When NEW doesn't necessarily mean Good..

[Eric a1cnc]

I have been working on my case 350 getting it running for a bit now. One of my questions was whether I had a bad injector so I bought 4 new cheap injectors and a pop tester to verify they were good and correct before putting them in. I did have one old one that I already had swapped with another old injector because I questioned it. When I tested the old injector it only squirted and the pressure was low. I took it apart and tried to clean and adjust it but I can't get it to pop, it still just squirts.
Tonight I finally had the time to test the new ones. They were supposed to be the correct part # 18054 which are SUPPOSED to pop @2800 psi. Nope these popped from 3100-3600 psi. They all chattered nicely at first until the moment I loosened the adjuster nut. Then 2 of them would no longer chatter after adjusting them down to the right pressure. I ended up having to take those 2 completely apart and found the piston rod to be sort of sticky in the bore. I was leary of trying to do anything but cleaning them at first. After putting them back together and testing a few times I decided I had nothing to lose so I took some 2000 paper to the offending part and carefully spun it until it seemed to fit better. After that I was able to get them to pop and vaporize the fuel rather than just squirting at the right pressure.

Next will be to pull the old ones out, test them. While I have them out I will do a compression test.

 

[lantraxco]

Sometimes you do get what you pay for....

 

[aongheas.macask]

I have been working on my case 350 getting it running for a bit now. One of my questions was whether I had a bad injector so I bought 4 new cheap injectors and a pop tester to verify they were good and correct before putting them in. I did have one old one that I already had swapped with another old injector because I questioned it. When I tested the old injector it only squirted and the pressure was low. I took it apart and tried to clean and adjust it but I can't get it to pop, it still just squirts.
Tonight I finally had the time to test the new ones. They were supposed to be the correct part # 18054 which are SUPPOSED to pop @2800 psi. Nope these popped from 3100-3600 psi. They all chattered nicely at first until the moment I loosened the adjuster nut. Then 2 of them would no longer chatter after adjusting them down to the right pressure. I ended up having to take those 2 completely apart and found the piston rod to be sort of sticky in the bore. I was leary of trying to do anything but cleaning them at first. After putting them back together and testing a few times I decided I had nothing to lose so I took some 2000 paper to the offending part and carefully spun it until it seemed to fit better. After that I was able to get them to pop and vaporize the fuel rather than just squirting at the right pressure.

Next will be to pull the old ones out, test them. While I have them out I will do a compression test.

Cheap injectors are cheap for a reason, the old adage , buyer beware

 

[Nige]

What's the saying.?

"You can have good. You can have cheap. You can't have good AND cheap."

 

[Eric a1cnc]

Basically just posted so others thinking about buying the cheap injectors will know they may not work as intended

Also so they know they can probably be made to work with some tools and finesse

I was hoping for a reply with some tips on setting them up properly.

 

[Vetech63]

Basically just posted so others thinking about buying the cheap injectors will know they may not work as intended

Also so they know they can probably be made to work with some tools and finesse

I was hoping for a reply with some tips on setting them up properly.

Well, Im not going to tell you what you really want to hear. "Made to work" isn't good enough for any engine. The fuel systems are designed to spray a specific amount (relative to IP regulation), at a specific pressure, in a specific atomized pattern. Its the only way you will get peak performance from the fuel system.....where engine performance can have other issues such as compression loss. "Made to work" ends up causing cylinder melt-downs or pre-ignition damage. You would much better served taking all of them to a fuel shop and having them perfectly calibrated/rebuilt for les than $100 each.
Do what you want, but your playing with fire here.

 

[Eric a1cnc]

They are all calibrated to open at 2800 psi now +- 50 psi now. I have a pop tester. Now they are spraying an atomized pattern where the injector I pulled from the engine was only squirting a stream of fuel

 

[lantraxco]

They are all calibrated to open at 2800 psi now +- 50 psi now. I have a pop tester. Now they are spraying an atomized pattern where the injector I pulled from the engine was only squirting a stream of fuel

Yes, but the lack of proper fitment of the inner bits makes one wonder how precise those little spray holes are, in size and aim? Not picking on you, just backing up your admonition to avoid them. I don't have any interest at this point in my life in buying a pop tester, or double checking every new or reman injector I might buy, though apparently I should now.... You know, this crap pisses me off! I buy from Chinese factories things I cannot get here, or cannot get at a competitive price, but I get the quality I demand because my contacts know that A) I am willing to pay what it takes to get that level of quality. And 2) I damn well spot check the shipments I receive! Obviously some folks can't be bothered!

