EGT Probe Install
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 151
Likes: 2
From: Hendersonville, NC
The correct drill size is a letter "R" by the way. I like to make a pilot hole first so the hole is straight and parallel. Use plenty of cutting fluid, and as mentioned, creep up on the tap - put the fitting in, tap a little more, put fitting in, tap a little more, until you hit the correct depth. Be sure to start the tap at exactly the same angle as it was drilled.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,506
Likes: 73
From: Staunton, VA
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,130
Likes: 4,730
From: Henderson, NV
The correct drill size is a letter "R" by the way. I like to make a pilot hole first so the hole is straight and parallel. Use plenty of cutting fluid, and as mentioned, creep up on the tap - put the fitting in, tap a little more, put fitting in, tap a little more, until you hit the correct depth. Be sure to start the tap at exactly the same angle as it was drilled.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
The only way to really screw this up is to over tap the hole so the fitting will not tighten up. Run tap in a little way and check the fitting. You want fitting to get snug at about 3/4 of the way in. (Ideally, threaded all the way through the manifold material).
A LOT of people stress about the drill shavings/chips. THIS IS A NON-ISSUE. Any debris left inside the manifold will be gently swept out and past the turbine wheel at startup and cause no damage. The gas velocity is low and the cold turbine wheel is not easily damaged - especially at low RPM. Using grease on the tap or cutting oil on the drill is a BAD IDEA if you’re the worried type. This grease will lock those little bits down so they can’t move easily until the grease burns and/or the engine rpms (and subsequently turbo shaft rpm) are much, much higher.
The cast steel manifolds drill super easy. The biggest concern is adequate eye protection so you don’t end up with metal in your eyes.
I used to have a pile of glow***** gauges I took out of trucks after they failed. There may be lower quality gauges out there, but I haven’t seen them yet. Good luck!
A LOT of people stress about the drill shavings/chips. THIS IS A NON-ISSUE. Any debris left inside the manifold will be gently swept out and past the turbine wheel at startup and cause no damage. The gas velocity is low and the cold turbine wheel is not easily damaged - especially at low RPM. Using grease on the tap or cutting oil on the drill is a BAD IDEA if you’re the worried type. This grease will lock those little bits down so they can’t move easily until the grease burns and/or the engine rpms (and subsequently turbo shaft rpm) are much, much higher.
The cast steel manifolds drill super easy. The biggest concern is adequate eye protection so you don’t end up with metal in your eyes.
I used to have a pile of glow***** gauges I took out of trucks after they failed. There may be lower quality gauges out there, but I haven’t seen them yet. Good luck!
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
So the way I did it and recommend above is not required because of the composition of the cast iron? If so, I guess it didn't hurt anything when I did it that way other than I used more time than what was required.
This is a perfect example of why the FTE is a great resource and up until now, I hadn't learned anything today. Made the cutoff by 1 hour and 30 minutes...
This is a perfect example of why the FTE is a great resource and up until now, I hadn't learned anything today. Made the cutoff by 1 hour and 30 minutes...
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,355
Likes: 5,950
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Thanks for the vote of confidence Jason.
@afonda , did you get the project done? Still working on it? How did it go or is it going?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,648
Likes: 893
From: north of Minneapolis, MN
Pipe tapping in a production environment can be a pretty suck process.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,355
Likes: 5,950
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
@Dan V , I am not questioning your ability, skill level or experience, simply trying to learn from what you have told us. With that said, I followed the tapping instructions that were provided with the EGT probe from ISSPRO and some visual aid advice from YouTube videos like the one I have linked below. At 2:40 in the video is where the creator demonstrates forward, then back, then forward, then back. Perhaps this is due to the type of material the tap is threading?
I get it though, this is a YouTube video and in my days of service I would not have gone to YouTube for advice on any of the tasks we were required to perform or any missions that needed to be accomplished.
Now, I am fully aware that a CNC machining center or turning center does NOT use YouTube as a point of reference. Although, for people that make up most of the FTE community, people like you and videos like this are the resources we have available to us. Again, not questioning, just trying to learn...
I get it though, this is a YouTube video and in my days of service I would not have gone to YouTube for advice on any of the tasks we were required to perform or any missions that needed to be accomplished.
