ACMOC
Login | Register
ACMOC
D69U direct electric start

D69U direct electric start

Showing 1 to 6 of 6 results
MetalmanD69U
Topic Author
Offline
Send a private message to MetalmanD69U
Posts: 77
Thank you received: 0
Decided to convert our 2 D69U's to electric start since both have starting engines that need rebuilding.

Trying to attach some pictures of the project, doing one machine at a time, as time permits.
Should have the first one running tomorrow.

Anyway, I used a Delco Remy 39MT 12v cw starter, modified it to work with the pony engine pinion, shaft, manual pinion actuator etc.
Mounted two 12v batteries on a fabricated tray, above the old pony base, raising the batteries up that way allows for a nipple to be welded onto the pony blank off plate.
The nipple is connected to a 3/4" heater hose, which leads back to the diesel head. Now, I can install a circulating coolant heater for cold weather starting.
A Delco alternator is mounted to the top of the (gutted) generator, and belt driven off the back end of the generator shaft.

To aid in cold starting, a port for a portable propane torch has been added to the intake manifold where the pony exhaust went.
Hopefully gets hot enough in the intake manifold to ignite the diesel fuel.
A fair bit of detail work, but the next one (coming soon) should be easier.
Attachment
Please log in or create an account to join the conversation.
Thu, Sep 28, 2017 1:31 PM
ccjersey
Offline
Send a private message to ccjersey
Posts: 4,422
Thank you received: 0
Looks very professional!

Did you make the adapter?
D2-5J's, D6-9U's, D318 and D333 power units, 12E-99E grader, 922B & 944A wheel loaders, D330C generator set, DW20 water tanker and a bunch of Jersey cows to take care of in my spare time😄
Please log in or create an account to join the conversation.
Thu, Sep 28, 2017 9:01 PM
seiscat
Offline
Send a private message to seiscat
Posts: 1,319
Thank you received: 0
Reply to ccjersey:
Looks very professional!

Did you make the adapter?
Nice looking project, thanks for posting. More pics please!
Craig
Please log in or create an account to join the conversation.
Thu, Sep 28, 2017 10:03 PM
MetalmanD69U
Topic Author
Offline
Send a private message to MetalmanD69U
Posts: 77
Thank you received: 0
Reply to seiscat:
Nice looking project, thanks for posting. More pics please!
Craig
Thanks for the kind words.

We chose the 39MT starter for two reasons; it is shorter than the 42MT, and it is rated for a larger displacement diesel than the D318, so lots of power.

Yes we made the adapter, from 1/2" 5052 aluminum plate, welded to the (shortened) cast aluminum nose section of the 39Mt.
A splined shaft was welded to the shortened armature shaft, the planetary gear array in the starter was left untouched.
The fork and linkage were removed from the solenoid, leaving the plunger as was, to activate the starter when voltage is applied to the solenoid.

The stock Caterpillar pony clutch housing was sawn off at the 4 bolt flange, leaving the stock bearing carrier in place, to allow it to locate and support itself within the flywheel housing.

A splined hub that matches the new splined starter shaft was welded to the (shortened) pony clutch/pinion shaft.
There is a new caged ball bearing inserted into the old clutch housing at the flange, this both supports and locates the new modified shaft, while a heavy duty external snap ring
and the stock nut with lock tab washer at the pinion end keep it all in place.

I removed the spring loaded catch (the one that 'locks' the pinion gear into starting position) my concern was that it would not disengage quick enough
after the diesel starts, to avoid damage (over speeding) to the starter. The 2 coil springs that reside within the shaft seem to provide plenty of force to hold the pinion gear back when not in use.

The starter alone can be removed, leaving the pinion shaft etc. in place in the flywheel housing.

I have not run the diesel yet, still finishing up a few details such as servicing, the machine has not been used for a few years.

Results and what I have learned;
The new set up spins the diesel over enthusiastically, even with compression.
I will have to learn the trick of coordinating manual engagement of the pinion gear with spinning the starter (lets just say that grinding noises are the result of non coordination!)

I realize this approach has been done before, but I think we have put our own spin on the idea.

More pics to follow.
Please log in or create an account to join the conversation.
Fri, Sep 29, 2017 12:31 PM
TOGNOT
Offline
Send a private message to TOGNOT
Posts: 725
Thank you received: 0
Reply to MetalmanD69U:
Thanks for the kind words.

We chose the 39MT starter for two reasons; it is shorter than the 42MT, and it is rated for a larger displacement diesel than the D318, so lots of power.

Yes we made the adapter, from 1/2" 5052 aluminum plate, welded to the (shortened) cast aluminum nose section of the 39Mt.
A splined shaft was welded to the shortened armature shaft, the planetary gear array in the starter was left untouched.
The fork and linkage were removed from the solenoid, leaving the plunger as was, to activate the starter when voltage is applied to the solenoid.

