From Jim Coles at Whitefish

Hi Gary,
Thanks for posting this. Along with the D343 and the D346 engines are among my favorite Cat Diesels, first came across them back in first year or so of my Apprenticeship at The Dealer. We had to roll in some upgraded main bearings to some new Parts Stock engines from Cat of Australia Parts Dept.
The start up afterwards was exciting stuff for this wide eyed green teenager.
Even at 74 I have never lost the thrill of starting a rebuilt engine or one that has not run in years--bring it on.

Seems his glow plugs were not working well as these things require a lot of glow plug heat time to cold start--BUT the big black cloud and injection rattle are signature features of any start of these jiggers.
Love IT.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

Be still my beating heart ! Real cat engines start!not that phoney epa approve no smoke fast starts we have today. 3516 mechanical with electric start good too. Especially after you just rolled a crank into the beast.and been working double shifts to get it done...
One of our techs recorded a 3516 starting and used it as his ringtone on his phone that’s was fun

"3512B" wrote:

Be still my beating heart ! Real cat engines start!not that phoney epa approve no smoke fast starts we have today. 3516 mechanical with electric start good too. Especially after you just rolled a crank into the beast.and been working double shifts to get it done...
One of our techs recorded a 3516 starting and used it as his ringtone on his phone that’s was fun

Thats funny, this is my ring tone, I know that sound anytime! lol

"edb" wrote:

Hi Gary,
Thanks for posting this. Along with the D343 and the D346 engines are among my favorite Cat Diesels, first came across them back in first year or so of my Apprenticeship at The Dealer. We had to roll in some upgraded main bearings to some new Parts Stock engines from Cat of Australia Parts Dept.
The start up afterwards was exciting stuff for this wide eyed green teenager.
Even at 74 I have never lost the thrill of starting a rebuilt engine or one that has not run in years--bring it on.

Seems his glow plugs were not working well as these things require a lot of glow plug heat time to cold start--BUT the big black cloud and injection rattle are signature features of any start of these jiggers.
Love IT.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

The engine had been running for a while before lunch. Then Jim did a talk on the development of these large Cat engines when the need for bigger equipment to build the interstate highway system was prevalent. I don't believe the glow plugs were activated after Jim pulled it in front for the demo. I think the rain had cooled if off a little quicker than was expected. If I remember correctly this engine has only a 100 and some hours from new. Jim was on the design team at Cat that was assigned the task to develop these engines. I also love the sound and smoke of these engines on startup. It was a great day at the Snow Ghost Ranch even with the unseasonal rain.

Cant believe how smooth that thing ran
Jim is a good knowledgeable speaker and a nice guy. I enjoyed talking with him and others from the club
His collection was impressive but I dont think he's any more curable than the rest of us

When I was at Ringpower last summer for a class We talk bout this engine in a proatype generator.
Did anyone ever see one?

"Neil" wrote:

Is that the same engine that's in the 660/666's tractor? Sounds very smooth, not your usual lumpy V8 sound.

Yes it is.

"Neil" wrote:

Is that the same engine that's in the 660/666's tractor? Sounds very smooth, not your usual lumpy V8 sound.

This engine also came in the 641's, 651's and 657's.