Off Topic: LeTourneau C-Pull Questions (1944?)

I've had an old LeT Tournapull for ~20 years. I think it was 'running when parked' ~40 years ago. I had to move it ~15 years ago and it was free then but would not feed fuel when pulled (no starter- was push started previously) around during its move from one storage location to another. It has a Cummins engine of unknown model. About the only numbers I have are as follows:

Model C1 C3T 4595 C1-H Power Unit TE P62856 TE

Engine Cummins Block Casting Date(?) 7 27 44 Block Casting #H1280 3
Serial #(?) 17148

Tag Data on Injection Pump HWS10299 U 1800
Factory Warranty 4091

Garlic Pete wants to try to resurrect it and is planning to pull it around with his newly acquired 9UD6. Is anyone on the board familiar with this thing. Particularly the fuel system and its priming procedure? I have zero knowledge of this fuel system/pump. I'm not even sure where the transfer pump is located (I think it is in the main pump housing). (And also its operating (both driving and carryall operating) procedures.)

I will attempt to post pictures

Thanks for any help! Daron --- Trying to minimize rust/deterioration damage to all old machinery by keeping them in the dry Mojave Desert!

Hi, Daron.
I am not an expert on LeTourneau models, dates of manufacture, etc., but I suspect that that jigger would have the FAMOUS 'widowmaker' LeTourneau clutch and brake steering. This was not unlike a clutch and brake steering arrangement on a Cat crawler, except that everything was done by hand. And, just like a crawler, when going downhill with the load pushing the engine, you need to 'cross-steer' - disengage the clutch on the side opposite the way you want to turn - and do it carefully.

Just as a matter of interest, I understand that the first few two-wheeled scraper prime movers that leTourneau made were basically 1H Cat D8's with the tracks removed, wheels fitted in place of the sprockets and with a hitch arrangement that made the scraper hold the front of the tractor up, just as yours does.

Foot clutch, hand operated manual transmission, separate clutch and brake levers on each side for steering, plus the two cable control levers for the scraper. A good operator on wunna these could give lessons to a one-armed paper hanger. In their day, they were state-of-the -art earthmovers. I am pleased that some little developmental progress has been made in the design and manufacture of scrapers since then.

Scraper controls are pretty much the same as any Cat or LeTourneau drawn cable scraper. One lever controls the bowl height. The other raises and lowers the apron and also pulls the ejector forward and/or lets it return. The LeTourneau cable controls were not quite as user-friendly or forgiving as their Cat counterparts.

It is not recommended practice to make any more than a slight turn with either the bowl or the apron/ejector two-blocked lest you find yourself replacing a rope.

With a machine that has been standing for 15 years plus, I think I would be looking at the possibility that it might need a complete fuel system clean-out. Diesel fuels, especially older types, can become a breeding ground for some species of algae if left for long periods.

I'll leave the explaining of the intracacies of the Cummins fuel system to someone with more knowledge of it than I possess.

Would you please tell Garlic Pete that I expect to see it going round, including loading and dumping, under its own power, at Santa Margarita. Maybe even an expression of abject terror on his face as he goes by. LOL.

Hope this helps.

Re: Looking for Old Cummins Diesels

I lifted this off the SmokStak website.....
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Back in those days Cummins had 3 basic engines. The Model A which became the J and then became the C. The H which was the most common and was your early truck engine as well. It became the NH which stood for new H (4 Valve heads). It became the popular 855 engine. The big engine was the model L. I have only seen one and it was in an industrial locomotive. The basic H model will be the easiest to find.

I believe you would have an H and a fuel system which predates the "PT", but should be similar. Here's a link to a simple explanation of the Cummins PT system.
http://www.tpub.com/content/construction/14264/css/14264_189.htm

That's either a single disc or double disc Cummins pump-they were obsolete when I went to Diesel school in 1971...they showed us pictures of them, & then proceeded to teach about the PT fuel system...as I remember, that was one of the first times I heard the term "boat anchor"....😆
I agree it's probably an H, due to the 3 heads- C & J only had one head.

I think it is an early 220 or maybe a 160. My dad would know right away, but he is no longer with us. The exposed fuel lines were last used in the 220's. After that I think they went to the fuel rail and the vertical injectors.

John

Ya, it is a 220 cummings and its not a C Pull its a Super C with a Model LP scraper behind it. Shit what id do is get a Turbo and make it a 262 cummings and you'd have a bad machine BABY!!!😊 Not original but if you were going for production and power i'd do it.

Ya, Tell Garlic Pete to tow her around and get her to start either that or I hope you have a good set of batterys😆