Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-23-2014, 01:15 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 10
Year: 1999
Chassis: Thomas MVP Saftyliner
Engine: 3126 Cat
Rated Cap: 88
3126 in frame overhaul

Hey all I just bought a skooile with a 3126 CAT .... On the way home the wrist pin in cylinder 2 broke .... Mechanic is telling me new engine ... A buddy and I have decided to do an in-frame over haul ... Anyone have any experience ? Any tips you can give me ? We decided to cut out the heat shield in the back so that we can access the top of the engine from inside the bus ... Making it easier to work ... I found overhaul kits for about 1500 for 1 piece pistons and about 2000 for 2 piece .... I figured its worth the investment to redo all the cylinders at this time ... PLEASE HELP with any advise ... Thanks

rhickman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2015, 03:30 PM   #2
Bus Nut
 
frank-id's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho
Posts: 809
Cat engine work

Look around and find a International 466 used from a wreck for $2500..
Install this engine for many smiles. Engines are easily interchanged as many engines are available....Frank
frank-id is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2015, 06:32 PM   #3
Almost There
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: NE Oregon, SW Idaho
Posts: 98
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: IH
Engine: 466
Rated Cap: 64
Frank-ID is right on! If you can't find a DT466 at least look for a Cummins 8.3L inline 6. Cats are spendy, finicky, and don't seem to have a long life, much less 9 lives.
If you insist on rebuilding your Cat engine, you really should have the HUEI pump and injectors done as well ($1,800-$2,000) if they have not been done, otherwise figure on doing the rebuild again before long!
dburt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2015, 08:15 PM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
opus's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,626
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All-American R/E
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
The 3406/3408's had a good track record, but those are from days long ago. They were pretty pricey to maintain then too.
opus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2016, 02:14 PM   #5
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 61
I was told by someone here to stay away from DD engine, didn't take much to realize I should stay away from MB engine at all cost. Fortunately, with CAT engine, you're not as blinded as getting into Mercedes engine. As stated, it's not the durability of the motor, but finding the part. CAT owner won't be faced with such difficulties finding right parts, some advertise genuine CAT C7 oil filter as low as $3.
I found some useful internet place, where people have interesting and active discussion on this particular engine. The moderator seem to be very resourceful, possibly working for CAT, but I can never tell. He mentioned that CAT's authorized service dealer is offering in-frame overhaul at $3000 or $6000 for complete overhaul, a steal if you don't want to grease your hands, but it won't apply to your need. If you're interested I'll post the link.
kwang_yi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2016, 10:15 AM   #6
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Ohio
Posts: 3,829
You'll have to see if there is damage to the block. If there is, an inframe rebuild isn't going to happen. The 3126 doesn't have liners so if there is a nick or chunk(most likely is if the wrist pin broke) then the engine is toast. I like the mechanical 466, they're simple and reliable.
Booyah45828 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2016, 09:49 PM   #7
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winlcok, WA
Posts: 2,233
I would scrap the bus and start over.

As others have said, if it was a wrist pin and it did any internal damage you are looking at another engine.

You can purchase another complete bus with good running gear for a lot less than another Cat engine.

In frames can be done. But by the time you have purchased the internal kit(s) and a set of new/rebuilt injectors and pump you will have more into it than what another bus would cost.
cowlitzcoach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2016, 09:31 AM   #8
Skoolie
 
RHOMBUS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 217
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freightliner HDX
Engine: CAT 3126B250
Rated Cap: 84
About a year ago I saw a freshly rebuilt 3126b in Iowa at some kind of diesel shop for $4100. If that sounds reasonable (did to me) I can dig through my papers and see if I can find them again.


__________________
My project: The Cruel Bus
RHOMBUS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2016, 09:44 AM   #9
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winlcok, WA
Posts: 2,233
Cat 3126 Engine Assembly For Sale | VanderHaags.com
cowlitzcoach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2016, 11:24 AM   #10
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,796
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
Hey guys. . This thread has some useful info in it and all, but the original post about a broken wrist pin dates back to July of 2014. I'm hoping rhickman has figured it out since then.
__________________
My build page: Armageddon - The Smell of Airborne Rust
jazty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2016, 11:33 AM   #11
Skoolie
 
