Turbo Disaster
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
Turbo Disaster
Well, I went to change my turbo out, built a turbo with the KC turbine wheel, riffraff compressor wheel, 360 bearing kit, .84 housing, deleted pedestal, etc. the works. Following instructions from riffraff website.
says torque compressor wheel onto shaft to 10 ft lbs…. That is 100% fake news. Got it to 8.9 and it wasn’t feeling good so I stopped. Thought I would be in the clear because I got it to spin freely and it felt decent…. Couldn’t have been further from the truth. Got it back in the truck and got it started, made it about 10 miles and the stretch made itself evident…. Chewed up turbine side seal ring when the wheel came loose and the white smoke started.
I’ll go back to tightening the wheels by feel.
says torque compressor wheel onto shaft to 10 ft lbs…. That is 100% fake news. Got it to 8.9 and it wasn’t feeling good so I stopped. Thought I would be in the clear because I got it to spin freely and it felt decent…. Couldn’t have been further from the truth. Got it back in the truck and got it started, made it about 10 miles and the stretch made itself evident…. Chewed up turbine side seal ring when the wheel came loose and the white smoke started.
I’ll go back to tightening the wheels by feel.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
yea, not real happy about the 1,100$ I spent on parts and now half of it is literal trash.
I’ve always done it by feel in the past, but this time I thought “this truck is going to pull our 5th wheel, so I’m gonna do it by the book.”
I’ve always done it by feel in the past, but this time I thought “this truck is going to pull our 5th wheel, so I’m gonna do it by the book.”
Because racetruck
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 104
From: Monterey Bay, CA
I don't think the torque was the issue because I have always torqued compressor wheels to 120 inch lbs (10 ft lbs) with no issue. Did you inspect the KC shaft and make sure the threaded portion didn't snap? I did have that happen once on a Garrett shaft after rebuilding it. I would also check the calibration on your torque wrench and make sure it is accurate because that shouldn't really be enough torque to cause harm to the shaft or the wheel. If it didn't feel right you really should have taken it apart and inspected it before running the turbo to prevent damage, that is too bad.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
I don't think the torque was the issue because I have always torqued compressor wheels to 120 inch lbs (10 ft lbs) with no issue. Did you inspect the KC shaft and make sure the threaded portion didn't snap? I did have that happen once on a Garrett shaft after rebuilding it. I would also check the calibration on your torque wrench and make sure it is accurate because that shouldn't really be enough torque to cause harm to the shaft or the wheel. If it didn't feel right you really should have taken it apart and inspected it before running the turbo to prevent damage, that is too bad.
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Because racetruck
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
If that is the case I would call @Riffraff Diesel and ask them about it. Not sure they can do much since it was run and destroyed but might be worth asking just in case. Maybe if you send them the compressor wheel they could warranty it for you just as a courtesy even though they won't be able to tell much with it blown up.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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@1994F2507.3L Give us a call or shoot us an email. Let's see if we can help you out on that issue.
https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/contact/
https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/contact/
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
@1994F2507.3L Give us a call or shoot us an email. Let's see if we can help you out on that issue.
https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/contact/
https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/contact/
I do want to say I’m not trying to disparage riffraff or anything. I’ve purchased parts from them as far back as I’ve owned my first Powerstroke. This turbo build has just turned into a huge disappointment and a huge expense.
What I see as the most likely culprit is the turbine shaft can’t handle 10ft lbs of torque. It looks to me like it stretched a fudge where the threads start.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,442
Likes: 993
If the turbine side oil seal is chewed up and the wheel became loose (end play) that points to an incorrect install of the oil seal. I have personally installed them wrong (over expanded the ring mounting it onto the turbine shaft). When this happens you don't get the crisp "click" when installing the turbine into the CHRA. Next I had issues with how much torque to install the compressor wheel because "it didn't feel right" but spun ok. Instead of 10 miles it made it 20 and tore up the turbo. The turbo had about 1/4" of end play and the oil seal was destroyed. That was my experience.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
If the turbine side oil seal is chewed up and the wheel became loose (end play) that points to an incorrect install of the oil seal. I have personally installed them wrong (over expanded the ring mounting it onto the turbine shaft). When this happens you don't get the crisp "click" when installing the turbine into the CHRA. Next I had issues with how much torque to install the compressor wheel because "it didn't feel right" but spun ok. Instead of 10 miles it made it 20 and tore up the turbo. The turbo had about 1/4" of end play and the oil seal was destroyed. That was my experience.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
Last night I was thinking about the other turbos I built (the one I took off my truck I built 9ish years ago, only reason I took it off this week was to put that turbo on my 2wd I bought and get the .84 housing on the 4wd) and I built several for friends who bought the riffraff wheel I kept getting 60 in lbs in my head as the torque value for the compressor wheel.
https://www.dieselhub.com/repair/7.3...o-rebuild.html
https://www.dieselhub.com/repair/7.3...o-rebuild.html
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
Googling I’ve even seen folks claiming that there is a bulletin from Garrett saying the spec is 20 in. Lbs + 30 degrees. But I haven’t seen the bulletin.
I’m not sure that they will respond but I emailed Garrett directly for clarification. If they respond I’ll post it.
I’m not sure that they will respond but I emailed Garrett directly for clarification. If they respond I’ll post it.