Official Cummins 6cta 450C thread

Just changed the drive belts. It's been six years and 1000 hours and I am a year past due from my arbitrary 5 year cycle on those. Here is one I took off. Looks unworn except for the printing wearing off. Going to just keep this as the spare. Is it true some of you change these annually?View attachment 77838
I did the exact same thing @ 900 hours. I had an alternator that went out and replaced both original belts. Referb the alternator and kept that and the old belts as spares. Belts looked good and replacing them if they fail is easy.
 
When I bought the boat 6 years ago the Walker airsep filters were original and end of life. So I bought two new ones (plus two of the little ones). Three years later when they got dirty I just bought two more new ones figuring I'd clean and rotate the pairs every three years. So it was time now to clean the original pair and install them. This is the first time I have ever cleaned one. I bought the Walker cleaning kit. The cleaner smells like 409 and some online claim that's exactly what it is. I did try Spray Nine on one and the Walker cleaner on one and the Spray Nine did not clean as well. I also ended up doing the cleaning cycle twice on each filter. Here are the results. The dirty one is the filter I just took off to replace and the red one is the newly cleaned filter. Before cleaning, it was about the same level of dirty as the dirty one in the picture. The kit comes with enough oil for many filters. But only enough cleaner for maybe four filters. When I run out of cleaner I may just try 409. Oiling was easy. I just ran a bead of oil down the length of the edge of each pleat. After sitting overnight it completely was wicked in everywhere. I did not have to touch up a single spots.
 

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When I bought the boat 6 years ago the Walker airsep filters were original and end of life. So I bought two new ones (plus two of the little ones). Three years later when they got dirty I just bought two more new ones figuring I'd clean and rotate the pairs every three years. So it was time now to clean the original pair and install them. This is the first time I have ever cleaned one. I bought the Walker cleaning kit. The cleaner smells like 409 and some online claim that's exactly what it is. I did try Spray Nine on one and the Walker cleaner on one and the Spray Nine did not clean as well. I also ended up doing the cleaning cycle twice on each filter. Here are the results. The dirty one is the filter I just took off to replace and the red one is the newly cleaned filter. Before cleaning, it was about the same level of dirty as the dirty one in the picture. The kit comes with enough oil for many filters. But only enough cleaner for maybe four filters. When I run out of cleaner I may just try 409. Oiling was easy. I just ran a bead of oil down the length of the edge of each pleat. After sitting overnight it completely was wicked in everywhere. I did not have to touch up a single spots.

Curious as to why wait for 3 year cycle? I've been doing mine every year.
 
I do mine every 3-years too. I put ~70-80 cruising hours on the boat annually. I also keep 2 sets, so I can bring the other ones home and clean them properly. I use the airsep cleaner and oil. I figured I don't put enough hours on the engines to justify an annual cleaning. Walker recommends cleaning 250-300 hours (see attached) or annually and it doesn't hurt to do it annually...as recommended. I may switch to every other year now after chatting about it.
I've heard others using Marvels Mystery oil, but I just don't take a chance as the viscosity could be off which impacts performance. Merry Christmas to all and the days are getting longer too..woohoo!
 

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Curious as to why wait for 3 year cycle? I've been doing mine every year.
I evaluated every year based on filter color and if the engine was getting enough air (no unburned fuel as black smoke). Made it to about 3 years this time. I do run the engine room blower whenever engines are on so maybe that's helping keep the air a bit cleaner. But I'll probably go to every two years when I do the aftercoolers.
 
I've been using these with great success for years. The P/O used them also.

https://www.filtereze.com/

When I bought the boat 6 years ago the Walker airsep filters were original and end of life. So I bought two new ones (plus two of the little ones). Three years later when they got dirty I just bought two more new ones figuring I'd clean and rotate the pairs every three years. So it was time now to clean the original pair and install them. This is the first time I have ever cleaned one. I bought the Walker cleaning kit. The cleaner smells like 409 and some online claim that's exactly what it is. I did try Spray Nine on one and the Walker cleaner on one and the Spray Nine did not clean as well. I also ended up doing the cleaning cycle twice on each filter. Here are the results. The dirty one is the filter I just took off to replace and the red one is the newly cleaned filter. Before cleaning, it was about the same level of dirty as the dirty one in the picture. The kit comes with enough oil for many filters. But only enough cleaner for maybe four filters. When I run out of cleaner I may just try 409. Oiling was easy. I just ran a bead of oil down the length of the edge of each pleat. After sitting overnight it completely was wicked in everywhere. I did not have to touch up a single spots.
 
