Recently we were supporting an operator with the overhaul of a Cat 3306 engine.
As part of the work scope, we needed to source a crankcase assembly, so we found an overhauled one.
It was from a “reputable” supplier, but when we inspected it more closely, we uncovered some major concerns.
First off, it didn’t look great.
And yes, it’s absolutely true that you can’t always judge a book by its cover, and that the true quality of the main operating components is the most important thing, but to me, alarm bells start ringing when I see something look this bad from the first glimpse – if it’s been allowed to get into that state, then I have to question how much care has been taken with the internals!
Would you be happy with flaky paint and debris in the gears?
As it turned out, our fears were entirely justified.
We dismantled the crankcase and found the big end bolts had not been tightened fully to the required torque – a recipe for disaster.
Other areas our inspection found were:
This didn’t compromise the engine, as correct bearings were used, but no information was provided that the shaft was undersized.
Please make sure, when you’re purchasing reconditioned assemblies that a thorough inspection is carried out and the supplier can back everything up with measurement and test sheets because you could be the one feeling the effects of poor quality.
If you aren’t sure what checks should be carried out or want a second opinion, please get in touch.
