More coach bucks

Topic: More coach bucks (Read 9645 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #50 – January 09, 2017, 05:28:09 pm

Question,if it's coming from "inside the engine",how is it getting out of the engine?Refresh us,was there any coolant mixed with
the oil?

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #51 – January 09, 2017, 05:35:31 pm

Good question, that! I wouldn't have them work on my eng until they showed me exactly where the leak was coming from.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #52 – January 09, 2017, 05:45:18 pm

The whole approach here is scary. With that size leak, even a shade tree mechanic could pinpoint the source. Not to suggest that you would want a shade tree mechanic to work on it, but you are too many days into this to not know.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #53 – January 09, 2017, 05:47:30 pm

FYI,not sure which way you were headed but there is a stewart and stevenson here in Corpus Christi,there are thousands of old
2 strokes on the offshore platforms,surely they have a 2 cycle guy.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #54 – January 09, 2017, 06:50:38 pm

Hi David!

Very sorry to see this happening too you.

To me, what they are telling you doesn't make sense. I think I'd stay away from a shop where their first suggestion out of the gate is for you to start thinking about a new engine.

I'd waste no time having it towed to a shop that has mechanics with DD experience on staff. That might save you some serious money.

Good luck!

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #55 – January 09, 2017, 07:22:56 pm

Again, no one is pushing a reman engine - yet. They haven't even opened the engine to see what might be broken. That will happen on Monday. Only then will they know what is really needed. Until then we're all just guessing. I intend to be on hand for most of Monday so that there won't be any delay in making decisions.

The big holdup last week was that their suppliers weren't calling back with the availability of parts. As we can all agree, having one of every type of engine on hand, plus having all the parts necessary to overhaul every engine, just isn't feasible. I can't really fault them for wanting to know that replacement parts, whether a gasket or a whole engine, will be available if/when needed.

Now, I like the idea of a potluck. Not as a benefit for us, but for the fellowship (and food). When and where should we have one? Is this going to be a monthly thing? Anyone around the San Angelo area?

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #56 – January 09, 2017, 07:33:51 pm

Detroit 92 series parts are available from many sources and can be where ever you are in 24 hours. New liners and piston sets are inexpensive. Even ebay: Detroit Diesel Series 92 Turbo Cylinder Kit # 23524343 | eBay About $200 for each cylinder kit. Everything can be replaced in frame (without taking the engine out) even by a owner with hand tools.

I'm still not sold that these guys know what they are doing!

Pierce

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #57 – January 09, 2017, 08:22:45 pm

Quote from: kb0zke – January 09, 2017, 07:22:56 pm

They haven't even opened the engine to see what might be broken. That will happen on Monday.

This is Monday.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #58 – January 09, 2017, 08:26:12 pm

X2 on what Pierce said. These engines are tough running fine at night, seriously damaged iin the morning!

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #59 – January 09, 2017, 09:11:40 pm

May or may not be related, but two years ago when we had the air compressor replaced, the mechanic pointed to a dark spot on the curb side of the engine and said that that was a sign of an impending head gasket failure. I hadn't thought about that until tonight, so maybe that's the problem.

Chuck, we're talking about NEXT Monday. There aren't all that many two cycle Detroits running around, and I suspect that most of them are in motor homes, so the only Detroit mechanic also works on other things. He has four trucks ahead of us that will take him the rest of this week to finish. I really can't ask that we be moved up in the schedule, because those other trucks that are down mean their drivers aren't earning any money. Yes, we're spending some money on a hotel room, and that's more expensive than an rv park, but we're comfortable and able to explore a bit of Texas that we hadn't planned on seeing this trip. Our original plans were to see Austin this week, and that will still happen. We'll just arrive in town on a different highway than we had originally planned.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #60 – January 09, 2017, 09:21:36 pm

Quote from: kb0zke – January 09, 2017, 07:22:56 pm

Again, no one is pushing a reman engine - yet. They haven't even opened the engine to see what might be broken. That will happen on Monday. Only then will they know what is really needed. Until then we're all just guessing. I intend to be on hand for most of Monday so that there won't be any delay in making decisions.

