Excavator engine build - Mistakes and headaches (Isuzu 4BD1T/Hitachi EX120-2)

[@BattleChemist]

Paying the stupid tax now so you don't have to pay it with interest later is probably my favorite line from this whole video. Charlie is looking like she's loving the springtime grass! 🥰

[@Watchyn_Yarwood]

Agree !!

[@ronaldheit196]

One thing is for certain with Matt's episodes. They're definitely worth the wait for one to post. His patience and complete dedication to getting everything exactly right and his willingness to admit hos mistakes is a big reason I watch his channel diligently. Thanks for the entertainment Matt.

[@Riskbreaker_Riot]

First video I watched of his. Other channels definitely wouldn't say they forgot the injectors seals, ..twice 😆

[@b.malnit8983]

Matt, you went way, way, way, above and beyond on that engine but boy it paid off. Fantastic job.

[@darrenblattner2508]

Cast aluminum can be a royal pain but it can be welded. The guy who welded that piece did a nice job. I welded aluminum for 27 years until I retired. Keep Smilin Matt, things are lookin good. 👍

[@kaboom4679]

I've known a few folks who were absolute wizards with aluminum . All sadly long gone now .

[@darrenblattner2508]

@@kaboom4679 sadly your right

[@snappingbear]

Being able to weld and repair cast aluminum separates the masters from the good.

[@gimle5535]

"After the oil cooler I guess the rest will be smooth sailing" - a few seconds later the intake manifold cracks. An important lesson to us all this one, the garage gods are always watching and love a good jinx :) Great video as always, and amazed what you are able to do with limited resources.

[@fposmith]

Murphy, is always watching !

[@kaboom4679]

And he don't obey restraining orders .

[@RyJones]

I’ve never been so invested in a machine I’ll never see!

[@stephenpoe2037]

You should see the Catapiller build !

[@2watertight]

Age old saying”I did it right because I did it twice” You were very restrained, love to see the out takes.

[@bborkzilla]

These days you're not even guaranteed that the $900 part you buy from the OEM isn't a re-boxed cheap Chinese part you can buy directly.

[@wes11bravo]

That's a shame. I'm not saying that the chicom version of something is garbage every time but if you're paying Mitsubishi or Toshiba or CAT prices, you should get the OEM part (bold stance, I know haha)

[@ridhobaihaqi144]

Agree

[@plainnpretty]

You should get what you pay for

[@chadwynia5021]

Or a used part someone returned as new

[@Watchyn_Yarwood]

Allow me to make a comment here. I am a retired truck fleet maintenance manager. Back in the early 90s, my lead mechanic came into my office and asked me to come look at something on a Ford LN9000 he was replacing axle bearings on. We used OEM parts exclusively in our fleet of mostly Kenworth and this one lone Ford. He had an axle bearing still in the box on the frame. He picked it up and showed me on the label Made in China. Mind you, this was in the early 1990s and this was a Ford part bought from the local Ford dealer marked Genuine Ford but made in China. So, that said, OEM from the dealer doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't made in China.

[@dafalzonAUS]

I just want to say I’m a big fan of you and your channel and I’m learning a lot from your patience and doing things precisely

[@TonyBaroni]

Matt, it's a breath of fresh air for you to research, read manuals, study online materials and document the work you are doing. You also err on the side of doing more to be right. I have watched many people on different KZbin channels just wing it and hope for the best. My concerns have always been that if someone is watching videos to attempt to learn how to do something they are being horribly misguided by these people. Thanks for setting a good example and with your ethics things may be harder and cost more sometimes but in the end you will be rewarded and most of all, be at peace with yourself. Good luck.

[@codysp]

Sure have a beautiful shepherd. I grew up with two male shepherds on the farm. Amazingly smart and loyal.

[@terryrogers1025]

Once again, I appreciate your attention to detail, your willingness to go back and correct issues, and following your hunches on possible problems. Looking forward to seeing and hearing the engine start up and running, wish you the best. Thanks for the update, appreciate your time and effort.

[@RonaldMayDMD-nt3fd]

I could not agree more with your comment!! Matt’s attention to detail AND his calm acceptance when an error is detected to simply make the correction without self criticism impresses me hugely! I am reminded of one of my graduate instructors maxims “CHOOSE THE HARDER RIGHT VERSUS THE EASIER WRONG!” It saved me & my patients hours of unnecessary corrections! I salute Matt every time I watch his videos!!

