Caterpillar RD6 starting procedure
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- This is my description and demonstration of the startup procedure of my 1937 Caterpillar RD6 diesel tractor. It has a twin cylinder gasoline powered starting engine that is used to start the 3 cylinder diesel main engine. The starting engine not only provides the cranking power to start the diesel engine, but it also warms the coolant and heats the air that is being drawn into the diesel engine during cranking. To start this tractor it takes about 3 minutes of cranking the diesel engine if it's warm outside, and up to 20 minutes of cranking the diesel engine if it's cold.
As a teenager, I used to summer fallow in Alberta with an RD6. I remember that startup process well but what I liked most was the sound when the diesel kicked in and you shut down the pony engine. Also the incredible sound of the engine when it started to pull down.
Back in the days before glow plugs and instant gratification. Yes.
Amazing what you find on RUclips at 4am
Shit same here same time
@@SanjanaRanasingha Same here.
I just finished watching this at 4:17am
We put an engine in your engine so you can run an engine while running your engine!
Quite common even today. It’s essentially what an auxiliary power unit is in an aircraft (that jet engine you hear when boarding before they actually start the jet engines on pushback).
Yeah, quite noisy that thing too, busts my ears every time :-D
Just like electric cars somewhere down the line is a steam engine, nuclear, hydro, wind solar engine to run the "magic" electric car.
Trust me you would not want to have to Crank that diesel engine to start it
Precisely.
We don’t need no stinking Ether we got us a Pony Motor!
Battery Smattery this engine just need fuel!
Wow this brings back memories. My Uncle had a construction company and two of his oldest machines, a grader and a dozer had the pony motor starting system. He trained us rookies on these.
My father used to tell us about operating these old D6s, D7s, D8s, up in Alaska in the early fifties. This is the first time I've actually seen one. Such torque!
I suppose that, on the upside, you don't worry about finding a dead battery. On the other hand, you have to get up two hours earlier to get the 'dozer ready for work!
Better than steam. Those take 5 to 7 hours to get going!
Or start 2 hours later LOL
With that complicated startup, at least it shouldn't be stolen.
1937 and still starts like a champ. I think I found my new daily driver
Best video I've seen about starting a bulldozer with a pony engine. Thanks.
Could you imagine the kids of today even trying to start this. It would take them longer to start it that it did for Cat to design and build it.
@ Chuck Beef
Nope
Kids today know how to google shit. It’s actually quite funny because many will come back with primary sources debunking the bullshit you supposedly lived though.
Buckstaff V Vile
Best comment here.
Grew up driving a Diesel 35 on a wheat farm in Eastern Washington. Our Diesel 35 was almost identical with the RD 6 which several neighbors had.. Broke my arm starting the gasoline starting motor when i was about 14, . Got lots of advice on how to hold the crank afterwards - I was putting my thumb around it instead of cupping it in my hand. I think I ran the gas tank dry and then when I filled it the float stuck flooding the engine and it backfired. That was the only time I had any trouble starting it or the diesel motor.
A great video. Appreciate your taking the trouble to put this online.
Don Pablo how did the crank break your arm?
@@17industries42 Here's a link to crank starting a model T ruclips.net/video/oN-JbmBTOPA/видео.html
The principle is the same as regards hand cranking the RD6. The issue is that if the engine back fires and you're holding the crank wrong, it can break your arm. In a nutshell, you want to hold it in your cupped hand so that if it backfires, it will simply knock your hand away from the handle instead of breaking your arm or thumb.
Last time i saw one of these started up was 1957 in Erina NSW australia, I was just a kid.
And I read this comment from Erina now.
My grandad had several Caterpillar pony motors running various equipment on the farm. I remember a generator, a backup well pump, even a sawmill. That was the first engine I ever rebuilt as a young teen ( I'm 50) I still have two that run and parts of several other
Where were you 30 years ago when we had so much trouble starting our old D4? Now I know what we were doing wrong! Too late now, the old cat's been sold. Keep smiling.
@@squatch253 Yes bigger and more expensive. The fun hopefully never stops.
Memories of my dad starting one over 60 years ago!
Fascinating, the amount of ingenuity that took place to get those big engines running. Thanks for posting this piece of American history.
Not too many of these tractors would have been stolen for a quick get away with that start up process.
And then putter away at 4 miles per hour.