Now, I am fully aware that a CNC machining center or turning center does NOT use YouTube as a point of reference. Although, for people that make up most of the FTE community, people like you and videos like this are the resources we have available to us. Again, not questioning, just trying to learn...
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 836
Likes: 213
Late to the party here everyone. Here's my .02 on tapping and I have tapped lots of holes over my 34 years working in the shop.
Tapping/Taper pipe taps can be tricky sometimes.The most common problems for most people are not drilling the hole as perpendicular as possible or they go too deep and the pipe fitting doesn't tighten up enough-this is usually most noticable when the pipes are carrying a liquid of some sort. Most times when we tap by hand in the shop we go 3/4 to 1 turn and then back up half a turn to break the chips. We also use tapping oil but it is dependant on the material being tapped. Cast iron usually breaks into little chips due to it's material makeup. I have done exhaust manifolds for others and I have used grease on the tap and backed it out and cleaned the flutes numerous times to remove the chips and I keep on doing this till I get to the proper depth.
In the shop we quite often place the pipe tap/regular taps in a drill press and power tap down until the pipe tap is 3/4 of the way in. This does save a lot of time when doing multiple holes.
I never knew what Jason mentioned about the intake side/debris left inside the manifold will be gently swept out and past the turbine wheel at startup and not causing damage so you learn something new every day.
Rob
Tapping/Taper pipe taps can be tricky sometimes.The most common problems for most people are not drilling the hole as perpendicular as possible or they go too deep and the pipe fitting doesn't tighten up enough-this is usually most noticable when the pipes are carrying a liquid of some sort. Most times when we tap by hand in the shop we go 3/4 to 1 turn and then back up half a turn to break the chips. We also use tapping oil but it is dependant on the material being tapped. Cast iron usually breaks into little chips due to it's material makeup. I have done exhaust manifolds for others and I have used grease on the tap and backed it out and cleaned the flutes numerous times to remove the chips and I keep on doing this till I get to the proper depth.
In the shop we quite often place the pipe tap/regular taps in a drill press and power tap down until the pipe tap is 3/4 of the way in. This does save a lot of time when doing multiple holes.
I never knew what Jason mentioned about the intake side/debris left inside the manifold will be gently swept out and past the turbine wheel at startup and not causing damage so you learn something new every day.
Rob
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,648
Likes: 893
From: north of Minneapolis, MN
@Sous Ok, I man enough to admit when I wrong. I did find a video of a cnc machine tapping similar to the manner which you describe.
https://www.centroidcnc.com/cnc_rigidtapping.html
But, I'd venture the manner I which which you practice, or have seen, is different than the attached video. (For those not watching the video) in the video the operator talks about clearing the chips as there is only .050 from the bottom of the hole to the last thread. (and is using an air blast to clear the chip). They are talking about about blind hole are trying to prevent chip packing at the bottom of the hole.
I have done a bunch of thread milling, which is a 3 axis procedure. It's like witchcraft.
https://www.centroidcnc.com/cnc_rigidtapping.html
But, I'd venture the manner I which which you practice, or have seen, is different than the attached video. (For those not watching the video) in the video the operator talks about clearing the chips as there is only .050 from the bottom of the hole to the last thread. (and is using an air blast to clear the chip). They are talking about about blind hole are trying to prevent chip packing at the bottom of the hole.
I have done a bunch of thread milling, which is a 3 axis procedure. It's like witchcraft.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 3
From: Broad Run, Va
Got it done. All went together well...
EGTs... what is normal? i see they are all over the place. I ran it hard with high boost and the temp got up to 1300. But I see they are normally running 400 to 800..
Thanks.
EGTs... what is normal? i see they are all over the place. I ran it hard with high boost and the temp got up to 1300. But I see they are normally running 400 to 800..
Thanks.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,860
Likes: 365
running at a sustained 1300 is bad for the engine, if you reach the higher temp just briefly it is okay though
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 3
From: Broad Run, Va
Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Good advice from all. The gauge install kit should come with directions and drill bit/tap size. Get one of these from Harbor Freight and make the job 100 times easier and less prone to screwing it up.
https://www.harborfreight.com/t-hand...nch-97633.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/t-hand...nch-97633.html