[@RobertFay]

*- Matt, this is the first time I have watched any video twice.* *- My lady says she likes your energy doing this, and she can't even use scissors.* *- She says you are "competent and friendly and give people a good feeling and a good leader because of that".* *- I think she picks up on your sense of humor about struggling with things.* *- It is hidden and quiet, and inviting.*

[@PacificNorthwestHillbilly]

thank you

[@RayScrafield]

Matt, you need to get a set of "aircraft" tin snips. The set has a cuts left, cuts right, and cuts straight. The tips are very fine to the point that once you know how to use them, you can literally cut out a 1/4" hole from tin. My Dad was in the aircraft industry and had a set so once I left home, I had to have a set. I can't be without them. They are great for cutting any stiff material. Harbor Freight has them for about $20 a set. The really good ones are American made by Wiss.

[@tomrunge2016]

One of the fun things about watching you is your ability to have to do everything twice. I can certainly relate. I never do anything right the first time. Lol. But on the bright side, you do learn from your mistakes.

[@haydenc2742]

Torque to yield rocker arm assembly...who knew? So very awesome!!! Loving the engine rebuild series! Can't wait to see the excavator up and running! Keep em coming!!!!

[@peternicholsonu6090]

That damaged thread treatment was brilliant!

[@alpha_stag9297]

Matt, there is an angle gauge that you can use for torque plus angle bolts. They are extremely handy when you’re dealing with 12 point. Harbor Freight has some and so does Snap-On. Hope this helps.

[@josephlwallssr6166]

Charlie is one beautiful, Black & Tan!

[@87mini]

Nice job, warts and all! I especially like how, when things go wrong, you just shrug and say, "no problem, I can fix it." No angry antics, just accept and move on. Good for a long life! Our female pup was named "Charlie", too! ♥

[@budlistar5312]

A trick my dad taught me about stripped female threads about 60 yrs ago. Heat the bolt with a propane torch until solder flows into the threads and fill them about half way. The solder is soft enough to conform to what’s left of the threads and will torque right down. But your solution was great, I would not have thought of that.

[@wrstew1272]

I commend your patience and understanding that things don’t always go smoothly the first time around. You are doing a great job, having skin in the game, and knowledge of things mechanical. Looking forward to hearing it as the assembly lubricant burns off and the steady purr of your fresh powerplant 😊. Going to be a digging beast! 😮 😂 😊👍👍

[@ScottHammet]

I'm sure you've heard the saying, Matt..."We do it nice, because we do it twice!". Generally spoken by everyone who has ever made a mistake and had to go back and start over. You're in good company.

[@marctrossbach6560]

You have the feel down! You have been at it so long that you are well in tune with your tools and work pieces

[@billbergquist4722]

Nice to see someone calibrating a torque wrench. Have checked the weights to see if they really weigh as labeled? Mine do not.

[@rokask]

Exactly what I came here to comment. Those weights can easily add up to be off by that 10% you discovered to be missing. Will the scale you use to check those weights be very accurate at 50lbs? Also doubtful, but definitely better than what's stamped on the dumbell :P For mission-critical torqueing I'd say the cheapest and most accurate way to achieve it would be to send in the wrench to be calibrated.

[@snappingbear]

I couldn't agree more. You need to use the proper equipment to calibrate a torque wrench. Arm curl weights and fish scales don't cut it. He should compare his wrench to a high end one and see if there are significant differences. His local machine and engine shops will have them. As it is, I wouldn't trust his "calibrated" wrench at all. ​@@rokask

[@peternicholsonu6090]

I’m late 70’s and enjoyed every moment of your rebuilds. Came to realize that all those years ago I was wise to not go into engine assembly.

[@stevelittle7390]

That engine is positively glowing. Beautiful work!

[@brucejessie]

Great job Matt! Love your attention to detail. Thanks for showing Charle. She's a beautiful dog. In your previous vids when you're on the ground working on something and she walks into frame and drops her ball in front of you; love that. So cute. Keep up the awesome work, man! 🙂

[@jzarbo1]

put Vaseline on the copper washers when inserting them into the head so they dont fall off

[@milesswanepoel6825]

Very cool way to calibrate the torque wrenches. Great Video.

[@LunkerFishing]

You should make it clear what gasket set you purchased, and where you got it from, that was not up to your expectations. A link to that in your comments below the video would keep someone else from making the same mistake. You are really doing a great job on this motor.

[@raymondwaterman6520]

Matt, thanks for taking us along. Great job!

