Judson Re-engineering

[Emart63]

Has anyone had their truckmount “re-engineered by Judson? Boy, this sounds like a godsend. Apparently they strip off all the extra unnecessary bells and whistles, by the HX’s snd install propane heat.

I love my 2008 Blueline Vortec Thermalwave 2 (3800 hrs). It’s 61 hp engine purrs along at low rpms. The vacuum is on steroids: At low or “upholstery” setting, it starts to rip the flesh off your hand if you palm the hose end, on high it will suck a large floor towel through 250 of hose in a blink of an eye.

Unfortunately, my Blueline engine has been acting up, overheating, melting sparkplug and other internal wires. My TM mechanic hides when he sees me coming. A mechanic at another shop said he couldn’t perform a repair that would last more than 20-30 hours. He said due to brand being orphaned with no parts support, i should absndon ship now and stop throwing good money down the toilet. I HAVE thrown thousands into some pretty big repairs over the last two years. Nothing works! All the components are still in awesome shape: blower, cat pump, transfer pump, chem pump, heat exchangers.
Unfortunately, this crazy Rube Goldberg contraption has become sick and tired of it’s own complexity, it’s plethora of sensors, subsystems of checks and balances. Everyone is saying “dump the dog;” however I still think tharr’s value under them there switches wires and sensors.

That’s why when i read about Judson’s re-engineering program, I felt some happiness and hope creep back into my life! Can they really strip the unnecessary crapola out of the machine and leave me with a reliable truckmount? I watched their website videos of them stripping down a bluline like mine and think, Wow can this really be true?? Eric

 

[Ymetimme]

I did it to my power clean Genesis I didn't pay Jedson do it but I was inspired by their video. And removed everything myself cleaned it up and made it look pretty

It worked out good for me it didn't change the fact that the machine was old and had some Warren down components. removing the heat exchangers and all the components that went along with them eliminated a ton of headaches as well

I also changed out the chimerical metering to the same style Judson uses

And switching to propane gave us seven more years of operation out of it.
Looking back on it though I wish I would have gone diesel heater.

I still use Little Giants today with my etm setup but I do think diesel is a little bit more productive but it does require a power source which is one reason I stick with propane.

if you do have an issue with your heater little giant you're pretty much on your own little giant is about worthless as far as customer service

 

[ACP]

A lot of blue line thermal wave have overheating issues... there was a guy a long while back on here who was able to retro fit a really large exhaust fan.

Basically the consensus was the cooling system was not enough to handle the heat it produces.

They may be right that abandoning ship is the best route, you can strip all the sensors and wires etc but if it's getting so hot its melting spark plugs probably isn't worth it.

 

[Emart63]

thanks ymetimme and acp for your responses. I am most interested in getting the truckmount resurrected from the dead if possible. It doesn’t seem like many people have gone this route. I’m anxious to find out more. Eric

 

[Ymetimme]

thanks ymetimme and acp for your responses. I am most interested in getting the truckmount resurrected from the dead if possible. It doesn’t seem like many people have gone this route. I’m anxious to find out more. Eric

So I carefully went through the owner's manual and looked at some of the diagrams of the machine.

I've got to be honest I don't understand why your mechanic cannot figure this out it seems not to be overly complex.

1 check is is the fan to triggering on at the right temperature.

2 next unhook everything that has to do with the truck mount itself to where it is just the motor running by itself. so unhook the blower the pump and make sure that no exhaust is going through the heat exchanger let it run and see if it overheats. sometimes you have a blown head gasket or something else that causes the engine to overheat that is not being detected. Do the all the other complication.
If the engine cannot run indefinitely sitting still without overheating there's something wrong with it.

3 make sure the blower spins as it should. you can find this out by getting a torque wrench and seeing how many inch pounds of torque it takes to rotate the blower. I've seen in the past we're blowers don't make any noise. But yet do not spin freely somehow there they got out of alignment causing extra friction on the bearings.

4the parts that are in there are not that custom they can be replaced with other parts that are similar from different machines a good mechanic should be able to modify and make things work on that machine.

I'm not saying not to go to Judson route I just want to make sure that the diagnostic process is being done properly before things get ripped apart

 

[Anderson]

adding fuel heat(deisel) is the easiest thing to do on a TM....

taking off the HX and sensors, all unneseasary parts should be eisier than trying to fix it...if you dont have parts for it....

call Judson and see what he says.....

and yes many of us have taken off HX and replaced with kero heaters....but some TM may be more complex.......

 

[JDARNOLD]

Has anyone had their truckmount “re-engineered by Judson? Boy, this sounds like a godsend. Apparently they strip off all the extra unnecessary bells and whistles, by the HX’s snd install propane heat.

I love my 2008 Blueline Vortec Thermalwave 2 (3800 hrs). It’s 61 hp engine purrs along at low rpms. The vacuum is on steroids: At low or “upholstery” setting, it starts to rip the flesh off your hand if you palm the hose end, on high it will suck a large floor towel through 250 of hose in a blink of an eye.

