1967 Detroit Diesel (4-71) Generator Project

Latest Project, Almost complete..... 1967 Detroit Diesel (4-71) Generator rescued from an Old AT&T Microwave site. Cold War Era

[@bobsrepairshop]

Way to go. I have a Detroit 3-71 AT&T gen set in my shop as back up power. As a retired AT&T tech I can tell you the 71 series Detroit's are super reliable.

[@myprojectsinterests6119]

As I am moving from Texas to Arkansas, I am thinking about selling it. Anyone know what it is worth?

[@myprojectsinterests6119]

My dad spent 49 years with South Western Bell, before and after the breakup. Seemed like it was better before. This is my 3rd Detroit diesel to work with. The first one came out of a tug boat running a generator for the boat. I received it completely disassembled. I had a Ham Radio buddy who worked at Stewart & Stevenson who was able to put new cylinder liners in the block and I put it back together from that point. I am convinced that the Detroit 2 cycle engines are one of the toughest most reliable engines ever built. I think if it were not for the EPA they would still be manufactured.

[@kleetus92]

@@myprojectsinterests6119 Absolutely they would be... Jeff Emmelt was honked off that GE's locomotive division couldn't compete with EMD, so he quit, sucked some dick, and became the head of the EPA... they then promptly fucked EMD by removing their best component, the engine, and now they had to develop a new motor along with everything else on the locomotive.

[@andrewking4885]

@@myprojectsinterests6119 That S&S dealership your referring to would have to be one of the most famous Detroit brands as I'm from Australia and even I've heard of them, quite a few times now.

[@fjs1111]

I would say 5000-7,000 maybe depending on hours + condition

[@myprojectsinterests6119]

All, this generator is now providing prime power to a missionary school and medical facility in a remote part of Africa. Hopefully they will will send pictures as promised and I will share them.

[@huntermossakajunkerman9646]

A detroit diesel in africa, awesome! Just goes to show detroit diesel 2-stroke engines are worldwide.👍 they'll get use out of it for many years to come.

[@electricitysucks5]

@@huntermossakajunkerman9646 If they maintain it it will run for a long time!

[@spotty4710]

@@huntermossakajunkerman9646 they're quite common here in south africa, though mainly in road graders or forgotten in sheds and older trucks.

[@Shaker626]

Nice to see an old workhorse be put back into service!

[@peteharrison9816]

Them were the best fucken around USA ALL THE WAY THEY WERE MENT TO LAST WE THE PEOPLE

[@myprojectsinterests6119]

I was politely chastised for not supplying more information so I will do so now. First about me, I am a 40+ year component level electronic technician mainly in the radio communications field along with industrial electronics as well. Spent many years working for Motorola, learned electronics doing television repair in high school in the 1970's, worked in machine shops, photo labs, instrument labs, HVAC and more in my early years. Enough about me, the Generator was installed in an AT&T Long Lines Microwave tower shelter in 1967, part of the Cold War Era communications system primarily to support the government if WAR actually happened along with telco communications. This unit was properly decommissioned in 1986 by AT&T. It sat dormant foe 33 years. I was fortunate enough to receive the maintenance log for it. I was not able to get books on the control or wiring so I reversed engineered all of that and added my own simple control and alarm circuitry (the switch and lights on the control panel door) which I can provide a drawing of if anyone wishes. Having worked on a few Detroit 2 cycle diesels in the past my first check was to see if the injectors were stuck and 3 of the 4 were. After pulling, disassembling, cleaning and reinstalling them, I no longer worried about a "run-away" issue but prepared just in case. All the rest was simple, changing rotten hoses and belts, adding coolant, oil and disassembling the starter to clean the rust off the starter drive and lubricate it. Then through checks inside the generator to make sure no rodents had got in and chewed things up, cleaned the dust off commutator and slip rings before turning it over. Applied battery power, turned it over to get oil into the governor, bearings and up to the push rods and lifters, primed the fuel rail and it fired right up. Now I just need to decide if I want to haul it 400 miles to the new place or sell it. It is very heavy. Hope this is enough detail. Regards, Larry

[@jeanettewest]

Keep it for emergencies.

[@om617yota8]

Just the thing for a quiet bit of power after an ice storm. Wonder how the HOA will feel about it!

[@craigkopcho7394]

There is no way anyone goes to sleep near a 471 Detroit.

[@dozerfarms]

This is what I have chosen to power my house

[@brianmorrison9066]

I wish you were my neighbor!

[@millertime8835]

Haha me too!

[@MattsMadnessOfficial]

if only there was a 10 hour video of this thing running I would use it to sleep

[@philbell7952]

👍👍had to ove em on my tug,(gen.sets )

[@autonomousindividual7780]

You might just need it soon. Fill up some BIG tanks with fuel.

[@W1RMD]

Great! I'll take one!

[@jasonnewell6834]

You can get a electric lube kit that pumps oil to the mains and over head before it starts other wise it’s going to take the bearings starting up full rpm’s very very nice set up 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@danaschoen432]

You would be well advised to ground that thing. They CAN bite!

[@rebus9]

Nice. Love those old Detroit 2 strokes. How many kW?

[@myprojectsinterests6119]

60 kw .8 power factor. 75 kva

[@Tchristman100]

When first starting any Diesel-it is good to see the exhaust. Too bad you didn't photo the exhaust on this video.

[@ericcommarato7727]

I need this outside my house...

[@mikerafone4736]

Omg Very loud!

[@patthefireman100]

did you sell the gen set

[@The_Happy_Aviation_Enthusiast]

Generators got the power!

[@BenjaminEsposti]

Will you get a load tester to run it under load? Now THAT would be epic!

[@myprojectsinterests6119]

So, I have not tested it at full load but I did put a 22 KW electric heater on each phase and ran it for 30 minutes each. It did fine with that but I have no access to a proper 3 phase load bank.

[@ethanwright453]

The old at&t long lines sites used these generators.

[@myprojectsinterests6119]

That is where this one came from.

[@MrNickwilliams1]

Do you know how much roughly it weighs

[@myprojectsinterests6119]

Sorry about the delay in getting back to you. From everything I can come up with, it is right at 8100 pounds. I had a rolloff wrecker get it to my house then used an articulated front end loader to set it on my tandem axel trailer where I pulled it 30 miles. Have new "E" rated tires, first time I ever saw them pooch. It still sits on the trailer but I don't feel comfortable with it, not enough safety margin.

[@MrNickwilliams1]

@@myprojectsinterests6119 well maybe I have to separate mine to haul it then

[@MrDemolitionmission]

Very cool acquisition Larry. I am in the middle of getting one of these going after it sat for 30 years. It drives a large pume. I can direct to to a guru of detroit.