I mean back then more of this is common knowledge, these days nobody would know even
@@clankplusm I don't think that's true. Even back in the day only farmers would know how to start such a machine. Cars already had electric starters and hand cranking was only done in an emergency.
@@svetko05 yeah but back in the day farmers were more common.
That was exactly my first thought, and planned comment. You beat me to it. ;)
Before Dad went off to Korea, the 15 was used for the family saw mill. When it was cold, Dad would build a fire under the oil pan to warm the oil - of course made some safety feature to keep things from burning or blowing up. I love this video you made - thank you.
So.... You don't just push the button with the key fob in your pocket?
They only put that on the following years model!
The good old days. When you needed an engine to start your bigger engine.
@Carl - any tips on better operating procedure to avoid a broken arm? Would it be better to catch the compression while the starter crank in in an upward motion?
@@stanpatterson5033 pretty small motors with pretty low compression (6 or 7 to 1 ratio) compared to modern engines. wouldn't break your arm, but could put a good bruise on the hand though.
@@stanpatterson5033 Don't wrap your thumb around the handle. Keep it curled around the same direction as the rest of your fingers. That at least prevents your hand from being ripped apart. But that little pony engine is probably only 6-8 horsepower.
Absolutely incredible video. I honestly never knew that's how this was done. Now I want one just to listen to it run!
Hey I'll sell you one 1942 D 6 don't burn a drop of oil. Hydraulic blade, manual angle, 406 270 1092
Nice! A neighbor had one of these when I was a kid - except the pony motor was started with a pull rope that you had to wind on each attempt. Brings back memories.
Absolutely incredible. So many cool steps. How awesome to build a small motor attached to the big one to start the big one, knowing we're not going to be able to start the big monster.
I'm so glad I have a D4 6U Caterpillars are so enjoyable to own.
I work in a field where I have to make things stupid simple for an operator. Watching this makes me think that we would be in big trouble as the human race if we had to go back to doing things this way.
I love this machine by the way! Stuff like this I enjoy for the simple fact of what I have to do in my profession!
Holy jeepers was waiting for it to blast off in space after that starting procedure
WOW does this bring back some memories of some of the dozers we had in the Army Engineers. I remember doing this same thing but they were a lot bigger. Thanks for the refresher course...
That's a hell of a starting procedure. Diesels have come a long way since then.
If it had one or 2 more steps to start it , then you could almost say it was a little ridiculous but just the 14 steps this one takes, piece of cake👌🏻
I was operating one of these at 12 years old!! Lucky for my grandpa there was no You tube! I never could get it started when he was at work as an engineer at Northrup Grumman during the week.
Nice video, I have a 1935 RD6 that was "Restored" in the 90s and it needs some work. The O-ring between the injector pump and the fuel filter housing it leaking and pouring diesel into the block. So once I get that taken care of, i'll start to get it going again.
This would work a treat in icy conditions, awesome.
This was the beginning of the interest in these machines.
Love it. All the switches and levers that you just have to know not just what they do or what they are, but where they are.
Crazy when you need a engine to start an engine. Serious compression with the size of those pistons and stroke
It was also the state of battery technology back then. They had electric motors moving battleships and aircraft carriers when this thing was made.
The compression you're referring to the engine's compression ratio. Compression ratio is a function of combustion chamber volume, so its shape, not stroke or piston size (which is actually the bore diameter). A 1cc engine could have more "compression" than a 1000cc engine; it's all about geometry.
Awesome.....got same here,WW2 US Army surplus. Runs great.(Holland)
That thing is awesome! Built to last not like crap they build now
This is why people think the Earth is flat, they never had to deal with complex machinery...well there's more reasons than that but Instagram doesn't show you how real life works LOL -- this thing is AWESOME and the start up steps are insane, in a good way of course :-)
When I see this, man I love it, glow plugs and electric starters today seem like a luxury.
Best toy ever to have in ur backyard.
That ole girl will last for ever if you stick to that starting procedure, thanks for sharing !!
Squatch , thanks for the excellent vid , My dad had two old Rds he intended to get running , but never did , I would play on them as a kid and allways wondered how they operated and sound , wow that is slick!
Proud to say I have done this on old D6s and D7s.
