C7 Radiator/CAC Removal And Deep Maintenance

[the sights]

Slow news day guys, The new hose clamps were delivered today and all looks good.

Freightliner/Cat parts guy let me know that most of my parts list will have to be shipped from other locations. All parts should be here by end of next week.

I am not going to replace the HEUI pump or add the new filter dedicated to that pump.

I will change my oil at 4 to 5 k miles along with the fuel filters. I believe a lot of HEUI pump replacements might have not been necessary, weak trouble shooting.

How can a Cat c7 engine sitting in a pump house or turning some equipment somewhere with very little maintenance or concern and it runs for many thousand hours.

Put that same engine in a motohome and it cant go 1,000 hours without major problems.

So I do not plan on changing the water pump or HEUI pump........don't laugh if I lose the one pump on my way to the next destination and lose the other pump on my way home. Just typing that makes me sick.

I posted pics of the water pump belt idler pulley it takes one bearing, and the serpentine belt idler pulley and auto tensioner take 2 bearings each. Your bearing # might be different then mine # is on the bearing itself.

1 raptor I sent you a couple of PMs

Thanks guys Joe

[the sights]

Here is everything you need to make the non-greaseable fan hub bearing a greaseable one. Joe


CAT C7 FAN BEARING REPLACEMENT - Engines - FMCA Motorhome Forums

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by the sights

Slow news day guys, The new hose clamps were delivered today and all looks good.

Freightliner/Cat parts guy let me know that most of my parts list will have to be shipped from other locations. All parts should be here by end of next week.

I am not going to replace the HEUI pump or add the new filter dedicated to that pump.

I will change my oil at 4 to 5 k miles along with the fuel filters. I believe a lot of HEUI pump replacements might have not been necessary, weak trouble shooting.

How can a Cat c7 engine sitting in a pump house or turning some equipment somewhere with very little maintenance or concern and it runs for many thousand hours.

Put that same engine in a motohome and it cant go 1,000 hours without major problems.

So I do not plan on changing the water pump or HEUI pump........don't laugh if I lose the one pump on my way to the next destination and lose the other pump on my way home. Just typing that makes me sick.

I posted pics of the water pump belt idler pulley it takes one bearing, and the serpentine belt idler pulley and auto tensioner take 2 bearings each. Your bearing # might be different then mine # is on the bearing itself.

1 raptor I sent you a couple of PMs

Thanks guys Joe

Joe,
This will be interesting when you press that water pump tensioner. I tried using a 6" vice and a couple of sockets but, apparently my method was not sufficient enough to break the bond of that bearing, and the internal bore of the pulley. And I put some serious pressure on that bearing. NO GO! So, its in there and running right now. I hope you definitely have better success at that bearing change.
Scott

[Journey cat]

Scott , im curious , did you soak it maybe in ospho or similar , and then try heat to the pulley itself ?

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by Journey cat

Scott , im curious , did you soak it maybe in ospho or similar , and then try heat to the pulley itself ?

Hey good afternoon Journey cat,
Well, nope, no soaking in anything. I've never really had any luck with any form of a "penetrating oil" or any chemical mix of ingredients that form any sort of penetrating oil. I have luck with heat, once in a while. But, I didn't want to do any damage to the bearing or the pulley if, I couldn't get it out. A new water pump tensioner hovers anywhere from about $90 to $120. Yeah, I could have just bought a new one and be done with it but, to me, it was/is the same exact thing as the idler and tensioner for the serpentine belt. Both of those were in flawless condition so, I just replaced the bearings.

Scott

[JaminSamin]

Originally Posted by the sights

I posted pics of the water pump belt idler pulley it takes one bearing, and the serpentine belt idler pulley and auto tensioner take 2 bearings each. Your bearing # might be different then mine # is on the bearing itself.
Thanks guys Joe

I put new bearings in my water pump tensioner pully a couple years back...I remember there being two bearings in that little sucker. Not saying the one bearing you have won’t work, it will if it is twice as wide as the ones Cat sold me.
Oh...and if you try and press those bearings out yourself make sure you remove the snap ring first. Mine was covered with gunk and I almost missed it.

[rver98]

If I would of logged on to your post earlier, I would of recommended moving your secondary fuel filter(2 micron) to the rear next to your W/S.

good luck

[Journey cat]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

Hey good afternoon Journey cat,
Well, nope, no soaking in anything. I've never really had any luck with any form of a "penetrating oil" or any chemical mix of ingredients that form any sort of penetrating oil. I have luck with heat, once in a while. But, I didn't want to do any damage to the bearing or the pulley if, I couldn't get it out. A new water pump tensioner hovers anywhere from about $90 to $120. Yeah, I could have just bought a new one and be done with it but, to me, it was/is the same exact thing as the idler and tensioner for the serpentine belt. Both of those were in flawless condition so, I just replaced the bearings.