 

[Welder Dave]

It's nice buying from places that specify parts are thoroughly tested before shipping. That said you hear more stories recently of name brand parts being faulty from the get go. Lots of larger companies require material test reports for just about everything they buy. Just like good torque wrenches come with a calibration certificate (or it's available), it shouldn't be too much to ask that injectors and other critical parts come with one too.

 

[Eric a1cnc]

I changed out the old injectors for the new self calibrated cheap injectors today. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! I ran the dozer long enough to warm up the engine before pulling the old injectors and because it was ~ 30 degrees out. I prefer to have a little heat on what I am working on.

I measured the exhaust manifold temp with a harbor freight non contact thermometer. cylinder 1 and 4 were ~ 40-50 degrees cooler but they were definitely running. I was going to do a compression test with my new harbor freight deluxe diesel compression tester.... Yup got what I paid for there. The check valve wouldn't hold any pressure but at least I have a nice glycerine filled gauge and the pencil injector adapter. I held my finger over the open injector hole and turned it over. Yup, they had even, blow your finger right the hell off compression.

After changing the injectors it fired right up, tiny bit of smoke for a second and then it was running smoothly on all 4. It just sounded so much more even I could tell it was better. Measured the temp again with the super high end harbor freight thermometer and all 4 were within ~ 10 degrees of each other. It revs up immediately now when you give it throttle. I just HAD to test it out on the driveway. It runs and pushes SO much better now.

I still seem to have an open thermostat though. The water temp never really came up above 120. Dam, I just put in a used thermostat from my 580 a couple days ago. I tested the thermostat and it seemed to work. Oh well, guess I will have to get a brand new one.

 

[Welder Dave]

Super high end Harbor Freight?

 

[Eric a1cnc]

Attempt at humor

 

[Syleng1]

AC Delco- “pay me now or pay me later.”

my buddy had a Harbor freight diesel compression tester. The check valve melted down and the gauge stopped working. The check valve was actually a tire valve stem core. Melted the seal right out after 2 revolutions. Years ago- cheap or inexpensive was Craftsman from Sears. Not the best but it worked compared to the cost of Snap on or Mac tools. Sadly now the alternative is HF. The difficulty with the original post and all the input is that there is no longer a “good alternative” it’s either low cost junk from overseas or high end dealer parts..... possibly from overseas.
I thank the original poster for this tid bit of info. Not everyone can drop their ego to admit they bought the other side of the spectrum to inform possible new buyers from having the same issues.

okay- off soap box. Lol!

 

[Volvomad]

Think I used a fuel line check valve on my slap together compression tester

 

[Tyler d4c]

I have install some of those in john deere tractors the 75 dollar for 4 off ebay they last about 400 hours then they start spraying like a windshield wash nossle

 

[Eric a1cnc]

So, I was running the dozer today for a good 4-5 hours. Was running good for ~ 2-3 then it died. Seemed like it was low on fuel even though there was still 5 gallons of fuel in it. I filed it up with fresh fuel and it was running again but quite smoky and after ~ 1/2 hour it all of a sudden overheated. I shut it down and decided to pull the injectors to see what was up. I found one of them wasn't sealing at all. The other ones I checked had dropped from the 2800 psi I set them at down to 2000 psi.
I pulled apart the one that wasn't sealing and the needle had some soot on it. I tried carb cleaner and compressed air but I can not get that one to work right.

 

[JPV]

See all the posts above, get some good injectors and be done with it.

 

[Eric a1cnc]

That is my next step but i just don't have the money right now.
Where is the best place to get good injectors?

 

[Syleng1]

That is my next step but i just don't have the money right now.
Where is the best place to get good injectors?

Diesel injector shop. Basically a place that rebuilds injector pumps. We have a place here in CT that used to be called H and L diesel in Deep River CT. It was bought out by a larger company a few years ago and I forget the name but the same location. All they do is injectors and pumps. A place like that is what I am referring to. Some times Napa is also a good source if dealer is not available. Good luck.

 

[Tinkerer]

My choice would be Case OEM or Stanadyne for injectors.
Never buy cheap injectors. I did once. Never ever again !