Union Diesel Engine?

[mwilson]

There was a small truck terminal down the road from my folks' house when I was growing up. They had a whole fleet of R-Model Macks with air starters(no idea if they were I-R)and you could hear them all night long.

When I used to deliver to Anheuser-Busch the loading dock was enclosed. You were completely inside the building when backed into the dock. Held several trucks as I recall.

The first time a freight hauler tripped his air starter in there I thought that I was going to stroke out. What a racket.

 

[EDankievitch]

Ingersol Rand builds air starters for virtually every Cummins engine produced, right up to 2016. They also make them for Detroit. They're very popular in off-road applications. They were also popular in heavy trucks into the 70s as they were more powerful and more reliable than 12-24,volt electric systems of the time.

The Newer Turbo starters are even better We've got a few on our EMD's that are made by Turbo Twin. They don't use rotary vanes that jam and break like the Ingersol Rand units do. The Morse FairBanks opposed piston engines also used air start much like this Union engine talked about on this thread. FairBanks used a air distribution valve that looked very much like a distributor on a gas engine to send air through a check valve asy on each cylinder. Hit the starter button start the engine rolling over then introduce fuel and off they would go. You never wanted to introduce fuel until you know that the engine is rolling over freely, No water or oil in a cylinder, or you could bend a rod. On those opposed piston engines it was possible to over pre lube the engine and get oil to leak past the rings on the top piston and into the cylinder. Awesome engine otherwise.

 

[cojhl2]

Remember, you guys are talking about two quite different air starters. One the engine is rotated by introducing air to the cylinders and the other is actually an air motor turning the engine.

 

[ChrisOlson]

The Newer Turbo starters are even better We've got a few on our EMD's that are made by Turbo Twin. They don't use rotary vanes that jam and break like the Ingersol Rand units do. The Morse FairBanks opposed piston engines also used air start much like this Union engine talked about on this thread. FairBanks used a air distribution valve that looked very much like a distributor on a gas engine to send air through a check valve asy on each cylinder. Hit the starter button start the engine rolling over then introduce fuel and off they would go. You never wanted to introduce fuel until you know that the engine is rolling over freely, No water or oil in a cylinder, or you could bend a rod. On those opposed piston engines it was possible to over pre lube the engine and get oil to leak past the rings on the top piston and into the cylinder. Awesome engine otherwise.

EDankievitch
who do you work for, What towing company ? just curious
Chris

 

[RClark]

The oil purifier was probably a DeLavall centrifuge. Learned to clean them in 1951 on a Navy icebreaker.

 

[Union Jack]

Anybody out there have any experience working on old heavy diesel engines? I have a vintage 1950 Union P6 400hp engine that does run and hopefully will run for many more years as well. It is in an 80foot wooden tug that was used for towing barges up and down the coast of BC. The boat was re-purposed back in the 70's as a passenger vessel and I am currently doing a complete refit on her to bring her up to date. the Union was running well when we started the project and we decided to keep her as she is the heart and soul of the vessel. I have some partial manuals but i'm looking to see if anyone has any experience working on these heavy diesels? Also - if anyone is aware of any one that has a collection of parts please forward their info on to me? Fuel injectors/fuel pumps/pistons rings/pistons etc. thanks

 

[RClark]

Anybody out there have any experience working on old heavy diesel engines? I have a vintage 1950 Union P6 400hp engine that does run and hopefully will run for many more years as well. It is in an 80foot wooden tug that was used for towing barges up and down the coast of BC. The boat was re-purposed back in the 70's as a passenger vessel and I am currently doing a complete refit on her to bring her up to date. the Union was running well when we started the project and we decided to keep her as she is the heart and soul of the vessel. I have some partial manuals but i'm looking to see if anyone has any experience working on these heavy diesels? Also - if anyone is aware of any one that has a collection of parts please forward their info on to me? Fuel injectors/fuel pumps/pistons rings/pistons etc. thanks

Check with Westwind Charters out of BC. WE fished off one in 1989.

 

[Union Jack]

Yes, thanks. We know Westwind, the owner actually used to own the boat we have. Back in 89, you likely fished off this very same boat.
Unfortunately we didn't buy the boat from him as he had already sold it. We were looking to buy his other boat but we could never come to an agreement. As a result he is not speaking to us
But thanks for the quick reply. We've been talking to a few folks so hopefully someone will know someone?