I want to share a break-down story
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03-15-2006, 12:03
Post: #1
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I want to share a break-down story
I have been meaning to share this story since it happened, guess I am
finally just taking the time to put it down. I feel it is a solid testament to the bullet-proof nature of these 'Birds and, even though, this odyssey ended up costing me thousands of $$$, it did NOT strand me. Last fall, I was coming home from a trip, coming up I-55 through Mississippi to the homestead in Memphis. I was about 80 miles from home, cruising comfortably at about 65, engine humming like a sewing machine, guests in the back having fun. Then.... HORRIBLE METALLIC GRINDING NOISE BESIDE MY RIGHT KNEE Looked in the mirror, blowing black smoke like I have never seen. Lots of horrible noises from the engine, but no idiot lights, all gauges reading normal, still cruising down the road at about 50mph at this point. Pulled over to shoulder, engine still running, noises have stopped. Obvious miss, but running. Decide to limp to next exit. Lots of black smoke, but power to accelerate up to 55. Once safely at a gas station, called friend who owns diesel shop, he said if it was running, the gauges read OK, and I could not smell diesel in the oil (which I didn't), limp it home below 2000 rpm, probably just blew a tip off an injector, not a big deal. 2000 rpm is about 55 mph. I make it home. Take to friend's shop next week. Check injector...not the problem. They have to go in. The final prognosis: broken valve. A valve broke and went in to the cylinder, carving up the piston face pretty good. When it had been pulverized enough, it finally went out the exhaust port, carving up the head along the way. Then, of course, the remaining parts went in to the turbo, gutting it. So all that was replaced. Not cheap. But to me, this story isn't about the fact that I needed an expensive repair. It's about the fact that my 'Bird, seriously wounded, running on 7 cylinders with no turbo, got me where I needed to go. I say that's a true testament to how strong these coaches and their parts are. I was never more sold on having a 'Bird than I was the day they ran down the list of everything that had happened in that engine. So that's my story. Just thought I'd share, especially for any of you that are debating whether or not a 'Bird is for you. Scott Forman 82 FC35RB Memphis |
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03-15-2006, 12:30
Post: #2
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I want to share a break-down story
Sorry to hear of your problem...question..by the time it started to
smoke was it to late? Or if you had pulled off and had it towed, would the damage have been so extensive?..again sorry for the problem. Bob Lawrence 84 PT36 (Whirlybird) Tacoma, Wa. Once safely at a gas station, called friend who owns diesel shop, he said if it was running, the > gauges read OK, and I could not smell diesel in the oil (which I > didn't), limp it home below 2000 rpm, probably just blew a tip off an > injector, not a big deal. 2000 rpm is about 55 mph. I make it home. > > Take to friend's shop next week. Check injector...not the problem. > They have to go in. The final prognosis: broken valve. > > A valve broke and went in to the cylinder, carving up the piston face > pretty good. When it had been pulverized enough, it finally went out > the exhaust port, carving up the head along the way. Then, of course, > the remaining parts went in to the turbo, gutting it. So all that was > replaced. Not cheap. > > But to me, this story isn't about the fact that I needed an expensive > repair. It's about the fact that my 'Bird, seriously wounded, running > on 7 cylinders with no turbo, got me where I needed to go. I say > that's a true testament to how strong these coaches and their parts > are. I was never more sold on having a 'Bird than I was the day they > ran down the list of everything that had happened in that engine. > > So that's my story. Just thought I'd share, especially for any of you > that are debating whether or not a 'Bird is for you. > > Scott Forman > 82 FC35RB > Memphis > |
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03-15-2006, 12:47
Post: #3
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I want to share a break-down story
Any idea what caused the valve failure? Was it a broken valve spring?
