Bob Bancroft
Well-known Member
- Location
- Aurora NY
A little three cylinder diesel- Shibaura/Perkins/Caterpillar has been giving me fits. I couldn't get rings to fit the pistons from the engine machine shop which ground the crankshaft, nor from Cat. New pistons from the machine shop estimated at $200 a piece! (ring sets were $28) Ring sets from Cat $81. New pistons(with everything) from Cat, also $81 each??? So I got Cat pistons. One ring missing, had to wait for that. Finally, get the head on. Interference with number 3 @ TDC! This was the throw and rod which were machined. This drove me nuts for a couple of days, when I sought different remedies, until I finally saw it. I'd had the head on and off several times, with the two different gaskets which came in the set(which came from the machine shop) Turns out the head gaskets were made wrong. Number 3 was hitting one side of the fire ring, as the gasket was offset to one side! Now waiting on Cat for delivery.
This all reminded me, as the other day SVcummins was replacing the valve cover gasket on an MF/Perkins, that a year ago I was doing about the same. Got a gasket from Agco for a 4.248 Perkins. I couldn't make it fit at all. So the dealer got one right from Perkins, which was totally different, and correct!
In years past I don't remember being cursed with bad parts. This is bad for everyone. The vendor, the mechanic, the shops, the customer, etc.
This all reminded me, as the other day SVcummins was replacing the valve cover gasket on an MF/Perkins, that a year ago I was doing about the same. Got a gasket from Agco for a 4.248 Perkins. I couldn't make it fit at all. So the dealer got one right from Perkins, which was totally different, and correct!
In years past I don't remember being cursed with bad parts. This is bad for everyone. The vendor, the mechanic, the shops, the customer, etc.