[@mattthescrapwhisperer]

All good Matt. Most of us have paid the stupid tax a time or two. Great video!

[@clintonmississippi2108]

I put a used 4 cyl Datsun diesel engine in my 1978 Datsun truck and checked the installed glow plugs with an ohm meter. Two of the glow plugs seemed pretty good and two were dead. I pulled them out and connected a +/- jumper pair to 12 V.DC The glow plugs that seemed pretty good had only 1 of the 4 elements working. So my rule is pull them out and power them up. They should glow white hot. The engine smoked teribly when first cranked with the old plugs installed. No smoke when cranked using the new glow plugs. I was surprised that the glow plug elements had segments to provide heat. Sam

[@aintskairtolskol9520]

your doing a fine job matt, now you have a dozer , excavator, tractor , now set your mind on a dump truck and quit worry about small things, all mishaps are lessons learned matt , we all went through it as you are now make 3 marks , 2 on rod and one on the socket when you angle torque , i learned this lesson between the saddle tanks on semi trucks and torqueing with a 6 ft chetta pipe someone torques and someone holds the socket

[@elpatosilva]

Don't forget to oil the turbo before starting the engine. It takes a while for the oil to reach the turbo and you can ruin it pretty quickly if it's dry. As for reusing bolts, typically (not a rule) the ones that are meant to be tightened at an angle are not reusable. About the water pump pulley, I have a similar engine in my truck and the pump has a spacer on the inside, in my case the pulley does not touch the water pump but without the spacer the belt does not align well , keep that in mind. And that alternator pulley is shot, you better get a new one or you'll have noises everywhere.

[@mdouglaswray]

This video gives me hope that a schlub like me could maybe, possibly, with enough caffeine, do this. Videos are excellent. Focus is sharp, lighting is excellent. Never a problem with audio. Superb shot of Charlie! So beautiful.

[@hazilrozali9812]

cant wait for u to rebuild the mainpump part! amayzing videos from malaysia

[@wes11bravo]

That engine looks like a work of art, Matt. Beautiful work.

[@Thedudeabides803]

The long awaited posting is up. 💪

[@endtimes2100]

I was wondering where Charlie was. and thx for showing how you calibrate a torque wrench. That was interesting.

[@josephlwallssr6166]

What the..!!!! New bolts , Gaskets, calibrating tools...Amazing!😀👌

[@jdd4756]

Matt, the motor looks great. Fantastic job!

[@mineown1861]

It was like watching the big game , there were cheers , there were tears as when the manifold cracked , edge of the seat moments like waiting for that final torque click on said manifold , and laughs at the potemkin damper pulley , painted gold like the proverbial polished turd. Sorry for the pitfalls along the way , but the home strait for the engine is in sight , another milestone soon to be in your rear-view mirror.

[@robertschauer376]

Over the years I have learned to listen to that "6th" sense. You are wise to follow you gut feel. Yes, it costs a bit of time and money, but it turns out for the best in the end.

[@martinkennard1669]

I seem to remember being taught 50 years ago in machine design, to always torque bolts with dry threads, as friction is involved with holding that fastener tight. I had to look that up, tho. "Always assume the torque is a dry value unless a lubricant is specified. If any lubricant gets on the fastener and no lubricant is mentioned or specified, then using the torque value laid down could over tighten the joint or the fastener itself." Every engineer has a different book. Lordy help us. Keep'm coming, Matt. Love your content and dry humor.

[@richardgreen7811]

JUST KNOW ... Along with the trusted use of an ISUZU Engine for this application, they are used throughout the world for many applications. In fact, and most people don't know this, the DURAMAX Engine in my GM one ton dually is an ISUZU Engine. They have been reliably used in GM trucks for over a decade along with continuation models that just keep getting better. The aftermarket and builders are now producing over 2,000 HP along with built Allison Transmissions that can take the power.

[@robertoneil8852]

I am surprised you don't have additional subscribers. Very impressed with your engineering talents

[@williamglaser6577]

Great to see you are back. Thanks for your honesty and for being a top quality presenter.

[@johnkaijankoski5508]

I also used the Damper Doctor. They did a great job.

[@mikewright7650]

you do it NICE because you do it TWICE it only makes you sure. Never hurt anything to recheck.

