KW w900 Cummins BC 400 black smoking no power HELP!!
 

The truck is a 1985 W900 with a big cam 400 Cummins. I'm planning on buying the truck but I need help. The owner was hauling a load when he lost power. It would still run but with major black smoke. I was told it probably melted a piston, can't hardly believe that when it was a sudden event. I've been thinking and told that it is probably a bad turbo.

Anyone have any input on this?:humm::humm::humm:

Turbo, intercooler, piping, boot... Plastic bag sucked into the air cleaner, etc. Its something to do with the intake of air. He's probably right, the turbo is likely shot... Question is why. High EGT's can kill a turbo, and wreck a lot of parts as well. Just keep an eye open on anything else that looks out of place.

most likely one of the intercooler rubber boots got hole in it,if it's all of suden and assuming that turbo is good.also check for exaust side if turbo i have seen a lot of shafts broken in the back and wouldnt leak oil as usualy does when turbo goes bad.Good luck

they are right.........its lack of air

pull the inlet filter and see if the pinwheel is free to spin, wiggle it to check for bearing slop............check the boots real good specially the first one after the charger

also think air filter or turbo is the problem :rocking:

Thanks for the input guys. Hadn't thought about the intercooler plumbing. Will check all of the above when I have a chance( I live 2 1/2 hours from where the truck is being stored).

So pretty much if I figure out where I'm losing my boost(air intake) the engine itself shouldn't need an in frame over haul, right??

Anyone know anything about hot rodding these old Big Cam Cummins motors???

Anyone have any suggestions on how to get ahold of some second hand truck batteries?

Two of mine are dead, just need two more real quick to get it up and going to finish diagnosing.

Thanks,

Shawn

The engine itself should be fine, and yes, you can really crank up those old big cam motors. No idea on the batteries...

put an n-14 turbo on it they spool quick and flow alot of air and bolt right up

And choke out the top end... :booo:

Any updates??

Im new to this site but Ive worked on semis for several years and owned a few. I had a 85 pete with a 400 big cam And I had the same prob once. It was just the turbo. It only cost about $800 and about an hour of work.

Update please.

No boost, check turbo and related tubes for damage .

Update
 

:humm:Sorry its been so long. Just busy with working full time, going to school full time and having step kids.

Anyways, still haven't gotten to go check the truck out again. Like I said I live 2 1/2 hours away. I forgot to mention before but I checked the oil in it. Its nasty and sludgey like tar and it has a diesel smell to it. Been talking to instructors here at lincoln tech and I've also been told to check the pump and the injectors.

But my biggest problem is just making the time to go up and look at it.

Does anyone know this truck is 12v or 24v? How many cranking amps am I going to need to get it to crank over??:argh:

I'm currently working for NTB so I have access to used batteries now. See a lot of batteries with 500 cca get replaced because the tester says they are sulfated.

Speaking of batteries I heard there is a way to refurbish batteries. Anyone know anything about that??? I have an old Caterpillar battery and one truck battery. If I take the Cat battery and the truck battery and run them in series will that be enough cranking amps?

The Cat battery has about 1000 amps.

I'm itching to get back up there soon. I have a battery charger with a jump start mode that could add in an extra 2-3 hundred amps. I'm probably getting a little carried away on all of this but I've had nothing but time to think about it.

Once batteries loose charge over night, and they still have water and there isn't any shorts in the vehicle. Usually means they are toast.

BTW, you make it out to your truck??

Going to close this down for now. You can reopen the thread to update.