"Government Rebuilds"
Hi,
Sorry to hear about your engine failure. I'm not here to chastize you and I'm sure you would have noticed a "run-away" situation. It'll be a great learning experience in the long run. Before you go and rent a cheesy Bobcat skidsteer please remember that a Multifuel weighs approx. 1,750lbs. without the tranny. Just make sure you research the lift and tipping loads of the machine your going to rent...
I noticed in your pics that there is an "engine rebuild" tag affixed to your block. That got my attention... Observation: Someone please correct me but I have observed over these past years on this forum that every catastrophic engine failure that has been shown was from an engine that had a "low mileage government rebuild" and this is yet another example.
Rebuild tags and nice new paint jobs scare me on any driveline component. I have an original unmolested Multifuel in my Deuce that is "high-mileage" to many Deuce owners and I have no problems and I'm happy with that. In comparison many crow "caw...caw..."
about their extremely low mileage "rebuilds" and those are the Multifuels that seem to be having all of the catatstrophic failures. I purchased my Deuce in 06' with 42K miles and now have 58K miles on it with no issue.
I have a theory that:
A.) Parts that are normally replaced during any engine rebuild were re-used. ($$$)
B.) Certain practices were not followed that would be common sense othwerwise. ($$$)
C.) Engines, etc. may have been sent out to private sub-contractors that cut corners due to being awarded a low bid that they themselves submitted. ($$$)
In otherwords - due to certain constraints personnel don't/can't spend the $$$ to do it "right."
The following "2nd or 3rd party hear-say" story may be comparing apples to oranges when it comes to engine types but seems to fit in perfectly with the relationship of engine failure and "government rebuilds." While researching info on my 6V53 Detroit in my Gig I came across this interesting little ditty. This gentleman was going through his 6V53 having a past life powering an M551 Sheridan tank and learned a few things along the way. To paraphraze:
"I tell you this story, because I feel that it is important, and rather unheard of to many Detroit enthusiasts.
I met a Detroit Diesel seller in California who used to repair on the order of 7-8 Detroit diesels a week for the military for the best part of 33 years.
He told me that the military would contract certified Detroit Diesel distributors for rebuilds every time equipment racked up a few hundred hours or a thousand miles, depending on the engine's use.
The next part shocked me, which I felt like sharing.
The military would ship these engines out to the service station with a bill of work. The engines would then be analyzed to see there condition. Work/repairs would ensue and the military would be sent a cost to fix the engine. This seller stated that more times than not, out of the over 800 Detroit Diesels which his company has rebuilt over the years for the military, the military refused to pay as much as the rebuilder charged. He said that when the military was tight on funds, the rebuilder would get hit with a loss, which they transferred over by either returning the engine back to its entry state, or the rebuilder would use lesser grade parts so that the engines could be put back into use with the given money by the military. What ends up being the worst part is, when the military refuses to pay an engine can be slapped on a rebuilt stamp which tells that the engine was rebuilt, then when funds cut out, the engine is not given back as a rebuilt, it is given back in the same form....
...The biggest killer he has found in his years of service is a seized fuel pump.
When the fuel pump momentarily seizes, it will snap the fuel pump drive coupler into pieces. When this happens, the metal will eat up the gear train. I was told this could happen while the engine was running, and a problem would not be noticed until the engine was to be restarted. The best part is yet to come. He said that on every military engine after his first few years of rebuilding them, they would first check the fuel pump to see if that was a problematic source. When necessary, the fuel pump drive piece was replaced since it was only a $5 part. The engine was then tested and if it worked it was sent back out into service without checking the rest of the engine for problems...
...This engine has proven to me that either the military rebuilders checked this one on a bad day, or they slapped a rebuilt tag onto the intake housing for kicks.
There has simply been too many broken/bad parts on this engine for it to pass in any good machine shop.
However there are points along the way which hint to a rebuild occurring.
Yes the crankcase gears were bad and loose metal was found in the oil pan, but how can that be possible if the liners and pistons are in such a shape that they appear to be new."
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I don't know if Multifuels were rebuilt using sub-contractors etc. More information is required to come to a conclusion. Are there any Vets on this forum with direct service experience in the field of Depot rebuild practices/conditions?
Good luck on the engine swap,
![[thumbzup]](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumzup.gif "Thumbs Up [thumbzup]")
please post some more pics of the progress!
!!!!! Oh yeah!!!!!!! 
. And to top it off I have a 4 finger pressure plate that seems to be the kind that like to break the finger pivot point.
