said they just finished a rally car for somebody else, and that his next personal project will be a "daily driver" 4x4 with a Cummins engine.
They said they'd be happy to help me design, build, and install push bars, skid plates , hi-lift jack points and tow hooks. When I asked about maintenance intervals, the Service manager said he changes the oil and filter in his personal 8. 3 every 6,000 kilometers due to high sulphur levels in the local diesel and suggested I do the same. When I asked if they're open on Saturdays, he said they're closed, but he works on his Range Rover on Saturdays, so if I wanted to do maintenance then, he'd call in a mechanic.
To top it all off, the Service Manager asked me if I had the manuals for the truck yet. When I said I had ordered a shop manual but it had not arrived, he gave me a copy of the Operation and Maintenance Manual for the ISB so I can make decisions on service intervals. In exchange for their helpfulness, all I could offer was a test drive in my CTD, which the manager accepted without hesitation.
All I can say is that I'm impressed by Cummins service. When I first decided to take a CTD to Africa, I was a bit worried about service, but I'm definitely feeling better now! So if you're driving through East Africa (especially you 12-valvers), don't hesitate to drop by Victoria Engineering.
Well, this morning I went out to Victoria Engineering to meet the Service Manager. All the mechanics stopped working and came out and and oohed and aahed for awhile. They took down the engine # and then ran it through their computer and gave me the readout on my engine's build date, specs, etc. On the negative side, they don't have the INSITE service tool for our engine (nobody here has completed the course yet).
On the positive side, they insisted that shouldn't be a problem. They said that if I keep up with routine maintenance, the engine should be extremely reliable and that they can order all parts and maintenance items. They also said that even without INSITE, as long as they can read the codes for what's gone wrong, they can repair it. So I guess I'll buy a scan tool to read and reset error codes.
The service manager showed me around their work area. They are reps for Cummins, Komatsu, Case IH, and others, but they will work on almost anything. He showed me their "clean room" where they rebuild pumps and injectors. Most importantly, he took me into the back of the garage area where he showed me his heavily modified, Range Rover-based, racing buggy. He said they just finished a rally car for somebody else, and that his next personal project will be a "daily driver" 4x4 with a Cummins engine.
They said they'd be happy to help me design, build, and install push bars, skid plates , hi-lift jack points and tow hooks. When I asked about maintenance intervals, the Service manager said he changes the oil and filter in his personal 8. 3 every 6,000 kilometers due to high sulphur levels in the local diesel and suggested I do the same. When I asked if they're open on Saturdays, he said they're closed, but he works on his Range Rover on Saturdays, so if I wanted to do maintenance then, he'd call in a mechanic.
To top it all off, the Service Manager asked me if I had the manuals for the truck yet. When I said I had ordered a shop manual but it had not arrived, he gave me a copy of the Operation and Maintenance Manual for the ISB so I can make decisions on service intervals. In exchange for their helpfulness, all I could offer was a test drive in my CTD, which the manager accepted without hesitation.
All I can say is that I'm impressed by Cummins service. When I first decided to take a CTD to Africa, I was a bit worried about service, but I'm definitely feeling better now! So if you're driving through East Africa (especially you 12-valvers), don't hesitate to drop by Victoria Engineering.
