3406E Ticking

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by JimmyWells, Apr 11, 2017.

  1. JimmyWells

    JimmyWells Road Train Member

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    They do whatever they want in the loaner ECM. Can't have them meddling in my good one though. What's the point to having to save and input the injector codes in the ECM?
     
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  3. JimmyWells

    JimmyWells Road Train Member

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    The truck runs and pulls great. The only problems are the very rare "backfire" that comes from the left breather after I let off the throttle very quickly once in a while, some black smoke on an easy pull and the very obvious ticking. The ticking does seem to increase slightly with RPM but not a lot.

    I'm considering attempting the overhead myself after catching a good video how-to. I still need to source an injector height gauge though. I read that an overhead should be done after the first 10,000 miles on a new or rebuilt head. Would be great if that's all the problem is. So a faulty injector can cause the ticking sound too?
     
  4. swaan

    swaan Road Train Member

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    A broken spring on one the injectors will produce a tick. Look closely at all the injector springs. Could have a broken one.

    The bark thru your aircleaner when lifting off very fast under full boost is a good way to bust the shaft in your turbo.
    Lift off little slower and it wont do it.

    Its called turbo surge. Its doing it to both aircleaners but your just hearing it thru the drivers side because thats the one your closest too while driving.
     
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  5. RET423

    RET423 Medium Load Member

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    The ticking is most likely a loose component in the valve train, the why it is loose could be cam lobe, worn rocker or possibly a collapsed injector plunger among other things
     
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  6. JimmyWells

    JimmyWells Road Train Member

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    I find the whole thing strange. Since everything in the head is cam driven you would think the ticking would change speed with the engine RPMs but it doesn't seem to mirror that. Only very minor increase with RPM then no more.
     
  7. 062

    062 Road Train Member

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    If it doesn't change much from idle to full throttle it could be a bad motor mount.
     
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  8. swaan

    swaan Road Train Member

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    Just check your injector springs. Ive seen this before.
     
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  9. Superhauler

    Superhauler TEACHER OF MEN

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    When you let off the throttle does it sound more like a huff? Do you have a non-waste gate turbo? Or a pinched off waste gate? If yes to any of these questions that is normal with a tune. Your basicly stalling the turbo for a split second. Just let off the pedal a little slower. The ticking sound , loose rocker adjustment flat spot on cam or cam follower or a weak or broke injector or valve spring. Or the most common thing loose or blown turbo gasket or bolts or manifold gasket.
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2017
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  10. JimmyWells

    JimmyWells Road Train Member

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    A huff and once I thought it actually squealed! Stock waste gated turbo on a CAT 3406e 550. CAT says an overhead should be done on a new/remanned head after 10,000 miles so I'm going to do that this weekend. I won't be able to adjust the injectors since I won't have the tool by then though. I'll have to do those another time.

    I checked all of the exhaust for leaks. Looked for soot, obvious cracks and also tried covering everything little by little with a rag in my hand. Couldn't find a change in sound nor feel anything anywhere. I did notice a small amount of soot on one of the band clamps on the turbo so I tightened that up some more but no change on the ticking issue resulted.
     
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  11. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    24 hours thanking and reading other posts reminded my of this. I replaced the heads on an 8V-92 and started it with the intake off of the turbo. It was back firing and popping out the turbo. I could actually see the turbo stall. Went over the overhead again but saw now real problem. The longer it ran the better it was and put it to work.
    About six months latter it started running very bad and blowing puffy white smoke. Pulled the exhaust manifolds and ran it. The white smoke was only from one side. Checked the adjustments and such- OK.
    The problem was poor machine work.
    It did everything your are describing and there was not anything consistent about it.
    These electronic engines can also do funny things. Saw a 11.1 that I would have bet a paycheck it was about to throw a rod out the block. The regular driver said no! When it starts doing that going down the road just turn the key off for a bit and turn it back on. He was correct and an ECM fixed it.
     
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