[@BackyardMechCon]

Not sure if it was mentioned but one thing which entered my mind when watching was the weld on the inside of the intake manifold. There mighnt be much material on it but die grinding the weld down would help increase the flow into that port back to stock levels. Its not a performance engine by any means but its just stood out to me as somerhing that might restrict the air inake flow on that cylinder. Great job on the engine to be fair 👍. Serious build 👌

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

PNWH finishing the engine, and Squatch does a steel radiator cowl.. busy youtube day👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👌

[@hereintheuk2991]

Great content as usual…. Do not worry about mistakes, massive project and lots to remember……….Keep them coming…..UK

[@garnerinspectionservices3407]

I'm impressed that you found that bad harmonic balancer. I fixed cars for 20 years, (ASE Master Tech) and I honestly don't think I would have. Well done.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

That dangler is an interesting addition to those sure shot style brake clean cans. I might have to try one.

[@Michael-gp7mv]

Matt,your patience is admirable,that motor looks just great,you have turned a piece coal into a diamond,looks to me that Charlie is keeping an eye on you,thanks for the video and all the best from Perth 🇦🇺👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@goodness-mercy]

A thing of beauty! Awesome.When I saw the completed engine (on you lead-in part of the video), I lost my breath. WOW!!!

[@dogbitefred6631]

Charley is a handsome devil, thanks for sharing him with us.

[@dalebailey1844]

I had an Air Force Training Instructor that drilled into every training person that ALL extensions flex, and need to be checked to find out how much torque is lost by flex of extension. I think he was right at the time but I also think the metal used now is much better. But just yesterday I broke a 1/2 inch extension(4 inch) from Harbor Freight torquing down lug nuts. As they say Buyer BEWARE. Have A Great Day.

[@billyhaddock5540]

Great Job so far Matt, you took 2 steps foreward, and 1 step backwards, butt u are getting there. lv to Charlie..

[@Watchyn_Yarwood]

Great catch on the crank damper! I will most definitely remember that if I ever have to replace one.

[@JohnMason8183]

You deserve way more subscribers. Great video, of course.

[@SuperMAZ007]

Well done Matt, not long to go. I think one other challenge is the mess of all the hydraulic lines and hoses. I really enjoyed the end part of the video. I had no idea you could adjust torque wrenches at home with very simple setups.

[@jdsmort]

I would suggeat that your fix on the oil cooler is actually better/stronger than the original, and a lot more suitable a way of attaching that the original option.

[@PacificNorthwestHillbilly]

The replacement one came with studs, so apparently someone else figured it out too lol

[@richardrolph6166]

Great video again I'm not a engineer but love to watching engineers videos and machine repair , also thanks for showing Charlie always good to see the Boss

[@keithlincoln1309]

Man I am enjoying this series! Amazing attention to detail.

[@tomtribby2309]

When punching holes in gaskets sometimes it is best to punch bolt holes before cutting gasket out to prevent tearing or breaking out.

[@BurnAndHackett_RC]

Another excellent video Sir! Your perseverance and patience are serving you well. Well done on getting your manifold welded up, and I reckon that is a good call in replacing the oil cooler. They may only be 4 little bitty fixings that you modified, but if one were to fail, then that is a whole new game of stripping, cleaning, replacing and rebuilding parts of an engine that would probably be buried back in the engine bay of a machine stranded out in the sticks! 😪

[@StaySlyh]

I love this channel Your mentality/approach to overcoming adversity is incredibly refreshing and motivating I genuinely find myself taking pause to calm down and employ your levelheadedness when things start going sideways on me out in the shop haha Anyway, love the videos and I hope you keep em coming!

[@sandie062985]

Your doing a. Great job on rebuilding that engine. Like I said a long time ago take your time

[@sierraspecialtyauto7049]

Lots of problems but lots of good recoveries. Well done. Thanks for the shoutout.

[@lowyoyo9961]

Always makes my day to discover your latest video. Thanks!

[@danielpullum1907]

Dang Matt, You should go into high end engine rebuilds. Your torque technique is right on. That engine is looking great. Welding cast aluminum can be a real crap shoot. Cast Al will have all kinds of "dirt\debris" from the casting process. That stuff will just keep "boiling" up as you try to weld it. Thus, yielding a less than durable weld. It looked good in the video, the Al filler material was pretty well blended in. It all depends on the "weldors" experience. I personally have use "Alum-Alloy (low temp brazing filler) and had better results than when I "fusion" welded stuff. That is a fabulous looking engine. I've got great confidence it is gonna fire up and run, run, run!!!!!!

