Cat 311 Engine Question

I had previously posted about a D6 Cat and LinkBelt 51 I had recently purchased. I want to get the crane first as I have not seen it run and may need the dozer for loading if I can't get it going. Tonight I started the process of trying to get the Cat 311 engine in the crane running. I first got most of the "stuff" out of the crane house, sockets, wrenches, grease guns, pipe wrenches, etc. I then started to tinker with the starter engine. Checked the gas tank, smelled like varnish and seemed somewhat rusty on the inside so I was scared. Threw in some gas anyway and hooked up the battery which I had taken out a couple weeks ago so I could check the charge. Hit the starter and low and behold it fired up within about 3 seconds. Let it run for a bit, found the choke and throttle controls need some work and shut it down again. Started it a couple more times and turned my attention to the diesel. Being by myself I really didn't want to start it as I wanted to see how it turned over and check the for oil pressure. I turned it over for a bit and didn't hear or see anything out of the ordinary so that was a positive, even had some white exhaust smoke.

My question is this (finally). Is there usually some type of fuel shut off valve on something like this? I looked and saw nothing. Naturally the manual I received with the crane is missing most pages related to anything on the engine and starting procedures. If I remember correctly I did notice a large needle screw on the top side of the injector, I don’t have much experience on diesel engines. I should have brought a camera. Any thoughts or assistance would be appreciated. Thanks.

Bryan

Your fuel shutoff will most likely be at the bottom of the tank. Also look for a drain in the tank that can be used to drain off any accumulated sediment and water before it goes to the engine. There will also be a drain in the bottom of the filter tower which may have plenty of crud in it. Once you drain the filter tower, you will have to prime it all back up.

You want the have the throttle at the shutoff position while priming the filters. The large knurled wheel on the front of the filter tower is to bleed the air out after you get the engine turning over. There is also one just below that level on the side of the housing which will let the air out below the filter holding plate, but it has to be opened with a wrench. Once you get all the air out, open the throttle and give it a go.

You might want to have a plan for what to do if it runs away from the rack being stuck. A small piece of plywood at hand and take off the top of the air filter so you have a convenient place to clap it on the pipe to smother it is pretty easy. Also nice to have a 3/4" open end wrench handy to loosen fuel lines at the injector pumps if smothering it won't stop it completely.

Or you could open up the side of the injection pump housing and check to see that the rack moves back and forth and all the pump plungers move up and down as you turn it over with the pony before you actually try to start it.

What kind of fuel pressure did you see when you turned it over with the pony?

ccjersey,

Thanks for the information. I'll check the tank over again but didn't see any type of valve or drain on or near the tank which seemed odd to me. The tank is loacated towards the front of the house and easy to get at through an access door, I'll double check my next trip out. I'll take a helper or two along my next trip out as well, luckily one friend maintains equipment for a construction company and is a good diesel mechanic. I'm hoping that the rack isn't stuck but I won't know until further inspection, it was run yet last summer. I couldn't see any of the gauges from where I was running the pony, the gauges are in an assembly on the radiator side behind the operators seat. Gettting this machine running seems to be a two man operation, one to monitor and work the pony, compression lever, etc, the other to be ready in case something goes wrong. I'll keep you posted on how it proceeds.

Bryan