RHOMBUS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 217
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freightliner HDX
Engine: CAT 3126B250
Rated Cap: 84
I blame frank-id :P
__________________
My project: The Cruel Bus
RHOMBUS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2016, 11:36 AM   #12
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,796
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
haha.. well, to be fair to Frank, it looks like Kwang-Yi was the one who most recently resurrected this thread from the dead.
__________________
My build page: Armageddon - The Smell of Airborne Rust
jazty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2016, 11:46 AM   #13
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Ohio
Posts: 3,829
Oh jesus, I didn't even look at it before I posted . Bumping old threads is one of my biggest pet peeves. I vote we blame frank as well
Booyah45828 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2016, 11:47 AM   #14
Skoolie
 
RHOMBUS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 217
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freightliner HDX
Engine: CAT 3126B250
Rated Cap: 84
Oh yeah. It's not 2015 any more. That's what I get for hiding out in a shop space for 10 months.
__________________
My project: The Cruel Bus
RHOMBUS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2016, 11:36 AM   #15
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: The Valley - Arizona
Posts: 644
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freight-shaker (Freightliner)
Engine: Cat 3126b 250 HP
Rated Cap: Only 1 seat
Quote:
Originally Posted by dburt View Post
Cats are spendy, finicky, and don't seem to have a long life, much less 9 lives.
I am throwing the flag on the field on this one...

My 3126 B had almost 900,000 miles on it before I replaced it. ECM said it had over 2,000,000 idle hours alone.

Rebuild versus buying a good used motor is tit for tat. If you do 1 cylinder, you may as well do all while you have it apart. (Do you change brakes on one side of your vehicle at a time??? ;) )

Buy a rebuild kit for your injectors while you have them pulled too.

I had a #3 cylinder malfunction, scratched the sleeve due to no fuel being injected, replaced the motor with a 300 HP 3126B, originally it was a 250 HP. To replace a sleeve was about 2/3 the cost of a new motor, and now I have the old one to rebuild for a spare. (You can always sell it later for a profit!)

-Doc

And I was replying to a post of the post of the post!
Docsgsxr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2016, 03:43 PM   #16
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: The Valley - Arizona
Posts: 644
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freight-shaker (Freightliner)
Engine: Cat 3126b 250 HP
Rated Cap: Only 1 seat
Quote:
Originally Posted by Docsgsxr View Post
I am throwing the flag on the field on this one...

My 3126 B had almost 900,000 miles on it before I replaced it. ECM said it had over 2,000,000 idle hours alone.

Rebuild versus buying a good used motor is tit for tat. If you do 1 cylinder, you may as well do all while you have it apart. (Do you change brakes on one side of your vehicle at a time??? ;) )

Buy a rebuild kit for your injectors while you have them pulled too.

I had a #3 cylinder malfunction, scratched the sleeve due to no fuel being injected, replaced the motor with a 300 HP 3126B, originally it was a 250 HP. To replace a sleeve was about 2/3 the cost of a new motor, and now I have the old one to rebuild for a spare. (You can always sell it later for a profit!)

-Doc

And I was replying to a post of the post of the post!
OOPS... just reread this, not 900,000 lol dumb fat fingers, closer to 400,000 miles!
Docsgsxr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2016, 06:04 PM   #17
Bus Crazy
 
opus's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,626
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All-American R/E
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
Well, you were close.
opus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2016, 06:05 PM   #18
Skoolie
 
RHOMBUS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 217
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freightliner HDX
Engine: CAT 3126B250
Rated Cap: 84
Awww, I was really hoping you meant 900k.
__________________
My project: The Cruel Bus
RHOMBUS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2016, 06:28 PM   #19
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: The Valley - Arizona
Posts: 644
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freight-shaker (Freightliner)
Engine: Cat 3126b 250 HP
Rated Cap: Only 1 seat
I'm sure it would have went further, however, the #3 injector quit working due to the wiring getting brittle.

No fuel means it scarred the sleeve and allowed a large amount of blow by. The mechanic said cheaper for me to replace the motor than just rebuild 1. So now I have 2 motors. I am picking up my hog next weekend and finally getting back to work on it!
Docsgsxr is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Cat 3126 governor Gearhead94 Caterpillar Drivetrain 31 04-04-2023 11:17 PM
T444E vs. Cat 3126 M1031 Mechanical and Drivetrains 5 04-18-2014 09:26 AM
8.3 vs 3126?? huff0026 Mechanical and Drivetrains 8 06-30-2012 09:29 AM
Frame width the_experience03 Conversion General Discussions 1 04-14-2006 08:31 PM
Step the frame down in a Gillig? Elliot Naess Conversion General Discussions 0 03-07-2006 03:30 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:19 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.