[@dennisbailey4296]

I think you're done a really super job trying to repair that cooler. It probably never would have been a problem but not the second guess yourself I guess it's not a bad thing to put a new one on. Doing a wonderful job being a little bit over-cautious but that's fine for your first motor. All the best from Surrey BC Canada

[@51sicboy]

Thank god for one man shops.

[@milt7348]

Stay safe and we'll see you next time.

[@daleolson3506]

Always grind,or cut way far away from engine assembly area. Beautiful dog I miss mine.

[@timberk36]

always enjoy your videos. I'm a big fan and you always find a way to get it done. One thing I noticed and you could have just not shown it, but when setting the valve lash l never seen you rotating the engine to ensure there was no load on the springs. Again thanks for the time you take to entertain us all.

[@kenutton992]

You impress me every video cast. You truly a master mechanic.👍✌️👌🤞

[@mr.jimmyjohnsr.ohyeah7835]

GOOD JOB MATT , LOVE THE SERIES !!

[@justjoe7313]

Dog is a star! Love your videos and your style of naration. Thanks for letting us into your workshop!

[@Herbybandit]

It's not surprising there's few people that will tackle cast aluminium, depending on the quality of the casting material, it can look good on the surface but once you apply heat it can fall apart as the inner structure can resemble Swiss cheese! And once it does that there's no going back.

[@Hey_Its_That_Guy]

Kudos to whomever did the repair, they did a nice job!

[@ivanlozina5436]

That groove around the middle of the Handel is where you should hang the weight to calibrate the wrench .when you use the wrench, put the middle of you're hand over that groove . FAA A&P

[@timothyball3144]

A couple of things I like to do when torquing head bolts is before I remove the socket from the bolt I'm torquing, I look at the next one in sequence. Also, as I'm running them down by hand, I do that in sequence. I do this because it starts my muscle memory on the sequence. As long as you get them all done correctly, that's the important part, but that's just a couple of things I do to compensate for a bad memory.

[@carlaustin7398]

Nice job repairing the cooler. I do understand your concern and decision to replace it. I'm looking forward to the next video. Thanks for including some footage of Charlie... I was missing her sleeping in the background as you worked. Thanks for sharing.

[@RMZConny]

As close you can get an Old used and abused machine to new again, thats whats this show is About 🤩🤩 it´s an amasing work you put down to this🙌

[@art1muz13]

Your content creations are better than high school !!! Thank you for sharing/uploading!

[@unlimitedanimal4448]

Nice job, I'd let you build my engines anytime with the attention to detail you have! Pretty sad with the balancer, I wonder how many engines are out there about to self destruct because of products like that..sad...Anyways always look forward to your videos.

[@Mike--WA7QZR]

For making large holes (2-3 inches) I use circular leather ring cutters. You can do the ID as well as the OD for a thin gasket, too. Just set one on the work, place a piece of wood on top of the cutter and wack it with your favorite hammer. I use them for making cork gaskets used on sediment bowls on gas tractors, or anything else that needs a nice round hole. I used to whittle the holes before trying those cutting rings.

[@maxnex7676]

Looking forward to seeing this engine running.

[@lordFury]

loved the super troopers reference!

[@PacificNorthwestHillbilly]

littering and.... littering and...

[@tigxxl]

🤩 brand NEW engine 😁👍👍👍👍👍

[@phillipdean9879]

We all make mistakes Matt, coulda been worse, coulda been in with NO oil pressure.. Always pays to see what parts are left on the shelf hey! Looks mint..🇦🇺🍺🍺

[@wingman358]

Cool to see you testing and calibrating torque wrenches. I recommend using a fish scale too so you can see what value it clicks over at, though dumbbells work too. Last time I checked mine, my cheapo Horror Fraught ones were more accurate than my expensive ones! Sheesh. Can't trust anything. Good to check their accuracy before doing internal engine work.

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

Great stuff! Worth taking the time to get everything right given how much effort you've put into this!!

[@alexbuilds706]

Beautiful dog. Good old girl lol… Great vid as always. Sometime projects go so crazy it even shows through production! Ha! Top 5 channel on this stuff 🥂

[@minimanjos84]

Last chapter is the best chapter 🙂

[@Marco-ip5cw]

If you're going to spend alot of seat time on this machine do yourself a favor and get a counterweight camera and maybe insulate the cab with some carpet insulation and some foam to keep it more quiet in there

[@bigtonkakid]

I can’t sleep now knowing you didn’t check the actual weight of the weights you used! Keep up the good work! Also get rid of that rubber vice and treat yourself to a fireball vice!❤❤