Dip stick tube

Topic: Dip stick tube (Read 3118 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #50 – January 13, 2011, 01:43:57 pm

Quote from: Jerry Whiteaker – January 12, 2011, 10:49:37 am

I think I will go ahead with just a lower brace as Barry described although I don't have a threaded hole for the upper longer brace. Anything should help reduce the concentration of force where the tube enters the engine block and the tendency to fatigue crack at that point. I also thought about adding some kneadable epoxy, or other type of epoxy around the tube where it enters the block as a way to strengthen the tube. The area would have to be thoroughly cleaned and paint removed in order to get a good bond. Doubt if that part of the engine would be hot enough to harm the epoxy. It might even be possible to repair a broken dip stick tube using epoxy and a metal bracket fastened to the unused threaded holes. I repaired my broken plastic turn signal arm using kneadable epoxy, a much simpler fix. Just thinking out loud.

Jerry, if you have 2 bolt holes in the block at the pan rail, you can use 1/4 x1inch flat bar approx. 10 to 11 inch long, drill a 29/64 clearance hole for a 9/16x 1/2 inch bolt, bolt flat bar to block and bend to the proper angle for the hole for yous hose clamp, this should provide the support you need.

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #51 – January 13, 2011, 03:20:16 pm

I'm still thinking about about the problem, and I only have 65K miles, so hopefully it is not ready to break just yet. I like the idea of cutting the tubing and reconnecting with a piece of hose. Thanks for the suggestions.

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #52 – January 13, 2011, 04:54:08 pm

115,000 miles on our 2000 U320. I'm on thin ice.

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #53 – January 13, 2011, 06:17:31 pm

135K here... Purring alone.

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #54 – January 14, 2011, 10:39:41 am

Using a tube cutter sounds great. Will a tube cutter make an inside burr that could interfere with the dip stick? Could remove burr from top piece, but removing burrs from bottom piece will cause metal to fall into engine oil pan.
Any ideas on how to not get a burr or how to remove?

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #55 – January 14, 2011, 10:55:50 am

Interesting concerns regarding filings, shavings, etc.. The service writer at Cummins here in Tampa told me he would just drive it in from the top, and leave it in the pan. First off, I'm not sure it would be that easy to drive thru from the top, and second, I just couldn't rest easy knowing there was a chunk of metal that size rolling around in my oil pan. Granted, it would probably wind up on the end of the magnetic drain plug, but what if it didn't? Then, again, service writers aren't necessarily good mechanics.

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #56 – January 14, 2011, 08:26:46 pm

I hope Brett Wolfe comments on the Tampa Cummins approach.

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #57 – January 16, 2011, 11:46:59 am

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – January 14, 2011, 10:39:41 am

Using a tube cutter sounds great. Will a tube cutter make an inside burr that could interfere with the dip stick? Could remove burr from top piece, but removing burrs from bottom piece will cause metal to fall into engine oil pan.
Any ideas on how to not get a burr or how to remove?

Get an ear plug (one of the harder yellow ones), compress it and get it into the tube to expand, add some grease, deburr the tube and then take a screw and screw it into the ear plug to withdraw. I would experiment with this technique and proceed if it works.
Good luck,

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #58 – February 24, 2011, 07:38:49 pm

Here are 2 pictures of the dip stick tube bracket that I made to support the tube where it goes into the block. Bought all the stuff at Lowes for about $11. Have more than enough left over to do another one. Took me awhile to figure out that the bolt I needed to fasten it to the block was an M12-1.75 x 25 (metric). The predrilled and threaded holes were full of road crud that had to be removed in order to get the bolt in. The bracket is made of 1/8 x 1 1/2 x 6" flat steel bent to match the angle of the tube. I just put the metal in a vise and hit it with a hammer to form the angle. A metric flat washer and lock washer was necessary to keep the bolt from bottoming out before it was tight.

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #59 – February 24, 2011, 07:50:36 pm

Real nice, Jerry. This must have been a "1" on the difficulty scale for you compared to the genet fuel hose R&R.

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #60 – February 24, 2011, 10:25:04 pm

Quote from: Jerry Whiteaker – February 24, 2011, 07:38:49 pm

Have more than enough left over to do another one. asher was necessary to keep the bolt from

Jerry,

Can I bring my coach over to help you get rid of that surplus material?

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #61 – February 25, 2011, 04:28:37 pm

Quote from: George Stoltz – February 24, 2011, 10:25:04 pm

Can I bring my coach over to help you get rid of that surplus material?

Sure, but after you pay for the diesel it might be expensive.

Hope it works as intended and reduces vibrations that could be inducing metal fatigue. Didn't have a threaded hole for a brace in the middle of the tube.

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #62 – April 06, 2011, 03:23:35 pm

Thanks Jerry, Does this look familiar?

Regards, Mark

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Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #50 – January 13, 2011, 01:43:57 pm

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #51 – January 13, 2011, 03:20:16 pm

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #52 – January 13, 2011, 04:54:08 pm

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #53 – January 13, 2011, 06:17:31 pm

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #54 – January 14, 2011, 10:39:41 am

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #55 – January 14, 2011, 10:55:50 am

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #56 – January 14, 2011, 08:26:46 pm

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #57 – January 16, 2011, 11:46:59 am

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #58 – February 24, 2011, 07:38:49 pm

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #59 – February 24, 2011, 07:50:36 pm

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #60 – February 24, 2011, 10:25:04 pm

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #61 – February 25, 2011, 04:28:37 pm

Re: Dip stick tube

Reply #62 – April 06, 2011, 03:23:35 pm

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