The stock Caterpillar pony clutch housing was sawn off at the 4 bolt flange, leaving the stock bearing carrier in place, to allow it to locate and support itself within the flywheel housing.

A splined hub that matches the new splined starter shaft was welded to the (shortened) pony clutch/pinion shaft.
There is a new caged ball bearing inserted into the old clutch housing at the flange, this both supports and locates the new modified shaft, while a heavy duty external snap ring
and the stock nut with lock tab washer at the pinion end keep it all in place.

I removed the spring loaded catch (the one that 'locks' the pinion gear into starting position) my concern was that it would not disengage quick enough
after the diesel starts, to avoid damage (over speeding) to the starter. The 2 coil springs that reside within the shaft seem to provide plenty of force to hold the pinion gear back when not in use.

The starter alone can be removed, leaving the pinion shaft etc. in place in the flywheel housing.

I have not run the diesel yet, still finishing up a few details such as servicing, the machine has not been used for a few years.

Results and what I have learned;
The new set up spins the diesel over enthusiastically, even with compression.
I will have to learn the trick of coordinating manual engagement of the pinion gear with spinning the starter (lets just say that grinding noises are the result of non coordination!)

I realize this approach has been done before, but I think we have put our own spin on the idea.

More pics to follow.
Quite an achievement . And it also explains why it is not more popular - although desirable for machines with no starter hole in the case. Some great fabrication skill and ambition there.
Please log in or create an account to join the conversation.
Fri, Sep 29, 2017 10:37 PM
Old Magnet
Offline
Send a private message to Old Magnet
Posts: 16,667
Thank you received: 0
Reply to TOGNOT:
Quite an achievement . And it also explains why it is not more popular - although desirable for machines with no starter hole in the case. Some great fabrication skill and ambition there.
It is unique in that there is no latch mechanism used. Might be hard on the engagement lever which becomes compromised with no latch function.
Please log in or create an account to join the conversation.
Fri, Sep 29, 2017 11:59 PM
King of Obsolete
Offline
Send a private message to King of Obsolete
Posts: 946
Thank you received: 0
Reply to Old Magnet:
It is unique in that there is no latch mechanism used. Might be hard on the engagement lever which becomes compromised with no latch function.
i have 4 D6 9Us and only one didn't have the starter hole. i used old magnets "free" blue print and had a machine shop pop out the hole for me. when you remove the motor from the cat you are also fixing a lot of other problems that will come up or be problems down the road. so it is time well spent. with the motor out of the cat you take the air intake pipe from the intake manifold to the air cleaner and drill a hole in it and "braze" a 1/4" nipple on the side for the 1/4" plug to screw in. this is now the ether hole so you can work the de-compression lever and the start button plus give the engine a "sniff" of ether. also all my cat have the 1500w circulating block heaters on them too.

this summer i bought the 40mt starters in canada and the nose conesand helix bendix from the usa with the 30 cents on the dollar exchange. it was still cheaper then buying the nose cone and helixs in canada.

i had a 15B drag line with a cat 3400 motor in it, i spent more time working on the pup then any other thing on the whole machine. plus i remember well trying to get the pup to engage into the main motor and my hand still hurt from a few kick backs on the lever. to this day when i see a pup motor and all the controls, it is the first thing to be removed from the cat. i'll pull start before i'll ever touch a pup motor.lol

thansk
KoO
Published Author
Please log in or create an account to join the conversation.
Sat, Sep 30, 2017 12:20 AM
Showing 1 to 6 of 6 results
YouTube Video Placeholder

Follow Us on Social Media

Our channel highlights machines from the earliest Holt and Best track-type tractors, equipment from the start of Caterpillar in 1925, up to units built in the mid-1960s.

Upcoming Events

KORUMBURRA WORKING HORSE & TRACTOR & 100 YEARS OF CAT RALLY

Chapter Nineteen

| 5875 STH GIPPSLAND HWY, NYORA

Booleroo 2025

Chapter Thirty

| Booleroo Centre, 54 Arthur St, Booleroo Centre SA 5482, Australia

CAFES 2025 TULARE, CALIFORNIA

Chapter Fifteen

| Tulare, California

Wheatlands Warracknabeal Easter Rally

Chapter Nineteen

| 34 Henty Hwy, Warracknabeal
View Calendar
ACMOC

Antique Caterpillar
Machinery Owners Club

1115 Madison St NE # 1117
Salem, OR 97301

[email protected]

Terms & Privacy
Website developed by AdCo

Testimonials

"I also joined a year ago. had been on here a couple of times as a non-member and found the info very helpful so I got a one year subscription (not very expensive at all) to try it out. I really like all the resources on here so I just got a three year. I think its a very small price for what you can get out of this site."
-Jason N

Join Today!