Road trip blues

[davidkerryedwards]

Chris:
I think it might be a good idea to start a data file which reported what
mechanical failures
have happened to forum members when on the road. It might show a pattern from
which
we could learn. In my case, I was not aware of any issues with the idler pulley
before we
left home. I had looked at the crossover pipe and thought a flexible pipe was
inappropriate and put it on the back burner for replacement. There was no
indication it
was about to fail, I just didn't like the idea of flexible pipe. I assumed the
cat dealer
installed it when the engine was replaced so I was also deferring to their
judgment.
The 3208 CAT service manual does provide recommended routine replacement times
for
various parts to avoid inconvenient failures. I'll have to check on the idler
pulley lifespan.
In may case, I'm not entirely sure what was replaced when a reman'd engine was
installed
25k ago.

Kerry
82 FC 35
Denver

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Chris Reed wrote:
>
> Aside from belts and hoses, what else can I do as far as preventive
maintenance to make
sure I dont end up on the side of the road....I can't imagine going through what
Kerry is
now....what else should I be checking under this bus?
> Chris Reed
> 83 FC35 SB
> Plant City, FL
> Waiting for new/rebuild engine cooling fan....
>
> davidkerryedwards wrote:
> Crossover pipe takes the exhaust from one manifold over to join up
with the
exhaust from
> the other. In my case it takes the right exhaust over to the left side where
both power
the
> turbo. It broke on the left side right near the intake for the air cleaner
which is in front
of
> the left wheel. I had to drive it a couple of miles to an exit and it was
spewing huge
clouds
> of black smoke because the turbo was barely turning since the exhaust from
both sides
> was following the path of least resistance which was out of the broken pipe
instead of
thru
> the turbo. Without the turbo'd air it was way overfueled for the amount of air
it was
> getting.
> By the way, it is probably worth noting that the crossover pipe had probably
cracked
> before it broke resulting in less air and I had noticed the egt's were running
about 150
> degrees hotter than normal. They could get over 1200 degrees if I wasn't
careful on a
> steep hill. This tells me a richer or overfueled engine could have dangerous
EGT levels
> pretty easily.
>
> Kerry
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman" <sforman@> wrote:
> >
> > OK...dumb question...what/where is a "crossover pipe"?
> >
> > Scott Forman
> > 82 FC35RB
> > Memphis
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > This roadtrip is turning into a sequence of mechanical problems.
> > After we got the idler
> > > pulley repaired in MO, we made it to WV when the crossover pipe (a
> > second rate flexible
> > > pipe) failed. FMCA road service sent out a mechanic who removed
> > the broken end and re
> > > attached it. We got down the road 40 miles and it failed again,.
> > I reattached it myself and
> > > we limped into Cumberland MD on Saturday where we waited until this
> > morning(in a
> > > shopping mall parking lot) for an exhaust shop to open. Jim's
> > transmissionn and exhaust
> > > did an excellent quick job and we were on the road by 11am. A mile
> > down the road the
> > > engine quit suddenly at 60mph. Pulled over, restarted it and set
> > off again. this happened
> > > three times in 5 miles. I called FMCA road service again since it
> > was dangerous to drive
> > > since we lost power steering when the engine quit. Were towed to
> > Keyser WV ($431--buy
> > > road service!) where we are currently in a motel. The current
> > diagnosis is that when the
> > > crossover pipe failed it sooted up the air cleaner resulting in
> > very high vacuum in the
> > > intake which sucked down a rubber hose cutting off all air flow to
> > the engine and shutting
> > > it down. We're waiting for a new air filter to arrive by UPS
> > tomorrow. I had thought the
> > > turbo was failing and seizing up, so if this diagnosis is correct,
> > it's a much more simple
> > > fix. The diagnosis makes a fair amount of sense since the shut
> > down problems occured
> > > after the crossover pipe was properly fixed with a solid pipe which
> > would make the turbo
> > > operate more efficiently than the loosely attached prior repair.
> > > We hope to make it to DC sometime this summer and then have a less
> > eventful journey up
> > > to NYC, Montreal, and back to Denver.
> > > If anyone has any better diagnoses, jump in. The air filter is
> > within a couple of feet of the
> > > ccrossover pipe and it was completely black when removed. Apart
> > from a turbo failing, I
> > > can't think of any other explanation. It definitely had fuel since
> > the max fuel light was on
> > > when it happened and it shot out lots of gray smoke upon start up.
> > The only other thing
> > > that could seem to cause a diesel to stop running is lack of
> > compression, lack of timing, or
> > > lack of air.
> > >
> > > Kerry
> > > 82 FC 35
> > > Denver
> > > Singing the blues in WV (or should that be bluegrass?)
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
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