Going to Diesel/Heavy Equip School

[Sri Ram]

How'd ya get it off?

I used a fancy puller with chains. Ya hook up the chains and run a shaft in against the hub with a 1" impact and voila. At least that's how it's supposed to work. Sometimes, it'll cock the wheel and then it's a bear.



I started the engines trimester yesterday. If I'm given the choice, should I work on a Detroit 60, Cummins Big Cam, Cat, or what?

 

[biggy238]

ALL of them



start with the big cam. then the cat, then the detroit.



that orders them by complexity IMO. also depends on what generation of engine it is. the rack on an older detroit would be harder than the newer cats and so. Its all the same in the end.

 

[Sri Ram]

ALL of them

Unfortunately, I will likely disassemble and rebuild one engine this trimester, so I am going to request the Big Cam.



I'm starting to buy air tools. I have a 1/4" quiet ratchet from Mac and plan to order their quiet 3/8" impact today.

 

[Sri Ram]

Started yesterday on a Cummins Big Cam. That's one simple engine. I have two others on my team. Needless to say, it's going quickly. Should have it down to the block by the end of the day.

 

[Dl5treez]

Started yesterday on a Cummins Big Cam. That's one simple engine. I have two others on my team. Needless to say, it's going quickly. Should have it down to the block by the end of the day.

Are these engines runners or just mock ups?

If they run, and have PT pumps, I have a selection of "special" buttons you can borrow for a day if he'll let you run it with one. :-laf

 

[Sri Ram]

Are these engines runners or just mock ups?



If they run, and have PT pumps, I have a selection of "special" buttons you can borrow for a day if he'll let you run it with one.

They're baggy, but they run. They have to build oil pressure and run for 20 minutes. Not sure if they have PT pumps. . .

 

[DValentine]

The big cam has a PT pump. Wait until you get to fuel systems.

 

[Sri Ram]

Yeah, I checked, it's got a PT fuel pump. Dl5treez, what do your "special" buttons do?Oo.

 

[obert]

buttons make the "fun pedal" funner! :-laf

 

[Dl5treez]

Yeah, I checked, it's got a PT fuel pump. Dl5treez, what do your "special" buttons do?Oo.

They make smoke..... Oo.

In a nutshell... . very vague description to follow:

Basically the buttons are numbered based on what amount of fuel they allow to be bypassed. The larger the number, the more bypass fuel, and the less going to the injection side of the pump. They control pressure. You'll learn more in fuel systems class.

There is a little dimple on the end of the button--the deeper the dimple, the more fuel bypassed, and higher the number.

So a *7* button would allow more fuel delivery to the engine than a *57* button, vice versa.

A *0* button essentially has no dimple, and is pretty much flat.

With some custom pump work, you can use *+* buttons... ... for awhile, until your liquefied pistons start plugging up your turbocharger.


You can use my 0, 1, or 3 buttons but your instructor probably won't think too highly of the +3, +4, and +9... ... we've never used the +9 but Art at H&H says we can take taller gears loaded over Snoqualmie Pass with it. I hesitate to try. :-laf

 

[biggy238]

Now Go check out the nearest N-14 and compare the 855. Same with the M and L series Cummins.



Cat does the same thing. 3406 A, B, C, E and then C series (Became C15).



3116, 3126. I'm still learning all the CATs at work. C7-C15





I'm going to try and get into 3500 and 3600 series cats. I dunno if they'll let me or not.



I can't do detroits other than the motors.



the ones i've seen were # of pistons and the cubic inch per piston.

3-53 was an inline 3 cylinder with 53 cubic inches.



16V92 would be a 16 cylnder V block with 92 cubic inches. 8-71 and 6-71 for instance were the origin for the superchargers that weiand has made famous for hot rodding. They started off with the superchargers form detroit diesel and never dropped the nomenclature.



I'm serious though. They each have their own way of going about things, but in the end, none of it is really unique.



Please, please correct me *old timers* I know i screwed something up.

 

[Sri Ram]

Finished the Big Cam; it ran well and had some expected and unexpected oil leaks. I put my newfound skills to use in changing the injectors in my 91. 5.



Teacher put me on a Detroit 8V71 two-stroke. I did the valves, full-fuel adjustment, fuel rack, Jakes, etc. It also ran well, but the Jakes stalled it out due to high oil pressure.



I'm learning a ton working transit. Amazing how a little more hands-on has helped boost my confidance as a tech.



We took a tour of Pierce Transit. Their whole fleet of buses is run on CNG. Have a look inside a CNG engine. No carbon!?

 

[biggy238]

Good to hear you are putting it all together so to speak.



I jockeyed to build a 3208 HEUI from a 793D Haulback dumptruck... Broke most of the lifter retainer springs and made a mess.



Block is $24,000 and crank is $6500

It was a little too expensive to let a greenhorn such as myself learn on that engine.

 

[Sri Ram]

It's been a while since I posted. Here's a progress report:



Getting ready for year two of my associates degree. I interned at a regional transit fleet and all in all had a good experience there. I applied for a full time, entry level position, but didn't get it. Now, I've got a job working on fire trucks. Very challenging and demanding, but also rewarding from an educational standpoint. I will continue working there part time while in school.



I'm going to the Washington State Fire Mechanics conference next week to take a prep class on fire apparatus pumping systems and preventive maintenance. The week will end with an exam for certification with the Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification Commission (EVTCC). Wish me luck.



The following week, I start 14 weeks or so studying hydraulics. After that, I will have very little time left on campus before I can finish my degree on the job. There is light at the end of the tunnel…

 

[BILLUA]

Absolutely outstanding! Keep up the hard work!

 

[obert]

I have a friend who found a career as a fire apparatus mechanic, LOVES it.



Dont let the hydraulics scare ya, it can seem complicated, but its not that bad. I like a good hydraulic mystery at work

 

[Sri Ram]

Absolutely outstanding! Keep up the hard work!

Thanks for the encouragement. I'll keep you all posted when I can.

 

[Sri Ram]

Here, finally, are some pictures from work. The truck is an '85 W. States. The transmission is from an American Fire Pump. Ditto for the impeller.

 

[biggy238]

Looks like it's seen a little bit of "day-breeee" through one of the blades.

I enjoyed my hydraulics training more than any of the engine based classes I had.



We had one lab per week to complete. By the end, we had to build a fail safe landing gear, so that with power, it would function normally, but without power, the cylinder would act only "down" reguardless of lever position.



It's interesting that you are working on pump equipment. . My first job in the field had me working on pumps to control watershed on a mine facility. Not to bad until winter time.

 

[Sri Ram]

Actually, the impeller has only typical wear given its age. However, the pump did consume a bearing cage and a couple of bearings; hence the rebuild.