I may be supporting your argument with my own photos:

Dirty:
20191224_103408.jpg


Clean:
20191224_103147.jpg
 
BTW, the clean photo has not been oiled yet.
Your dirty is pretty clean. Looks like you spilled some engine oil or such on a few pleats. I had a few oil spots on mine from where I dripped used oil on it. Nothing I tried would remove that black spot.
 
Any of you have a good technique for cleaning the belt dust buildup off the front of the engine? Do you just wipe with a damp cloth or do you spray a cleaner, scrub brush and hose off?
 
If I remember correctly, I used Spray 9 and paper towels. Just wiping with a damp cloth sort of smears it and doesn't bring it up. The Spray 9 helped. I would dampen a paper towel with Spray 9 as opposed to just spritz the engine.

Jaybeaux
 
If I remember correctly, I used Spray 9 and paper towels. Just wiping with a damp cloth sort of smears it and doesn't bring it up. The Spray 9 helped. I would dampen a paper towel with Spray 9 as opposed to just spritz the engine.

Jaybeaux

Ditto. How I did mine as well.
 
When I bought the boat 6 years ago the Walker airsep filters were original and end of life. So I bought two new ones (plus two of the little ones). Three years later when they got dirty I just bought two more new ones figuring I'd clean and rotate the pairs every three years. So it was time now to clean the original pair and install them. This is the first time I have ever cleaned one. I bought the Walker cleaning kit. The cleaner smells like 409 and some online claim that's exactly what it is. I did try Spray Nine on one and the Walker cleaner on one and the Spray Nine did not clean as well. I also ended up doing the cleaning cycle twice on each filter. Here are the results. The dirty one is the filter I just took off to replace and the red one is the newly cleaned filter. Before cleaning, it was about the same level of dirty as the dirty one in the picture. The kit comes with enough oil for many filters. But only enough cleaner for maybe four filters. When I run out of cleaner I may just try 409. Oiling was easy. I just ran a bead of oil down the length of the edge of each pleat. After sitting overnight it completely was wicked in everywhere. I did not have to touch up a single spots.
I am replacing mine in the spring - I don't think they have ever been changed based on their look (and few mtce records I received with the purchase). Do you notice any performance change after the cleaning?
 
I am replacing mine in the spring - I don't think they have ever been changed based on their look (and few mtce records I received with the purchase). Do you notice any performance change after the cleaning?
Hard for me to tell. I made so many other changes at the same time (digital tachs, prop pitch reduction). But I don't think so. Mine weren't too bad yet. Basically a problem manifests itself as black smoke from unburned fuel. So if no black smoke you are still ok.
 
Does anyone know where i can purchase the rods to clean out the tubes on the heat exchanger. I don’t see it listed as part of any of the maintenance kits on SBar. Going to call them tomorrow but figured I’d check here first.
 
Does anyone know where i can purchase the rods to clean out the tubes on the heat exchanger. I don’t see it listed as part of any of the maintenance kits on SBar. Going to call them tomorrow but figured I’d check here first.
I just use a wooden dowel from the hardware store that's just smaller in diameter than the tube.
 
I used brass rod from the hardware store a size or two smaller and it worked great. It looks like my water temps dropped about ten degrees since the service. I’m running about 159 to 165 now. I used to always see 175 on both engines. No change on gear oil temps but they were pretty clean.
I hope I’ll own a different boat by the time this chore comes up again!
 
I used brass rod from the hardware store a size or two smaller and it worked great. It looks like my water temps dropped about ten degrees since the service. I’m running about 159 to 165 now. I used to always see 175 on both engines. No change on gear oil temps but they were pretty clean.
I hope I’ll own a different boat by the time this chore comes up again!
Those are my temp numbers (175). Will try the brass rods. I'm doing this in place so don't want to break off a wooden rod in one of the tubes.
 
These engines should run 160-164 if they are clean. Mine run 162 when we have 90* water here in Texas. So you’re probably on the right track cleaning the exchangers but don’t forget the aftercoolers and gear coolers as well.

the exchangers are easily removed and I would take them off and acid clean and pressure test them instead of just rodding them out in place. They do get pin holes and leak.
 

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