I once broke a valve spring on a Chevy 400. I removed the rocker and pushrod and drove it home on 7 cylinders for 250 miles. Kerry 82 FC 35 Denver --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman" <sforman@...> wrote: > > I have been meaning to share this story since it happened, guess I am > finally just taking the time to put it down. I feel it is a solid > testament to the bullet-proof nature of these 'Birds and, even though, > this odyssey ended up costing me thousands of $$$, it did NOT strand me. |
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03-15-2006, 14:40
Post: #4
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I want to share a break-down story
The smoke didn't start until after the sounds began. I am no
mechanic, but the guys who put it all back together said a broken valve was sort of a freak thing, something that just happens occassionally. --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Lawrence" > > Sorry to hear of your problem...question..by the time it started to > smoke was it to late? Or if you had pulled off and had it towed, > would the damage have been so extensive?..again sorry for the problem. > Bob Lawrence > 84 PT36 (Whirlybird) > Tacoma, Wa. > > Once safely at a gas station, called friend who owns diesel shop, he > said if it was running, the > > gauges read OK, and I could not smell diesel in the oil (which I > > didn't), limp it home below 2000 rpm, probably just blew a tip off > an > > injector, not a big deal. 2000 rpm is about 55 mph. I make it > home. > > > > Take to friend's shop next week. Check injector...not the > problem. > > They have to go in. The final prognosis: broken valve. > > > > A valve broke and went in to the cylinder, carving up the piston > face > > pretty good. When it had been pulverized enough, it finally went > out > > the exhaust port, carving up the head along the way. Then, of > course, > > the remaining parts went in to the turbo, gutting it. So all that > was > > replaced. Not cheap. > > > > But to me, this story isn't about the fact that I needed an > expensive > > repair. It's about the fact that my 'Bird, seriously wounded, > running > > on 7 cylinders with no turbo, got me where I needed to go. I say > > that's a true testament to how strong these coaches and their parts > > are. I was never more sold on having a 'Bird than I was the day > they > > ran down the list of everything that had happened in that engine. > > > > So that's my story. Just thought I'd share, especially for any of > you > > that are debating whether or not a 'Bird is for you. > > > > Scott Forman > > 82 FC35RB > > Memphis > > > |
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03-15-2006, 14:42
Post: #5
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I want to share a break-down story
The guys who put it back together said that based on the amount of
damage, they think the valve face seperated from the stem, sending the two pieces into the cylinder. --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards" > > Any idea what caused the valve failure? Was it a broken valve spring? > I once broke a valve spring on a Chevy 400. I removed the rocker and > pushrod and drove it home on 7 cylinders for 250 miles. > > Kerry > 82 FC 35 > Denver > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman" <sforman@> > wrote: > > > > I have been meaning to share this story since it happened, guess I am > > finally just taking the time to put it down. I feel it is a solid > > testament to the bullet-proof nature of these 'Birds and, even though, > > this odyssey ended up costing me thousands of $$$, it did NOT strand me. > |
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03-15-2006, 14:44
Post: #6
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I want to share a break-down story
Also...as far as towing...I asked that same question, they said that
it all happened in a few seconds...once the horrible noises stopped, the damage was done, and driving did not worsen it. --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman" <sforman@...> wrote: > > The smoke didn't start until after the sounds began. I am no > mechanic, but the guys who put it all back together said a broken > valve was sort of a freak thing, something that just happens > occassionally. > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Lawrence" > > > > > Sorry to hear of your problem...question..by the time it started to > > smoke was it to late? Or if you had pulled off and had it towed, > > would the damage have been so extensive?..again sorry for the > problem. > > Bob Lawrence > > 84 PT36 (Whirlybird) > > Tacoma, Wa. > > > > Once safely at a gas station, called friend who owns diesel shop, > he > > said if it was running, the > > > gauges read OK, and I could not smell diesel in the oil (which I > > > didn't), limp it home below 2000 rpm, probably just blew a tip > off > > an > > > injector, not a big deal. 2000 rpm is about 55 mph. I make it > > home. > > > > > > Take to friend's shop next week. Check injector...not the > > problem. > > > They have to go in. The final prognosis: broken valve. > > > > > > A valve broke and went in to the cylinder, carving up the piston > > face > > > pretty good. When it had been pulverized enough, it finally went > > out > > > the exhaust port, carving up the head along the way. Then, of > > course, > > > the remaining parts went in to the turbo, gutting it. So all > that > > was > > > replaced. Not cheap. > > > > > > But to me, this story isn't about the fact that I needed an > > expensive > > > repair. It's about the fact that my 'Bird, seriously wounded, > > running > > > on 7 cylinders with no turbo, got me where I needed to go. I say > > > that's a true testament to how strong these coaches and their > parts > > > are. I was never more sold on having a 'Bird than I was the day > > they > > > ran down the list of everything that had happened in that engine. > > > > > > So that's my story. Just thought I'd share, especially for any > of > > you > > > that are debating whether or not a 'Bird is for you. > > > > > > Scott Forman > > > 82 FC35RB > > > Memphis > > > > > > |
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