0 what can't little hands do?
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CAN anybody beat this for inefficiency? On Wednesday, May 4, 1983,1 broke down with my Leyland (401 engine) outside Interchange Truck Services at Crick. They stripped down the engine and found number four con-rod had split and some piston damage.
I gave my consent to repair on the same day. It needed one conrod, piston, exhaust valve, guide, other pistons were stripped for damage and re-ring. This was, I think, carried out, but alas took seven days, with a bill of £1,148.
On my return home from collecting the vehicle, a knocking developed. I made a phone call and was told to call again with the lorry for a diagnosis. When I did, I was told the injection pump needed attention.
I removed the pump myself and got it overhauled, but on fitting it, found the engine continued to knock.
A further call at the workshop led to the tappets being adjusted but the engine still went on knocking.
The foreman then said that it was cam followers. The lorry was taken once again to garage where the cam followers were supposedly changed. This took six days and cost £324, which I managed to get halved.
On returning home again, the engine continued knocking. After several phone calls and again calling at the garage I was told by foreman that knocking was due to worn cam-lobes. Were Ito continue running the engine, something would develop. Not satisfied with this I received a second opinion and was informed it was piston noise (which I had maintained all along) but was told I'd "little ends on the brain".
I wrote to Interchange and had the vehicle readmitted. Engine number six's piston was found to have little end failure. I gave instructions to rebush, with new pins for all the remaining little ends. This was done but took another fourteen days.
This whole episode occurred over six months, with 26 days in workshop and cost me £1,332 for a ruined engine. Is this a record for this kind of repair or can anybody beat it?
G. LACEY Disgruntled owner Melton Mowbray Leicestershire