Unfortunately, my Blueline engine has been acting up, overheating, melting sparkplug and other internal wires. My TM mechanic hides when he sees me coming. A mechanic at another shop said he couldn’t perform a repair that would last more than 20-30 hours. He said due to brand being orphaned with no parts support, i should absndon ship now and stop throwing good money down the toilet. I HAVE thrown thousands into some pretty big repairs over the last two years. Nothing works! All the components are still in awesome shape: blower, cat pump, transfer pump, chem pump, heat exchangers.
Unfortunately, this crazy Rube Goldberg contraption has become sick and tired of it’s own complexity, it’s plethora of sensors, subsystems of checks and balances. Everyone is saying “dump the dog;” however I still think tharr’s value under them there switches wires and sensors.

That’s why when i read about Judson’s re-engineering program, I felt some happiness and hope creep back into my life! Can they really strip the unnecessary crapola out of the machine and leave me with a reliable truckmount? I watched their website videos of them stripping down a bluline like mine and think, Wow can this really be true?? Eric

If you are melting spark plugs, overheating you have a problem with the engine. ie: head gaskets, valve issues. For it to get hot enough to melt the plugs is not HX related. That's what jutson does is remove the heating system and put a propane heater in its place.

 

[Anderson]

i agree with JD ....dont know how hx could melt spark splugs....
unless they have a lot of back pressure from the HX and heating system..??????

 

[ACP]

If you are melting spark plugs, overheating you have a problem with the engine. ie: head gaskets, valve issues. For it to get hot enough to melt the plugs is not HX related. That's what jutson does is remove the heating system and put a propane heater in its place.

That's what I was getting it, sounds like he has the common blue line overheating issue.. there was quite a few produced that are unfortunately total lemons.

 

[JDARNOLD]

That's what I was getting it, sounds like he has the common blue line overheating issue.. there was quite a few produced that are unfortunately total lemons.

The overheating issues were hx related. But to melt metal Inside the motor ie spark plugs is a different thing. Years ago I had a vehicle that had a problem with, ended up pulling the heads off and one of the valves looked like a torch had cut it. Found out that either the intake or head gaskets were letting to much air into the cylinder and caused the problem. Did a valve job and replaced the gaskets and problem solved.
I Would recommend doing a compression test and a leak down test if it has a problem these test should help

 

[longkenn]

He melted the plug wire, not the plug itself.

 

[Johnny Bravo]

Judson is the place to send it too if you can't do it yourself. Hopefully you live near them. Otherwise shipping is going to be a bit.

 

[Emart63]

Hey guys. Wow! Holy sheetowsky, thanks for your help!! A local small engine guy changed out my water pump on my 2008 Blueline Thermalwave II Vortec machine. He basically said screw the experts at Sapphire Scientific who disagreed. The water pump bearings were grinding causing the machine to overheat. not sure if it’s really fixed yet. won’t know for sure until i de-winterize it in the spring and give it a real good workout, but I did run the engine for hours the other day- the 61 hp monster was purring along real nice! He’s really the first guy to look at the actual Vortec engine itself in several years!! imagine that!! for $200 i might have my machine back!! After spending thousands and thousands of dollars, what an effin nightmare. still want to get a 3rd machine, a diesel-fired Steamway with 4500 PSI catpump in a hightop Dodge 3500 Extended Sprinter or Ram. tons and tons and tons of room!! and can do some power washing off the truck. Move aside Transclean, lol! My dealer wants me to try to ditch my Blueline/ 2008 Chevy Express 3500, but I’m psychologically incapable of selling. Too much history together. Probably a bad move, but “if it ain’t broke don’t sell it.”

 

[Johnny Bravo]

For people who want to get their Truck Mounts reconfigured or re-enginered that are closer to Southern California I have been using a guy in Gardena. Very reasonable and knowledgeable. His name is Kevin and he's the owner of KS Enterprises who make and repair the famous simple diesel powered Big Red Truck Mounts. Here is his contact information in you're interested.

Kevin KS Enterprises Big Red Truck Mounts

1705 W. 130th St.,
Gardena CA 90249
USA

(310) 809-6224‬

 

[Emart63]

For people who want to get their Truck Mounts reconfigured or re-enginered that are closer to Southern California I have been using a guy in Gardena. Very reasonable and knowledgeable. His name is Kevin and he's the owner of KS Enterprises who make and repair the famous simple diesel powered Big Red Truck Mounts. Here is his contact information in you're interested.

Kevin KS Enterprises Big Red Truck Mounts

1705 W. 130th St.,
Gardena CA 90249
USA

(310) 809-6224‬

I’m far away as possible here in the northeast (Connecticut). Thanks, though! btw Did you ever get yours done? Judson wants to ditch the hxes and sensors, put in a propane tank.

 

[Bob Savage]

LG does make a 4-HT propane heater just for your info.

It is 180,000 BTU's and should supply plenty of heat for those who want an LP heater.

 

[Johnny Bravo]

I’m far away as possible here in the northeast (Connecticut). Thanks, though! btw Did you ever get yours done? Judson wants to ditch the hxes and sensors, put in a propane tank.

Kevin does all the work on both my Truckmounts.