Patrick Spring of '13

My table's project was the hydraulic X-Change system which is an option on Bobcat excavators. I learned how to follow hydraulic schematics through valves. I've been spending a lot of time welding with 6010 and I learned that propylene cutting torches won't cut through powder coat nearly as well as I thought it would.

50 hours this week
372 total

SPQ13 Patrick

This week I learned how to use a hydraulic schematic to "reverse engineer" a system. Tracking a system back through the diagram and service manual greatly helped my understanding of the drawings. I also learned that sometimes you don't end up fixing what you intend to... I pulled a truck in to check the steering because a driver wrote up a clunk in the front end on the DDIR sheet. I had Dan turn the wheel while I watched for something amiss. I happened to glance at the water pump pulley that drives the alternator (Cummins M11) and noticed it vibrating. Shut the truck down and was able to see a shiny spot on the pulley shaft where the movement has been wiping the surface clean. I'll be tearing into that problem tomorrow and the steering clunk is on hold for now. If the bearing on the gear is failing I'll have to tear apart the front gear train to replace it.

Week: 52
Total: 322 hours

SPQ13 Patrick

Had some trouble with an Airco Wasp ii-e welder and narrowed it down to the rheostat. The first video shows the resistance of the 25 ohm rheostat while moving the dial. The second video shows the voltage test after changing the rheostat and replacing the equipment ground wire (The 6" piece of wire had 28 ohm resistance). Sorry the video is upside down. I got the fitting boxes done and the first 10 hydraulic boards

Week: 47
Total: 270

SPQ13 Patrick

Well about 9:30 tonight I was starting to wish that I had a bigger excavator with more lights. I learned how to draw hydraulic symbols for valves and I improved my understanding of closed center and open center systems but I still have more to learn on that topic because I'm still not exactly sure why they work how they do.

40 hours for the week
223 hours for the quarter

SPQ13 Patrick

This week I learned how the regulator on a variable displacement piston pump can change the flow. As the regulator tilts the cylinders away from the axis of the pump the piston travel goes up and it returns to near zero as the need for oil flow drops and it returns to the axis. I also heard back from PEAK on ELC coolant and according to their service tech most problems that arise are because many people switch to ELC when the gaskets have already started deteriorating similar to what happens when you switch to synthetic oil in a Detroit 60 and they all of the sudden leak everywhere.

Week: 47 hours
Total: 183

SPQ13 Patrick

This week I spent some time researching the use of ELC (Extended Life Coolant) such as Peak Final Charge in a Navistar 7.3 indirect-injection motor. Most ELC coolants use organic acid technology to prevent cavitation and corrosion. I did a quick google search (Otherwise known as the rumor mill) on the topic and was unable to find anything conclusive... Everyone's buddy had problems with ELC coolant deteriorating gaskets and seals but somehow this "buddy" never voiced his own opinion. Upon further research I found a TSB on the topic. In International's compatibility testing they found that all engines manufactured pre-02/02/1999 or serial number 940614 should not use ELC coolants due to injector cup deterioration and seal failure. This TSB however only applies to the 7.3 powerstroke engines and I failed to find any research on it's use in the 7.3 idi (The forerunner to the powerstroke) or if there are any required updates for its use. I've contacted Peak (Coolant product manufacturer) and I'm waiting for a reply on the compatibilty of their products.

I completed CAT Basics C & D And I watched the Lethal Strike video.

Week: 42
Total: 136

SPQ13 Patrick

This week I re-learned that you always always put the bolts back in the hole that they come out of while you have something disassembled. I changed the water pump on my 7.3 idi and I tried to save a little time... That mistake added over an hour to what should have been a 3 hour job (Because Ford just had to use metric and SAE bolts). I completed sections A & B in Cat Basics.

I also replaced the king pins in a Freightliner FLD. This was the first time that I had used a "Kaiser Qwik Kit". The spiral "no-ream" bushings are a very unique design.

Hours for the week: 47

Total: 94