This excellent demonstration reminds me of a video on the operations required to start the engines of a B-29 Superfortress during WWII. Look it up: ' Boeing B-29 Superfortress Flight Engineer - 1944'
Just watching a few vids before bed and this put a big smile on my face had a buddy living on an old fish boat and it took two of us to start the BIG 6 cylinder Lister engine (generator) but when you get em goin they sound great
First one I've seen that started like brand new. Looks like you just finished your pony motor rebuild. I like that oil pressure too.
I'm fairly certain there are less starting procedures for an F16....
Starting a modern jet fighter is actually pretty much the same as starting this tractor.
It’s very interesting that you mention the F-16.
It’s that specific aircraft that actually uses a miniature jet engine as a starter (with its own electric starting system) to start the main jet. It also has a hydrazine turbine auxiliary power unit for emergency power if its engine fails.
Cool video. There certainly is a procedure. I have an International MD that starts on gas and then switches to diesel but without the pony motor. It has "procedures" too. Love those old complicated machines
I would need to run a checklist to do this.
I really ,really don't need an RD6 yet I really ,really want one!
Love your videos keep them coming your a true professional sincerely yours Ed James
PHEW!!! That's one off of the Bucket list!!🤩👍
nothing like the sound of a Caterpillar diesel
This is a great reference video for my D6. Thanks Squatch!
A machine like that, with decent maintenance would last a man a lifetime. And when that man retires he'd still have something with plenty of life left in it to either sell it or pass on to a favorite son or nephew.
Love to see how long it takes to start on a cold frosty morning...driver goes to work for 8am..its near 10am before anything gets done...oh look at the time...its break time🤣...what a beauty though...once it gets goin it never stops👍
Looks like the Pony Motor was rebuilt / I'm thinking that as it has a nice coat of Caterpillar yellow paint. Sure is a nicely working tractor.
Thanks for the video.
And i know people today that complain that car manufacturers are still using key start ignition systems instead of the "better" push button start ignitions. Imagine these lazy SOBs having to start one of these bad boys.
Love it.
Literally nobody is complaining about no key fobs. I bought a car because it has a key.
And something you want to go to the store in five minutes shouldn’t require five minutes to start. That’s why even a Model T was simpler and quicker to start than this.
@@Bartonovich52 Yeah, highly doubt he's driving this tractor to the shop to get milk
I like the way you move back like it's going to explode.
Thanks Steve, you are an amazing teacher, and historian. I take it those idiots who thumbs down, have a button to start this machine......
Norman Rhone who’s Steve
...réálly enjoyed that, thank you kindly! (getting the oil pressure up makes for longevity...) well done, i really like the caring touch here - this glimpse into times gone by, which i knew well as a young kid, much appreciated.
All ways loved the way these old tractors smell
Wow.
An oldie but a goodie.
Would be nice to have.
Funny but starting procedure / levers remind me of a Ford Model T (?).......why not, it was after all built around that time.
For this RD6 to have lasted this long, for sure previous owners truly appreciated and maintained it to a large extent.
Heck of a machine that RD6!
So cool to see how they engineered systems pre war.
could you add a few more steps to the process? this wasn't complex enough
I see where Ferrari got the idea for their gated shifters.
It probably was that pesky Lamborghini guy that started the Italian gated shifters.
Lamborghini was a tractor manufacturer until the old man got sick of his Ferrari and wanted to make something better. That’s why their logo is a bull rather than something faster.
I ran a D8 14A pullin a pan in 1993. Loud and good times.
that is very cool to watch but there is something to be said for waiting for the glow plug light to go out then turn the key
now I know just what to do if I ever run into a 1936 Cat.... wonderful fun here seriously
Pony motor sounds better than my 17 year old neighbor's riced out chevy cavalier!
Hahaha.
ahh yes those shit holes sure do love there fart cans
Most modded exhausts sound terrible. Like the glass packs on slow V8 trucks or fart canons on Dodge 12v diesel trucks-both of which would probably lose to the Cavalier. 😂🤣
An absolutely ingenious system!
Where I worked in Michigan had a D8 Cat engine with a pony engine from 1950. It had a 6 volt starter as well as the magneto. It had a 2 speed transmission to turn the diesel; low was for turning the diesel with the compression release open to warm the engine and then switch to high to turn the diesel then slowly close the compression release until the diesel fired and caught. Then the pony could be shut down. We could start that thing in any weather. I actually preferred using the crank to start the pony as I could get it to fire quicker than with the starter. The diesel top rpm was 1000 and with 4 gears in the transmission with forward, neutral, reverse; it would do 1.5 mph in 1 st and 12.5 mph in 4 th using No 200 roller chain from the transmission out to the axles. It was fun to run; you picked the gear for the load and let out on the clutch-slowly and then added fuel till the speed you wanted or could get.
