Catapillar 1000hr Service

NaughtyDog

NaughtyDog

Member
Sep 29, 2013
210
Surrey, B.C.
Boat Info
2001 Sea Ray 400 Sedan Bridge
AB 320 VS RIB w/25hp Merc 2-strk
Engines
3126 Cats, propped @ 22x23
I own a 2001 400SD with 3126 Cats that are due for their 1000 hour service which my understanding includes a major valve adjustment. The only local Catapillar service centre recently bumped their hourly rates to $220/hr and their quote for the service was for 12 hours and close to $3,000 inc taxes. My question is do I go with CAT or can I get any experienced licensed mechanic to complete this service? Does CAT have any proprietary equipment or knowledge to perform this service? Any feedback from those who have had the service would be appreciated also. thank you!
 
If it is done by an authorized Cat service center - thinking it would part of the permanent records that CAT has on the engines. Might help with resale down the road if you are ever wanting to produce proof it was done.

Sure you would have an invoice from a non-Cat service provider - I would wonder if the non-Cat mechanic did everything required.

Just my thought, for this I would want a CAT authorized provider. If it was replacing a water pump, might not be as worried about it.
 
Right here......

When you adjust the valves you should also reset the injectors. Cat injectors are opened by a cam not pressure so they are adjusted just like the valves. You need to remove the valve cover to do either or both so it makes sense to reset the complete overheads while you are at it.

Resetting the overheads does take some special gauge blocks and a dial indicator. Both engines can be done in 6-7 hours and only requires one person and no crane truck.....one mechanic can carry all the needed tools in 2 hands and one trip.

But, as I recall the recommended service intervals, the valve adjustment is required at 250 hours and again at 2000 hours, not 1000. You might want to check your maintenance manual to be sure.

My last overhead service cost was just under $1000.....on the Nw Fla Gulf Coast. The engines are no longer under warranty and Cat does not retain history on out of warranty engines so you can get anyone who is properly equipped and competent to do the work.

Hope that helps......
 
Frank has more than any of us do!

Thanks for being here Frank. I appreciate all the advice and knowledge you share with us on an ongoing basis.
 
I just had this all done plus a lot more on the new to me 410 with only 550 hours due to lack of service records. As Frank said and the service guy told me, I wont need to touch that again until 2000 hours(if I still own the boat by then). Frank is definitely a walking wealth of knowledge so definitely would listen to him and if you have any doubts, check the service chart.
 
I had a CAT certified mechanic on 18 months ago for top end adjustment approx. 1100 hours. He adjusted valves and tweaked a couple injectors.... $900 and a piece of mind that everything was in great shape.
 
Thank you for all of the information, that is VERY useful to know that I don't specifically require CAT to do the service I'm looking for. that gives me more options to ponder.
At the time of purchase the vessel had about 800 hours and (as per Frank's recommendation) I had an engine survey done by CAT in addition to my mechanical and hull surveys. At the time the CAT tech told me that the engines could use a valve lash/top end set and that I should probably get it done with my 1000 hour service so it is probably my confusion that it was part of the reg 1000 hour service routine.. He also mentioned he didn't see any records that it had it done at the 250 hour service. Checking my maintenance record as suggested does reveal the 'top end set' to be done at 250 and then at 2000 hours. Since there wasn't any positive record of it being done at 250 hrs, and since the CAT tech had recommended it could use one , I have decided to get it done sooner then later, especially if I can realize some slight fuel economy. Looking back and being quite inexperienced with diesel motors I probably should of just had it done right right after purchase, especially since the CAT hourly rate was only about $160/hr then, and now its about $220/hr plus travel time, Grrrrr.
My marina has a new experienced diesel mechanic who some of the neighbours had have some good experiences with who I asked to look into it for me. He has since come back with a quote for 22.50 hours @ $120/hr that includes the top end set AND the regular 1000 hour service (that includes heat exchangers, after coolers, oils, filter, zincs, oil and coolant analysis, impeller check, etc.). I'll do some more investigating to make sure I have the right qualified guy before I commit. Thanks again.
 
If you cannot prove that the 250 hour service was done and the engine overheads reset at that time, then I wouldn't run the boat again until you have it done.

As the valves wear in, they sink further into the head which decreases the valve lash and makes the valves open sooner and further than they should. The risk in continuing to run the engines is of a piston striking a valve. That is never a pretty sight on a diesel engine and usually means a complete top end rebuild. The head and valve gear alone is about $5500, so you could be well into 5 figures by the time you paid for a top end rebuild kit, the machine work, mechanics labor and removing the cockpit and engine.
 
I'm considering buying a 2001 Compass 55 pilot house with Cat 3126s I don't know the exact series but interested in hearing pros or cons to these engines. I was just getting comfortable with my knowledge of the Cummins QSCs but I really an having a hard time talking myself out of moving up. This boat is just what we want and is in our back yard but I don't want to jump in with out first getting the 411 on the Kittens. They have just under 900 hrs and the owner spares no $$ on maintenance.
Carpe Diem
 
13 years with 3126's and I couldn't ask for a better engine.... FW will chime in as he is my Obiwon knoby
 
It seems I've heard good things about them over the years. Ran D2 Caterpillars on the ranch for years
and was never disappointed as I remember.
Thanks
 
THe 3126's are great engines. 2001 puts them well past the early years when there were a few soft block issues. Those issues are long since worked out of the system but earlier 3126's need to have the casting numbers examined to rule out soft blocks.

You will love the extended cooling system servicing interval compared to Cummins engines. Cat's cooling system is significantly over spec'd. The 3126 after coolers are sea water cooled so they need to be descaled periodically, but the heat exchangers are good for a long time. I clean mine (same HE as 3126) about every 5 years. The only real required maintenance, other than oil, oil filters and fuel filters is to change the coolant every 5 years (use only Cat ELC) and reset the overheads every 2000 hours.

And, here is a tip on Cat parts: Cat filters are cheaper if you buy them from a Cat dealer located off the water whose business is earth moving equipment. I buy my filters in Nashville TN, and they are cheaper than WIX, Fram, Baldwin and even NAPA Gold aftermarket filters at my local NAPA store and about 1/2 the cost of Cat filters purchased in Florida near my boat from a Cat dealer who services yacht engines.

The 3126 uses Cat's unit injection system. It is sort of like a common rail system but with fewer high tolerance parts, very clean burning (no smoke and reduced odor), allows for simpler injectors that almost never need service or repair, and extremely efficient. A pair of 3126's will only burn 23 GPH at rated rpm's of 2400. Pull th em back to 2200-2250 rpm and the fuel usage goes down to about 18.0 gph.

It is an easy and short learning curve moving from Cummins to Cat engines..........go for it if the change to Cummins engines is you're only hang up,
 
The Bill Collector said:
I had a CAT certified mechanic on 18 months ago for top end adjustment approx. 1100 hours. He adjusted valves and tweaked a couple injectors.... $900 and a piece of mind that everything was in great shape.
Click to expand...

I’m looking to do the same thing this year.
My motors are approaching 1000 hours. The previous owner had the 250 hour service done, but I’d still like to know that all is still okay.
 
JVM225 said:
I’m looking to do the same thing this year.
My motors are approaching 1000 hours. The previous owner had the 250 hour service done, but I’d still like to know that all is still okay.
Click to expand...

Money well spent IMO...

My PO had new engines installed at 300 hours and we bought it at 600 hours.
 
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