Need Help for Caterpillar D8800 Electric Sets in Remote Alaska Village

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haberaj

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Hello all

Mary recieved this at the office the other day and it seemed to be more expediant to post it here and also in the magazine later.
If you can be of any assistance please contact Mr Maakestad directly at his contact information below.
Thanks

Andy

In the July/August, 2013 ACMCOC Magazine, Mike Rucker wrote about two World War II Caterpillar 8800 electric sets that are still providing the only power to the residents of the tiny remote village of Lake Minchumina in central Alaska. The residents there have no funds to replace these electric sets and have managed to keep them running since 1942.
Mr. Walter Maakestad, of the Lake Minchumina Power Company, has asked whether members of ACMOC might assist him in finding replacement parts for them. Better yet, might replacement 900 RPM generators be available.
Below is a statement of the situation by Mr. Maakestad:
Our difficulty has been on the electrical side. Generators of this vintage are subject to a break down in insulation sealant. They require upkeep of outside excitation, slip ring and brush monitoring and care. Thus, are there are any of these old generator ends around replete with their own coupling plates and thermoids? They would have to have been stored out of the weather, preferably in a shed or barn. Dirt and dust is not a problem but moisture and corrosion would be.

These generators were on the Caterpillar D-8800 50 kw, 120/208 volt, 3 phase units or the D-13000 75 kw, 120/208 3 phase, usually built by Allis Chalmers . The D-13000 75 kw mates up to the 4-cylinder D-8800 engine provided we can use the D-8800 5 thermoid (link belt) generator to engine coupling. The D-13000 coupling has 6 thermoids. We would have to change out the flywheel to a six-stud unit to use the D-13000 coupling.

We would like very much the chance to find a generator or two. Engine parts too but these are still available, for the most part.

Mr. Maakestad may be contacted at [email protected]. Or by phone: 907-674-3773 (home) or, 907-674-3017 (work).
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Sat, Nov 9, 2019 7:25 AM

Deas Plant.

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Hi, Folks.
That adds up to 77 years of close to continuous operation. Although I am unable to help, I take my hat off to both all those who had a hand in building these gen sets in the first place and especially to those who have kept them running all these years.

C'est Magnifique.

I do hope that someone can step up and offer these people the assistance they need.

Maybe some honorary memberships might be in order too.

Just my 0.02.

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Sat, Nov 9, 2019 12:46 PM

Old Magnet

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Reply to Deas Plant.:

Hi, Folks.
That adds up to 77 years of close to continuous operation. Although I am unable to help, I take my hat off to both all those who had a hand in building these gen sets in the first place and especially to those who have kept them running all these years.

C'est Magnifique.

I do hope that someone can step up and offer these people the assistance they need.

Maybe some honorary memberships might be in order too.

Just my 0.02.

I may have the parts book...D8800 Engine & Diesel Electric Set and maybe the Operators Manual
s/n 9J2001 to 9J3000, 2S1 to 2S5000 and 6S5001 to 6S9504 but that's all I can offer. Don't know what s/n they have.

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Sat, Nov 9, 2019 10:46 PM

3512B

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Reply to Old Magnet:

I may have the parts book...D8800 Engine & Diesel Electric Set and maybe the Operators Manual
s/n 9J2001 to 9J3000, 2S1 to 2S5000 and 6S5001 to 6S9504 but that's all I can offer. Don't know what s/n they have.

If they just went down river to Anak there’s a pretty new old stock 3406 that will fit plus a

I got rid of our old slip ring cutter for those old Allis generators years ago to.

population 13 yes can see why they finding money hard to come by

When alaska was flush with oil money AEA would have dropped a over complicated power plant in there which would have drove em broke with electrical issues....

We are back to the real world now simple is better..

I was just in Magrath in Sept not to far I believe from them Idirod district I like that area but not enough for me to fly up there on my own time... there an old Lombard /Phiniox log hauler out there I like to see though.

They haven’t called us, cause the PSSRor parts guys come find me for help digging up information

I got some good photos but sick of fighting the photo up load I figure it out soon

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Sat, Nov 9, 2019 11:47 PM

Steve A

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Reply to 3512B:

If they just went down river to Anak there’s a pretty new old stock 3406 that will fit plus a

I got rid of our old slip ring cutter for those old Allis generators years ago to.

population 13 yes can see why they finding money hard to come by

When alaska was flush with oil money AEA would have dropped a over complicated power plant in there which would have drove em broke with electrical issues....

We are back to the real world now simple is better..

I was just in Magrath in Sept not to far I believe from them Idirod district I like that area but not enough for me to fly up there on my own time... there an old Lombard /Phiniox log hauler out there I like to see though.

They haven’t called us, cause the PSSRor parts guys come find me for help digging up information

I got some good photos but sick of fighting the photo up load I figure it out soon

Lake Minchumina[pronunciation?] (Menchuh Mene’[pronunciation?] in Koyukon) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP is 13, down from 32 in 2000.

It would be great to help them , however it might be beneficial to switch a smaller maybe a d315 gen set considering they now have 1/2 the population they did, one case of LED bulbs would change out the hole town for major energy conversation.

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Sun, Nov 10, 2019 5:57 AM

Mangoman

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Reply to Steve A:

Lake Minchumina[pronunciation?] (Menchuh Mene’[pronunciation?] in Koyukon) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP is 13, down from 32 in 2000.

It would be great to help them , however it might be beneficial to switch a smaller maybe a d315 gen set considering they now have 1/2 the population they did, one case of LED bulbs would change out the hole town for major energy conversation.

This is quite amazing that they have kept these ol gals in regular operation for around 77 years. I have seen Cat 3500 series nat gas units run close to 80,000hrs with little work between overhauls but this is well past 600,000hrs! Even if they split that between the two units that is still an obscene amount of hours! 900rpm is conducive to long life but still...dang! I have little to offer but I am just amazed at the quality of the machinery and the apparent knowledge and diligence that has kept these units in regular operation for 77 years.

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Mon, Nov 11, 2019 1:00 PM

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