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Helping a Friend Rebuild a 550HP Caterpillar Diesel Engine
The oil pump went out, and the engine seized. A new one would cost $30,000, so they wanted my friend to rebuild this one. Somehow I have always thought that corny's place in TN must look something similar to this--only more trashy--haha.
Pistons and liners must be replaced. Each piston is 5.25" in diameter.
Head is a straight 6 inline.
Garage with electric lift
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. -- Charles Dickens
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Them older cat engines sure make some sweet music when everything is rite. You can actually hear the horsepower.
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Originally Posted by
joeysmith
Them older cat engines sure make some sweet music when everything is rite. You can actually hear the horsepower.
Indeed they do. They come in a close second to an old Detroit 2 stroke, on my personal engine sound-o-meter.
“I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” - Thomas Edison
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” - Vince Lombardi
"In this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics" - Homer Simpson
Local 486 Instructor & Service Technician
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Love those screamin' smokin' 2 stroke Jimmys. Different smell too....
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Makes my ears ring just thinking about the old 8v's with straight pipes. They could sure rattle the windows.
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I love the sound of all old diesels. I sometimes just watch youtube videos to hear them run. Yeah, I know I'm crazy, but I can't get certified.
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The old 8-v-92 was a GREAT engine... there are a few still around out in the boonies running...
The item in the center of the 4 valves in REO's pictures is the injector... amazing old engines!
GA-HVAC-Tech
Your comfort, Your way, Everyday!
GA's basic rules of home heating and AC upgrades:
*Installation is more important than the brand of equipment
*The duct system keeps the house comfortable; the equipment only heats and cools (and dehumidifies)
*The value of comfort, over the long term; leave economic choices behind!
Choose your contractor wisely!
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I still see quite a few screaming jimmies running, even in city areas.
There's a train car mover, at a factory I service in the Philadelphia region, that's equipped with duel 12V engines. The service guys took the mufflers off years ago. That thing is literally the loudest moving vehicle I've ever been around. It's sounds amazing but it's just deafening.
The food plant I worked at had a yard truck with a naturally aspirated Cat V8 diesel that the yard guys straight piped. That thing sounded like a demented hot rod cruising around the site.
“I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” - Thomas Edison
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” - Vince Lombardi
"In this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics" - Homer Simpson
Local 486 Instructor & Service Technician
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Pump quit? How does the crankshaft look? Anybody put a mike on the journals yet?
PHM
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Originally Posted by
exreo
The oil pump went out, and the engine seized. A new one would cost $30,000, so they wanted my friend to rebuild this one. Somehow I have always thought that corny's place in TN must look something similar to this--only more trashy--haha.
Pistons and liners must be replaced. Each piston is 5.25" in diameter.
Head is a straight 6 inline.
Garage with electric lift
PHM
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When faced with the choice between changing one's mind, and proving that there is no need to do so, most tend to get busy on the proof.
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Originally Posted by
exreo
The oil pump went out, and the engine seized. A new one would cost $30,000, so they wanted my friend to rebuild this one. Somehow I have always thought that corny's place in TN must look something similar to this--only more trashy--haha.
Head is a straight 6 inline.
Lots of little shreddies in the bottom of that. the turbo is pretty impressive, too. most of the large generators ive worked on were not turbo'd. the oldest one was a Buda from 1916. The thing was a beast. Rated at 40KW, load tested at over 80KW.
Like this one:
All mechanical, no glow plugs. 12V start. Took lots of ether in the wintertime. But once started it never had to be babysat like the newer caterpillar 60kw in the other area I worked at.
Nest is POO!!
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Originally Posted by
Poodle Head Mikey
Pump quit? How does the crankshaft look? Anybody put a mike on the journals yet?
PHM
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The crank is in the shop. Some of the bearings my friend could not even remove from the crank journals. The crank may have to be replaced.
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. -- Charles Dickens
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Wait until you get the quote on a replacement crankshaft. <g>. Almost certainly you can have the original crank repaired for less.
PHM
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Originally Posted by
exreo
The crank is in the shop. Some of the bearings my friend could not even remove from the crank journals. The crank may have to be replaced.
PHM
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When faced with the choice between changing one's mind, and proving that there is no need to do so, most tend to get busy on the proof.
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Originally Posted by
exreo
The crank is in the shop. Some of the bearings my friend could not even remove from the crank journals. The crank may have to be replaced.
Usually the seized bearings can be removed if you heat them up.
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Originally Posted by
joeysmith
Usually the seized bearings can be removed if you heat them up.
I talked with my friend today. He said the shop is going to restore the crank. The shop also said that where the block holds the bearings for the crankshaft journals was not straight. They have a way of making the block straight where it holds the bearings for the crankshaft. Total cost for restoring crankshaft and block was $2400. I'm not sure if that includes the cost of the new pistons and liners and bearings.
Yes, I've seen him remove bearings before by heating them up. He's been a heavy equipment mechanic all his life and works on heavy gear like loaders and what not. He can't do the real heavy work anymore though because he will soon be 73 years old.
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. -- Charles Dickens
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I think $2400 including pistons and liners may be a bit light... unless the parts are used.
Re-boring the crank bearing holes is a half day project... getting it lined up on a special boring machine that is worth $six figures... then the crank work is another half to full day to clean up the journals...
Understand the age thing... age is the universal equalizer... sadly!
Just for fun... the more pics you can post REO...
I think we all would enjoy them !!!
GA-HVAC-Tech
Your comfort, Your way, Everyday!
GA's basic rules of home heating and AC upgrades:
*Installation is more important than the brand of equipment
*The duct system keeps the house comfortable; the equipment only heats and cools (and dehumidifies)
*The value of comfort, over the long term; leave economic choices behind!
Choose your contractor wisely!
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Originally Posted by
ga-hvac-tech
I think $2400 including pistons and liners may be a bit light... unless the parts are used.
Re-boring the crank bearing holes is a half day project... getting it lined up on a special boring machine that is worth $six figures... then the crank work is another half to full day to clean up the journals...
Understand the age thing... age is the universal equalizer... sadly!
Just for fun... the more pics you can post REO...
I think we all would enjoy them !!!
Thanks GA. My friend is going to have me come back when he gets all the pieces together for final assembly. I'll take some more pictures then.
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. -- Charles Dickens
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The machine shop dropped off the block and crankshaft today. Tomorrow my friend is going to get the liners, pistons and oil pump and try to start putting it all back together Wednesday. He said this engine weights about 4,800 lbs, and it is used to drill water wells.
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. -- Charles Dickens
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You're making me want to go back to turning wrenches. Loved working on the old stuff.
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Originally Posted by
joeysmith
You're making me want to go back to turning wrenches. Loved working on the old stuff.
I think you have to be pretty tough and strong to do this kind of work Joey. I worry about my friend as he is almost 73, and he just doesn't have the energy he used to have. I've told him I will come over and help with any lifting. Heck, it took both of us just to put the starter up on the table.
Thanks.
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. -- Charles Dickens
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Lol. I did exactly that kind of work for 20 years before getting into the HVAC field. Dropped one of those starters on my face once.