I'd always crank the pony on the 8-H on idle and let it warm up and turn the diesel no compression while I drank a cup of coffee. The pony was worn out and would foul a plug if you didn't baby it, which I did anyway as with all the others. When the coffee was gone and the pony warmed up I'd open the pony throttle and kick the compression on. Then after a bit I'd fuel it and see what happened. No pop, more spin, no fuel. Pop? Held the starting lever till it ran. Latches on the pinion were worn out so force was needed. Also found out an oil clutch is like NO clutch till it warms or limbers up. Same as engaged. Like your procedure and the 2!
Now this is a real man's tractor!
Hey, great work on the video. Informative content, really sharp picture, and the audio is not so bad either. Thanks for taking the time to post it.
Wow. Great stuff. I never heard of a "pony motor" before. I knew about early jet engines starting this way, but never seen it like this.
turbine engines still do, electric motor or a small turbine called gas generator, but its still there .
My old man worked on Caterpillars all his life. Graduated top of his class at the Cat school just after the war. (47 or 48..?) Never once did he call it a pony. Was always a Donkey in our neck of the woods....
I used to call it a pup engine. Don't know why.
what a lovely old beast!
Quite the process!
Amazing! Electronics I understand, this was a magical mystery tour. Thank you.
The way you backed up, I was waiting for it to explode.
Thank you for that i learned a lot
Holly mackerel... going through all that just to start that little diesel engine!
All I have to do is turn the key to heat up the glow plugs, turn the fuel level on and start it!
With this diesel engine by the time you do all this it's time for lunch !
I just love that rd6 wish I had one ur lucky man thxs for sharing ur start up video
jeeeezzzz... i am so glad i did not grow up in that time. i guess i'm spoiled with electronic starter and all that jazz. then again the best sounding engines come from the past.
Nothing in this world sounds better than a Detriot Diesel 12v71. well , maybe the Cummins M11 or N14 .
i love diesels .
Boss-"what did you get done today?" Worker-"Started the tractor"
Should respray and restore this machine to brand new condition. Would look beautiful with rust removed and a nice paint job
it would yea, if it were a show tractor
i wonder how many people these old Cat tractors maimed, injured, or killed through incorrect starting procedures
"maimed, injured, killed"
Raphael Smithwick yea, they’re three different things
Love them old machines
I think I better walk....
Wow, so many levels!!!
Step one: evict raccoon from air box.
Step two: send a smoke signal to Thomas Edison “ 1: invent electricity “
2: “ do you know how to rewire a prehistoric catapillar?”
3: have Fred Flintstone make you some oil..
What a sequence. Amazing we survived on this tech - OR - People were way smarter and resourceful back then - ???
It's all relative I mean imagine using steam engines and horses to work stuff then this thing comes along it's no different than getting use to using this then one with a key to start it coming along
Pony motor sounds much nicer than what it is called here in U.K., it is called a donkey engine here!
I've always called them putt motors.
in northern alberta Canada it was called a pup motor
@@gloriagraw3017 sorry, I always thought it was putt motor. I'm from northern Alberta as well.
There's a case to be made that you're correct. Old bombers (B17, B24, B29, etc) had a small, 7hp gasoline engine to provide electrical power for starting their main engines. It was commonly called the "Putt-Putt", even in official documents.
pony motor doesn't work in cockernee rhyming slang: pony = pony and trap = crap
Engineering marvel.
Need to pull discs in the field with RD6, a beast
good luck with the eye mate appreciate the videos
That is so cool!
Back in the day my father had a McCormick Deering WD-9 and it had a gas start too but it was in the same cylinders as the diesel for work/driving if i remember correctly.
Probably a kerosene/distillate tractor. They started on gas, then switched to kerosene when the engine was warm enough.
TD 9 same way main engine had a diesel injectors and carburetor, had another combustion chamber that was valved of to run on Diesel.
I had no idea about pony motors, thanks!
Damn and I thought old motorcycles were hard to start😲🤔🤨
Like a pilot going through the startup checklist
That's so freakin' cool.