The big holdup last week was that their suppliers weren't calling back with the availability of parts. As we can all agree, having one of every type of engine on hand, plus having all the parts necessary to overhaul every engine, just isn't feasible. I can't really fault them for wanting to know that replacement parts, whether a gasket or a whole engine, will be available if/when needed.

Now, I like the idea of a potluck. Not as a benefit for us, but for the fellowship (and food). When and where should we have one? Is this going to be a monthly thing? Anyone around the San Angelo area?

And they should NOT open the engine at all! They should identify where the fluid is leaving the engine, inform you, then "maybe" open the engine. Unless by "open the engine" you mean open the engine compartment and identify the source of the leak.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #61 – January 09, 2017, 11:24:47 pm

Thought I might mention that there were a lot of 2 cycle Detroit's (indestructible) used in the marine industry.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #62 – January 10, 2017, 12:02:59 am

When I worked as a mechanic Detroit engines were everywhere. They are a good reliable engine and are easy to work on. Before any thing is done find out where the coolant is coming from. Any decent shop should have a rad tester, but the way you explained it I would just fill it up with water and find out where the leak is. If the coolant doesn't run out then put the rad tester on.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #63 – January 10, 2017, 09:49:35 am

No 2 stroke expert here but usually a head gasket leak starts out slow and gets worse over time,the way this coolant is pouring
out sure seems like something else.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #64 – January 10, 2017, 11:59:09 am

John, a couple of weeks ago I had an issue where the reservoir was bone dry. When we had the air compressor worked on two years ago the mechanic pointed to a dark spot and said that looked like a head gasket starting to leak. I kind of forgot about that until now. Perhaps I've had a coolant leak that has been getting worse for two years and now it has finally let go.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #65 – January 10, 2017, 12:03:56 pm

If it was dry a couple of weeks ago there is a chance the sensors didn't come on as they usually have to have liquid to register. Not a good sign.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #66 – January 10, 2017, 12:13:40 pm

With the fluid level below the sensor, the DDEC II will allow the engine to start for 30 seconds and then shut down. This is not uncommon with water pump or hose leaks. The fitting for the hose going from the pressure tank to the plastic reservoir has a habit of leaking as the solder gets old and fails from vibration. This allows the level to fall below the sensor in the pressure tank.

Pierce

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #67 – January 10, 2017, 12:16:22 pm

I was thinking of over heating sensors. Forgot these had low coolant level cutoffs.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #68 – January 14, 2017, 09:10:36 pm

David any more progress on your coach?

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #69 – January 16, 2017, 10:42:37 am

It goes in today. They were working Saturday on getting some of the working trucks ahead of us out, and it sounds like we'll go in when a bay opens up this afternoon.

Re: More coach bucks

Reply #70 – January 16, 2017, 08:03:51 pm

Last week we were told that we were still on track to get in today, so Jo Ann and I were there shortly after the shop opened at 7 this morning. The mechanic came by and said that he was waiting on some parts for the last truck, but they wouldn't arrive until 10:30 or 11:00, so it would be at least this afternoon when the coach would go in. I left Jo Ann in the hotel room after lunch, and I went back. Middle of the afternoon, and the mechanic came in to talk to the parts guys, and he looked unhappy. It turned out that the parts hadn't even been shipped yet (!) and he was NOT happy.

Eventually, though, he was able to get the truck out of the bay, and about 5:00 he had brought the service truck over, filled my air tanks, hooked up a chain, and we were off to the service bay. Tomorrow we'll find out what's what.

Interestingly, he introduced me to his helper - his son! The son looks like he is in high school, but I suspect he has already graduated. This mechanic is the ONLY one here who has ever worked on DD two cycles, so maybe the son will learn some, too. The father has a reputation of being very meticulous and cautious, and just from the little bit that I talked with the son I suspect he is learning those traits, too.

I dug out my safety stands, and they were promptly installed. He had never seen anything like them, but liked the idea.

More tomorrow.