Why does nobody talk about the right way to set a tube sheet gap?

I was at the plant in Gary last month and saw three different crews leaving way too much space, maybe a quarter inch, between the tube and sheet. That extra gap lets vibration start, and I've seen it chew through a tube wall in under a year. I started using a feeler gauge to set it at 1/32 inch, just like the old spec book said. Has anyone else had to fix this on a repair job?

3 comments

3 Comments

lewis.troy1mo ago

Feeler gauge is the only way to do it right.

jenniferw821mo ago

Ever tried using a feeler gauge with the engine running to check for changes?

dylanmurray1mo ago

That's how you find the real problem, not just the obvious one.