I have a 1939 D13000 with pony start on an old boat. I am looking at having to convert to electric start - I'm wondering if anyone has a good reason why this should not be done.

The problem is having the gas pony in the engine room - Coast Guard rules require significant engine room modifications (thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours) to remove equipment and modify electrical to make the engine room "intrinsically safe". Insurance will be impossible to get without making these changes, or simply removing the gas pony. When the boat was launched in 1930 you didn't have to worry about Coast Guard inspections or insurance - things have changed.

The pony runs great, has electric and a hand crank. But the gasoline is looking like a deal breaker. I'm thinking I would have to add 2 additional 8D batteries near the starter and use a 24 volt starter. The rest of the boat is 12 volt. I would also have to install a hotstart type coolant engine heater, which I have to research but could potentially plug into the cooling system where the pony coolant lines hooked in.

All of this seems doable, although I hate to give up the independence of the pony. I had thought about leaving it in place, removing the fuel tank & lines from the engine room, so a portable tank could be hooked in as needed. Just as a backup. But it looks like the electric starter will have to go in where the pony gear connects right now, so that plan is out.

Does this plan seem doable to you guys? I would appreciate any ideas or comments.

Thank you - Chris

Existing Pony motor:

Looking back at my 1952 "Attachment" brochure Industrial, Electric Set and Marine D13000 engines had provision for direct electric start. They used a 32 volt system (32v Delco starters are still available). In some installations they used both the pony and direct electric as a hot start recovery. Check your flywheel housing for mounting possibilities. Ether assist start is still required for temperatures below 50 degrees F. as glow plugs are not an option on the D13000.

With the right bell housing you could have both, but sounds like you have good reasons for converting.

Unfortunately it is not as simple to convert the engines that have the side mount vertical cylinder ponies to DE start because the reach of the pinion is so deep from the mounting face. I am no expert, but I think these are usually setup to turn the pony pinion which will still have to be manually latched into the flywheel for starting.

A 12 volt starter is certainly possible and I would not use 24 volt in your case. Just takes big cables for the 12V because of the 2x amperage.

The hot start could certainly mount in place of the pony water connections.

You will want to investigate the fuel system priming capabilities since most pony setups do not have hand primers.

Probably will also want to install a cold start aid ether injector system. The OEM CAT injectors of that era are cumbersome in my opinion. You can use a spray can by hand as well or better than the old CAT cartridges or you can use an electric injector for remote start.

Please take the time to post pictures.......don't get too many boats on here.

maybe this will work, its still available, from my 1940 d13000. thanks 4 looking

www.acmoc.org/bb/showthread.php?20963-F-...rks-on-D330-D333-Etc

Yes Mike, that would work if there is mounting provision.
A current conversion in place of the pony would use the 24v 50MT Delco starter (no less voltage). A non commercially available custom adapter plate is required, type depending on flywheel housing configuration ( www.tractorparts.com ) or others. Drive end housing and helical drive gear is readily available. Basically the same conversion that would be used to convert the early D8 tractors.

You may want to look into an Espar coolant heater so you can maintain independence from shoreline power and have easier starting without ether.

How about you convert to propane, pipe the air intake for the pony to outside the engine room and install a venture style mixer, the throttle on the original carb will still work as normal. Not sure how the coast guard rules come into play, propane like gasoline vapor is heavier that air, not good in the bottom of the boat.
a 20 pound propane bottle will run a pony for a long time.

This company is helpful

www.centuryfuelproducts.com/home

is the only reason you cant keep the pilot motor because it is petrol ??

If so could you remote mount a diesel motor as the pilot motor I have seen people that have run a pto shaft up the side of the main motor on a dozer and just back the farm tractor up to start simple no more pilot motor problems

So if you still wanted the independence of the pilot motor would it possible to remote mount a 20 hp diesel motor crank start they start well and these days and are fairly cheap

Dont know if this is of any help disregard if all to much nonsense

Paul

"Old wrote:

Yes Mike, that would work if there is mounting provision.
A current conversion in place of the pony would use the 24v 50MT Delco starter (no less voltage). A non commercially available custom adapter plate is required, type depending on flywheel housing configuration ( www.tractorparts.com ) or others. Drive end housing and helical drive gear is readily available. Basically the same conversion that would be used to convert the early D8 tractors.

is it a given that he does not mounting boss on the right side of the flywheel housing like mine does? i think it was a airstart location, didn't all 13000 flywheel housings have this boss? sorry i dont see alot or know much about the ins and outs.

I agree with cc. We need some pictures of this vessel!