D6 9U Repairs and Upgrades

Need to know the s/n of the tractor. Available glow plug chambers only fit later units as they are a larger diameter than earlier chambers.

Need to know the s/n of the tractor. Available glow plug chambers only fit later units as they are a larger diameter than earlier chambers.

We went with 12 volt and a pair of HD group 31 truck batteries. We also retained the running pony motors for those very cold start days. Best of both worlds. Didnt go to the added expense of adding glow plugs for preheating. I am fortunate that if I had to start on a cold day with the DE, my motors are in good enough shape that only a very small "whiff" of starting fluid is needed.
The electric start set up for a D6 are fairly easy to obtain around here.
Please share your location and serial number of your tractor for additional assistance.
Thanks for using the ACMOC BB. JM.

Im located in central Aberta, Canada so it can get really cold up here lol, but im kind of hoping that the diesel fired coolant heater will negate the need for glow plugs. The proheat that I have on my Peterbilt will have the coolant up to near operating temp in under a half hour in -35 degree celsius and it holds double the coolant this D6 does. Ill grab the serial number tomorrow.

It would seem you should be alright with the coolant heater. King of Obsolete in far northeast Canada has used direct start on his 9u D6's without glow plugs for years. I believe his go to is a trap over the top and a torpedo heater. As he gets away from electric power with his ice road freighting, he uses what works in his conditions.


But all the diesels have there own personality. I have one the rods where reconditioned and lost a few thousands of length and with new pistons, rings, and sleeves it started harder than with major oil consumption before rebuild.


No matter what the serial number you need to measure the diameter of the per combustion chamber to know if you can add glow plugs. The early and latter model heads are interchangeable. The Cat 318 diesel head is as tuff as they come, but still needs work at times so may have been changed.

For anyone wondering, the serial number is 9U10440. Does anyone have experience on the 12v vs 24v starters ?

The larger chamber heads didn't start until 9U11705 - up.
Anything before will also require you bore the flywheel housing to mount direct start.
12v works fine if you up the wire size and run two batteries in parallel to maximize amperage, has to have 24v if you run glow plugs as that's all that is available for the glow plug chambers.

yep your right the hole isnt there for direct electric start. the one electric start kit had a jig for boring the hole and the 3 threaded mount holes for the starter. Whats the best way to go about boring those holes ? Im not to worried about the glowplugs with having the coolant heater on it...

thanks for the help