Scott

And a good evening to you also is that pully we speak of stamped steel or a cact type . I always keep a gallon of Ospho on hand . Im always soaking things in it with no ill efects . It works wonders on rust
I just got my coach back a few days ago . With summer on the horizon and heat rising here in Fl .
I guess I'll put a hold on my R& R till the fall as there are other things to attend to before I head west .

[Cat]

You might want to inspect the HEUI pump. It depends the style HEUI pump you have. You didn't say what your serial number is. If you have a round headed HEUI pump you can't do this inspection but that's good news the round headed pump had very few failures. This inspection is for the rectangle headed pump. Since you have good access or at least fairly good access with the radiator and aftercooler out. It is a very easy inspection. Make sure the area around the pump head is clean as well as the pump head. Remove the hose that comes off the head and cover it to keep clean. Remove the torex screws in the head and rotate the head. There is no pressure, springs or valves. You just need to rotate the head not remove it. Just don't damage the seal or seal area. You will need to suck out about a cup of oil out of the area under the head. Then look at the electric coil and see if there is any metal stuck to the edges of it. If there is you have a pump beginning to fail. Then just reinstall.
Unfortunately HEUI pump was a problem in the heavy equipment side also. Using clean oil and CAT filters does help prevent failures but it will not eliminate failures. My HEUI failed at 12000 miles and the oil was CAT oil and filters and had been changed 3 times.
Anyway its up to you if want to check it. I'll attach some pictures. Hope it helps.

[1raptor]

Originally Posted by Cat

You might want to inspect the HEUI pump. It depends the style HEUI pump you have. You didn't say what your serial number is. If you have a round headed HEUI pump you can't do this inspection but that's good news the round headed pump had very few failures. This inspection is for the rectangle headed pump. Since you have good access or at least fairly good access with the radiator and aftercooler out. It is a very easy inspection. Make sure the area around the pump head is clean as well as the pump head. Remove the hose that comes off the head and cover it to keep clean. Remove the torex screws in the head and rotate the head. There is no pressure, springs or valves. You just need to rotate the head not remove it. Just don't damage the seal or seal area. You will need to suck out about a cup of oil out of the area under the head. Then look at the electric coil and see if there is any metal stuck to the edges of it. If there is you have a pump beginning to fail. Then just reinstall.
Unfortunately HEUI pump was a problem in the heavy equipment side also. Using clean oil and CAT filters does help prevent failures but it will not eliminate failures. My HEUI failed at 12000 miles and the oil was CAT oil and filters and had been changed 3 times.
Anyway its up to you if want to check it. I'll attach some pictures. Hope it helps.

What are you calling the head? Any chance you have a picture showing the rounded head vs non heui pump?

[the sights]

CAT, Thanks for your input on the HEUI pump. I wish you were in my backyard. I am not sure what pump I have eng # WAX 12981. I have attached a pic of the pump.

Ever if it is the one I can check I don't know if I have the guts to do it. I am in no way a Cat tech or truck mechanic just a guy trying to better our motorhome.

I took a better look at the water pump and yes it has some side to side play so out it goes. 6 years ago when it was 6 years old I flushed and changed over the cooling system to Cat ELC along with the regulators being replaced. I will replace them again.

Back to the water pump do I get the Cat reman one at my dealer for $244 with core back or do i look for a new Cat pump? What do you think of this? Going to call some pump repair places with 25 or more years doing this stuff and ask if the pump can be rebuild to have a longer life span then new?

rver98 I find changing out the fuel filter from inside the bedroom not to be a big inconvenience, Thanks

Think of this if our Cat and Cummins engines were as trouble free as the allison transmissions are well just think about that....

Thanks for looking, Joe

[Cat]

WAX has the rectangle head. In your picture the wires go in to the top center of the pump/ head rectangle. You can see the screws that hold the top or head of the pump in your pictures. I probably should say 'top' of the pump. The most difficult would be unhooking the line from the top of the pump. But if you get take the line off (If you have a steel tube its easy, if you have a hose it takes a special quick disconnect tool --not expensive) . The removal of the screws and rotating the top is as simple as it sounds. Just have to keep it clean. The only reason you cant remove the 'top' is because the wires go down to the solenoid you see in the picture.
But I also understand your reluctance in doing it. But since you had that kind of access I thought I would mention it. It is a good indicator if there are problems on the horizon. But don't do something you're not totally comfortable doing
I'll see if I can find a picture of the round top style HEUI.

[Cat]

Round top style HEUI pump. Very few problems with pump, some problems with solenoid spool getting oil sluged and sticking, remove spool clean reinstall took care of most problems.

[Cat]

Forgot to answer exchange water pump question. I think the exchange water pump is good.