Unfortunately, while removing my injection pump, I dropped the keyway into the gear case. I'm going to fish around a bit more to see if I can get it out easily, but I know I'm likely looking at timing gear cover removal. The two things I'm wondering about are:

 

- Whether or not it's necessary to replace the crank seal while you're in there

- What gasket maker people prefer to use when reinstalling the timing cover

 

I've searched quite a bit but have not found any solid answers.

 

What do you guys think?

Here is a picture of my 02. Not sure what the other looks like.

Ok thanks.  Was hoping some indicator would be visible from outside of case.  Like a detent in the case to hold pin in or something. Guess I still have to pull case to check out.  

11 hours ago, Dieselfuture said:

That is a bunch of them on eBay for under 10 bucks, but it just says aftermarket no brand name, but they all look like they came from the same place.

What is that black o ring for in the kit

Good question... The genuine Cummins seals I've gotten a bunch of times never had the black ring. 

I dont remember mine having the black ring. I think it was Cummins but may have been a Fel Pro. Just dont remember.Still dry though.

18 hours ago, 015point9 said:

Was hoping some indicator would be visible from outside of case

 

Yeah, the outside you'll see the oil leak and the crack case typically below the fan mount.

There is some difference between the 2 cases. There is a bulge in my case just below the 2nd bolt above the dowel. Then the case differs at the second and third bolt below the dowel. I dont, however, know that that is indicative of the newer case that wont let the dowel work out. 

Good catch on those two differences @dripley, my "updated" case looks like yours. Maybe some others can chime in regarding their case version and whether or not the KDP bore is stepped or not.

 

I've got everything buttoned back up on the truck and am waiting a bit longer for the gasket to cure. Then the moment of truth for my new crank seal and new VP!

Anybody know...was this kdp problem on 53 blocks or all blocks?

 @dripley  sig line says 2002

@Bafazane sig line says 2001.

 

Makes me wonder if updated cases were at that time?  

But obviously best thing to do is check.  

I tried finding a side by side pic for comparison with no luck.  

 

As far as i know it affected all of them until the updated case. But I might not know enough.

For some reason the 24 valves never really had the KDP issue. There are a couple cases reported. The updated cases are sprinkled thoughout the VP run, as with most of the Rams at the time, there was a goofy selection of parts going on. 

Ok guys, I bled the lines and it fired right up. It runs more smoothly and is marginally quieter than before. Not only that, neither the new crank seal nor the timing cover were spraying oil everywhere. 

 

Thanks for the help guys, hope I don't have to do that again for another 184,000 miles!

... Maybe 250k miles

I change mine around 400k but had leaking for a while. How long, i dont know.

Well, bad news. I'm getting a P0216 code now with the new pump. I've cleared the code twice and done a couple of lengthy drives, but it returns. What I'm thinking happened is: when I installed the pump, I knocked the gear out of the housing and could possibly have reinstalled the gear a tooth off. The key was installed the correct way and is seated nicely in the keyway, so it's the only thing I'm coming up with other than a faulty VP. I'm waiting for the truck to cool down so I can get the timing cover back off. My question is: how do I know the correct alignment of the pump gear with regards to cam gear? Also, does anybody know how the truck would run if that were the issue? Lower idle? Would it affect fuel pressure?

There are marks on the cam and pump gears for alignment purposes. The only code that would really be set by a misaligned gear set is a cam code, because the ecm compares the internal VP position sensor to the cam position sensor. The VP should be able to adjust timing back down to its specified range if the teeth were off. The 0216 code spells a dead pump to me

The pump gear was off by one tooth. I've rectified that and am now buttoning the front back up. I really hope that was the issue, and will let you guys know how it goes tomorrow when I fire it back up.

 

 

On 9/29/2018 at 9:50 AM, 015point9 said:

Anybody know...was this kdp problem on 53 blocks or all blocks?

 @dripley  sig line says 2002

@Bafazane sig line says 2001.

 

Makes me wonder if updated cases were at that time?  

But obviously best thing to do is check.  

I tried finding a side by side pic for comparison with no luck.  

 

 

I've seen one dealer invoice for 2002 truck with a gear case replacement because of a KDP. Typically the end of the line is 2001. Just that fluke that a few 2002 trucks ended up with an old school KDP case. I've checked mine and have the updated case already.

O.K.  So I'll bite how do you tell if you are lucky enough to have a KDP option.  And keeping in mind that this motor was gone through.  But the way my luck has been running.

 

Thanks 

Michael

On 9/29/2018 at 9:50 AM, 015point9 said:

Anybody know...was this kdp problem on 53 blocks or all blocks?

1

 

KDP problem is from 1989 to 2001 model year Cummins engines.

Update: I cleared the codes today and took the truck on a 20 mile or so drive, with a couple of stops. So far the code hasn't returned; it appears at this point that pump gear misalignment can cause a P0216 code. I'll be keeping an eye on it though. 

 

Again, thanks for the help, folks.