dentist drill starter?!?

[jaynes]

I was walking along campus and I came across one of the many construction zones we have there, there was a dump truck. I can't remember if it was a Sterling, or an International, but the guy climbed into it, and instead of hearing the usual groan of the starter turning that huge engine over, I head what sounded like a HUGE dentist drill, and the engine was running. Scared the bejesus out of me. What was that? Some sort of compressed air starter? Thanks!



jaynes

 

[RonA]

That's what it was.

 

[jaynes]

huh! I didn't know I was so intuitive ! Why use a compressed air starter? What are the advantages over an electric one? What happens when its really cold out and the engine has trouble starting and it runs out of air? Or does that happen? I know nothing about these things, forgive me! THanks!



jaynes

 

[Greenleaf]

The battery does the same thing. Runs outta "steam" I'm thinking it's Holland Freight that uses the air starters.



-S

 

[DPinkston]

What happens when its really cold out and the engine has trouble starting and it runs out of air? jaynes

I would assume they call a service truck with a big tank of compressed air to give him a "jump". :-laf

I don't know what the advantages are, if any. It should not take as long to recharge an empty air tank as it does to recharge batteries.

Danny

 

[jaynes]

I would assume they call a service truck with a big tank of compressed air to give him a "jump"

:-laf :-laf

 

[SRadke]

I think they have a battery backup but I could be wrong. Air is much easier to make.



-Scott

 

[smokin-bear]

Dentists Drill?????

Hey i think that air starters were a mining necessity as electrical sparks and arcs from elec. starters could ignite methane gas so most mining equipment used them. I here some city busses here in Colorado that use them also, my guess is it safety thing for the mines and a $$ issue for anyone else?? Don't' quote me as i'm just guessing. Bear

 

[Headshot zod]

For those that have never heard one... . I believe in movie "The Road Warrior" that truck uses one and there is one scene when they start it up (obviously) that you can hear it.

 

[KWentling]

Another reason would be the starter runs cool and could crank longer with no overheating of the starter motors or cables. I expect they are also more compact, lighter, and cheaper. All the large haul trucks use them to start their V-12, 16, and 20 engines. They have onboard air, but they use shop or start-line air supply to start them except in the unusual circumstance they would have to shut down and restart away from the facillities. Not sure if the big loaders use them or not but I would suspect so.

Kim

 

[Philip]

Most company's that use air starters have glad hand jumpers made up if the tractor runs out of air before it starts. They just bring a running tractor over and hookup threw the trailer connections to recharge the air tank. The tank the air starter is hooked to also has one way check valves in them. That way it will not bleed off into the service system while the tractor is shut down.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I would think that a relatively small on-board battery powered air compressor could recharge the air tank - and take FAR less current to do it than a typical diesel starter...

 

[DBogo]

A few of the guys that pull around here not pickups liek semis theres more then one but the only i can remember off the top of my head is an old brockway with a buzzin dozen

 

[jaynes]

hmm

Very interesting stuff, guys. Thanks for the info!



jaynes

 

[Ncostello]

The movie was "Maximum Overdrive" with Emilio Estevez. The tractor was a 60's model Mack I think. Shifted all by itself too!!. That was the movie I remember the air starter from... the one where all the semi's ran around on their own seeking diesel fuel.



I used to live about 1/2 mile from a strip coal mine. There was a woods between the house and the mine shop... but on a quiet morning you could hear them all fire up. Kinda neat sounding.

 

[lklauder]

The original Freightliner cab-over tractors used by the trucking company Pacific Intermountain Express (PIE) typically had air starters supplied by a distinctive appearing tall red reservior mounted vertically on one side behind behind the cab. Examples of typical starters can be seen at http://www.amairstarters.com/index.html. The theory might have been to save on the costs of battery replacement or to get greater reliability.

 

[DBF]

I always enjoyed hearing the 1600 hp main engines on the old diesel submarines start up (air, of course).



DBF

 

[av8r]

4bt??

. Examples of typical starters can be seen at http://www.amairstarters.com/index.html.

According to the website you can get one for a NT-4-B Cummins. Isn't that the 4 cyl version of our beloved B6T?



Hmmmmmmmm...

 

[michigandon]

Most marine engines (with the exception of emergency generators) employ air starters.



Some of the larger main propulsion units (Nordberg, Colt-Pielstik, etc. ) actually start by blowing compressed air directly into the cylinders!



Don

 

[DPinkston]

According to the website you can get one for a NT-4-B Cummins. Isn't that the 4 cyl version of our beloved B6T?



Hmmmmmmmm...

It shows the NT-4-B as having 495 cubic inches so it's definitely not the 6BT's little brother.

Danny