Keith Browning

Now there is a dose of reality and it pretty much says it all. If we are debating whether or not certain fasteners are torque critical then aren't we really discussing what we have been getting away with? I have seen wheel studs fail that were lubricated. I have seen axle shaft bolts fail because they were tightened, and tightened and then tightened again because they no longer retained the strength to clamp the axle shaft in place. I have heard engine knock caused by accessory brackets that were unevenly tightened. I vividly recall a demonstration from 23 years ago that showed the distortion of a cylinder as an engine mount was over tightened. Do you recall my post on the customer that over tightened the CMP clamp bolt? Where do we draw the line? Seriously. I think we are playing a foolish game by justifying not torquing as many things as we should be by labeling them as "non-torque critical." We know better. "Why can't people just DO THEIR JOB?" They simply choose not to.

All I can say is use patience and be sure your 10-MM tools are in like new condition and the socket/wrench is on all the way and square with the fastener. Logistically this is not a bad job but if some thing goes wrong access for special tools is limited.

And there ya go!

I used to work with a service advisor who is allergic to brake fluid. I don't recall the symptoms but it was serious enough where he would walk away at the sight of an open bottle or disconnected brake components. I wouldn't discount your claims at all. The chemicals we work with are definitely more dangerous than we give thought to.

I don't know of any performance parts but I do know that the funny year they produced the 7.3L IDI it had a different crank, rods and pistons to accommodate the higher pressures. Not sure if that means the bottom end really is not meant to take much more then the stock set up can dish out... just a thought... I am sure some one has had to have cranked one of these up though.

Yes... I recall noticing that a 6.4L during regen will make a turbo flutter sound similar to the 6.0L during sudden deceleration. Good call Alex!

Congratulations! They say such milestones are rate for technicians and people in the automotive business in general. I don't think its a s rare as it's made out to be though. Every year my company takes out a one page ad in the local newspapers at Christmas time thanking it's employees and lists the 5,10,15,20 & 25 year anniversaries. They also give out gold pins for every five years of service and a Rolex watch for 20 years of service. I like my watch! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif I think recognition and activities that bring everyone together in a non-business atmosphere help create a better work environment. Unfortunately the economy has reduced such activities in recent years. We no longer have a Holiday party or summer picnic or service dinners. What do your companies do for employee recognition?

Oh yeah, the accident angle... I also doubt gloves will do anything to reduce injury. I have been cut by razor blades and sharp aluminum edges through gloves WITHOUT cutting the gloves! From your post I almost wonder if your management is tired of filling out paperwork every time someone scrapes a knuckle. I don't think that is what accident reports are intended for. Are you serious? Get a small cut and you have to fill out a report? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/icon_crazy.gif

He already did. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/sleep.gif

Three reasons I wear gloves: The Wife. (Enough said) Reduce chemical absorption into the skin. I don't think this is given enough thought. Your skin being the largest organ of your body will absorb chemicals that can affect the entire body. Keeps my hands clean so I can accept paperwork, dispatch, meet with a customer or take a hurried piss at at a moments notice. Being a team leader/foreman I am CONSTANTLY being interrupted and having to wash up ten times an hour is out of the question.

They always have been. THe problem with this shaft was the harmonic balancer came apart, it is pressed on during production and it is intended to silence resonations.

Mike, most of the Medium trucks that come through my bay have CAT engines so you really cant compare. We have never sold a F650/750 with a 6.0L but I have had two come in for recalls. Today I performed 07S57 on a 7.3L which is also rare in my shop. The only thing that I could compare with is the LCF's we have running around but they are basically identical to 6.0L in the Sooooper Dooodies. We have yet to see a failed oil cooler or EGR cooler on the VT-265 and they don't run a coolant filter. Maybe I am not the one to ask, we have only had 1 bad oil cooler in 6 months and our last head gasket repair was at least 7 or 8 months ago. I have seem a lot of weird oddball stuff though.

I guess you could only do it on the vehicle. To test this you would need to find a truck with a restricted cooler, check the temperature PIDs before doing a cooling system flush that uses cleaning chemicals then retest afterward and see if the restriction improved or worsened. I suppose you could also take a known good truck and once again verify that the cooler is not restricted and then perform the cooling system flush. Then retest to see if if the flush loosened up anything and plugged the cooler. I don't suggest experimenting on a customers truck but if you have one come in for a flush, why not? We use the BG crap and you have to run the truck anyway so bringing along the PDS or IDS would be no real extra labor. I'll have to remember to try this the next time I perform a service which is not too often.

Sounds good but you cant see shit! I checked out a few of the other Dodge truck videos, saw the one called Dodge Truck Abuse. Holy crap was that truck put through hell! Are you amazed as I am at how many people out there don't know it "Cummins" not "Cummings?" Ha! I just ran my spell checker on this post and it tried to correct Cummins to Cummings. WTF!

Do you mean flush out the coolers to restore flow or to remove contamination from the factory? I have wondered if cooling system flushing chemicals actually work in removing whatever it is that builds up. And if they do, like you ask, can they be flushed or is is possible to clog them with loosened deposits and actually CAUSE blockage? Did I just answer you with a question? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/scratchhead.gif

I just replaced a drive shaft on a 2008 F450 as per TSB 08-5-3. Road tested and finished up. Customer got in it and got onto the highway and up to speed then BANG! The harmonic balancer came apart at 70 MPH. He looked in the rear view mirror and saw cars evading the pieces, saw one half moon shaped part flying off the road. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cover.gif

Quote: BTW, the hose was rated to 100 psi and the 50 or so psi we deal with is well within that, I like it because it is flexible and I can run it into the vehicle and place the gauge wherever I want. Good to know. I am intending to use a fitting that will allow me to use the Rotunda gauge bar and lines but I was also hoping to put together a special gage set up of my own so perhaps I might try that vinyl tubing. I do like the fact that you can also get a look at the fuel color and condition with that tubing.

So you are saying that there is a better procedure for doing this that wont be shared which could help a lot of people do their jobs better and more efficiently simply because if Ford discovers it they will cut labor times? I am not citing you for not sharing but it is apparently unfortunate that this is the climate we now work in... How truly sad "things" have become. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/2cents.gif

Where can we find information on that on the web?

I don't know if any of you visit the Diesel Mentor directory but I incorporated a "site of the day" feature on the home page. Todays site is Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association which covers emission control technology quite nicely. Good Reading!

Crap Alex. I had problems with those bolts WITH THE TRANS OUT!!! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/notworthy.gif

Smoke? What about the mirrors? Modules work on the principal of PFM (or pure fuckin magic.) Magic is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Ever see that label that says "do not drop" or "scrap if dropped?" Don't break that mirror! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

I gotta dig that thing out. I think I should get this silly thing working so I have it when I need it. Just in case the one I have does not work out, is that banjo fitting commonly available?

2010 I believe.

I have some ends from the LCF fuel lines that were replaced during the recall but they are thinner than that banjo fitting. I was going to braze a fitting end on the end but never got around to it. Too bad, I could have used it a couple weeks ago. Are you comfortable with that soft plastic line? Say, what brand of fuel is that? Kool-Aid?