Big Bang Theory: Oettinger 2500E rebuild

[silverbullet]

Torqued up with longer bolts (always check for bottoming out first!) and locking compound.
That's not going anywhere it shouldn't.

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[silverbullet]

All done bar the shouting, so I had an 8.30pm celebration at work!

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[silverbullet]

Test run for about 30 seconds. Cold, no coolant, 50psi at idle on 15W40 mineral.
Job done.

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[silverbullet]

An interesting week and a Busman's holiday for me.
2500E #53 decided to leak coolant into the sump almost as soon as it had been installed and delivered...unfortunately this was to Kilmarnock, west of Glasgow and I am in NW Surrey!
So I packed up my wbx tools and an engine seal kit, then headed up the M6 on Sunday with my overnight van doss kit (bedding, a Jetboil and a coffee press. I'm not an animal)
Had a lovely run up country and a super evening meal at Scott's of Troon. Worth the drive on its own!
Monday 8am I was presented with a spotless van on a 2-post lift in a clean bodyshop with the exhaust already removed. Luxury!
A difficult top-end stripdown morning (the barrels had gone tight in the case, half an hour each to walk them out) showed up lower seal groove failure (broken out pieces) and distressed/extruded seals to all barrels, random placement too but there was the smoking gun.
These were NOS parts, so must have been faulty all along...unlike my new Westwood barrels that were made to the set that originally came from this engine, which were known good parts (no leaks!)
So I had the works send me a fresh set on next day DHL , a second night in the Vito and by teatime Tuesday we had a test run up the road, got her up to temperature and AOK, no harm done and 3.5bar oil pressure once in the mid-range.
Honour was satisfied and I hadn't done something silly like leave the lower barrel seals out! All I had to do then was drive south.

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[Bigjcc55]

The kind of service you don't normally get anywhere! Thanks again for giving everything up at short notice to sort it out.
I've got a few miles on it now and it's a serious difference over the old standard 2.1.
I just need some time to get camping in it now.

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[patrickpawsey]

What are those headlights they look amazing!

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[Bigjcc55]

They are standard south African head lights grille and spots.
Head lights are same as European Van's.

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[silverbullet]

It was a privilege to work on your bus John, the least I could do given the circumstances.
Glad that you are enjoying the performance of the 2.5, pulling 4.86 diffs and 16" AT's makes for quite tall gearing!

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[Pinkythelabrat]

I work in Kilmarnock and live in Glasgow. If I’d known this was happening I’d have popped by. I like watching others work.

Scott’s is very good. Just by the marina.


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[mrhutch]

you forgot to mention the Hereford stop-over on the way home

[silverbullet]

We like to keep it under the radar

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