O/t Detroit diesel Starting

[fmartin_gila1]

I have a friend and his wife up in Paulden that are having their 50th Anniversary on the 15th of Nov and I will be up in the area(just over the hill). If you need, I can try to find whatever info I still have on these engines and drop by Cottonwood either on my way up or back. Depends on what you would like to do. Whatever you do, DO NOT try to make any adjustments on the fuel system or the govenor without instructions or a full understanding of what you are doing. After 8 years, there could be a good chance of a stuck injector rack or other things that may cause problems. The engine itself is super-simple. The fuel system is pretty straightforeward but you have to be very precise and pay attention to detail when setting it up or making any adjustments/repairs to it. Not trying to scare you, but the evergrowing growling and screaming of a runaway detroit will make your hair stand on end and you will never forget. As I stated earlier, Make sure the emergency shutdown is functioning and make sure you can reach the control for it. I probably still have the Timing Tools and special valve tools required for these in my toolbox, as I used to rebuild the injecters and the 53 and 71 series engines.

Fred

[averagef250]

Diesel fuel does not go bad. It will change smell and color, but still runs the same. Drain a sample and if it looks decent I'd try starting it. Water and algae are the problem, not the fuel going bad.

[theskytoucher]

Hey Fred thanks very much for the offer and ill definitely take you up on it!! Even if i have it running and everything you might be able to shed some light on something i have missed or anything like that!! I wasnt planning on trying to really adjust anything just get it running good enough to do 55 down the highway with little to no load!!

And Dustin i got some of the fuel out yesterday and nothing looked wrong to me!! I will go over and drain some into a glass jar take a pic and post it and you guys can let me know what you think!!

Thanks for all the help guys! This truck really means a lot to me and my family!!

[fmartin_gila1]

I'll try to dig through my old packed up stuff and see what Info I still have. I know I have got rid of a lot of old unused stuff over the years and I don't really remember what I have kept and what I got rid of. Will let you know and we can figure out how to get together.

Fred

[theskytoucher]

awesome!!! ill pm you!

[fmartin_gila1]

In one of your posts, you mentioned not quite understanding about the electrical system. On a lot of these older trucks, they uses a Series-Parrallel switch(kind of looked like a monster solenoid) so the engine could use a 24 volt starter and charge on 12 volts. I haven't messed with this type setup since the early 70s, but there is a chance you may find it on that truck. I'll see if I can find info on the electrics also.

Fred

[td]

Great thread, i just wish i could hear it when/if it starts!!

the knowledge that is found on this site will never seace to amaze me.

[theskytoucher]

IM gonna get video of it when it fires off so you can kinda be there the first time it fires!!!!

[td]

sweeet thanks!!

[theskytoucher]

I got a little good news today and a lot of bad news!!! Well by some random chance i found a key that works the ignition (my dad apparently collects truck keys )
Now the bad news: one the fuel filters wont come off i used a oil filter band wrench and cant get them to budge, the worst part i drained the fuel out of the bottom plugs in them already so i have to get them off before i try to crank it or im gonna make alot more work for myself!! Aslo the wiring on the whole truck is just a big rats nest, jimmy rigged wires going every where the wiring that looks factory is all frayed and metled together, so i have to go through and rewire almost the entire truck (oh boy)
Correct me if im worng but the positive battery cable should go to the back of the solenoid and the negative should go to the starter housing correct???

Thanks for all the help guys!!!

[fmartin_gila1]

It sounds like somewhere along the line, someone has changed the filters over to the spin-on type. Look at the very bottom of the filter can and see if there is a hex nut there, about 3/4 or 7/8, if so you still have the sock type primary and the cartridge type secondary filters. If they look like a spin-on oil filter, there should also be a petcock on the top of the filter housing so you can bleed the air out. On the Solenoid, there should be four terminals, two large and two small. One small is case ground and the other is from the switch. Caution here as most vehicles used some type solenoid to feed the starter solenoid as they draw high current. Very similar to the Ford starter circuit, unless they had the Series-Parrallel starting setup. Of the two large wires, one should go to the starter and the other should be fed directly from the battery (if 12 volt starter) or from the Series-Parrallel switch (if 24 volt).

Fred