Atlas 3 Cylinder Diesel 1927 Tug Boat Engine

[@PuttPutt8084]

My Dad worked on tug boats from 1919 to 1946.He often talked about the 3 cyl. Atlas.

[@wontputrealname]

Three cyl engines with 120 degree crankshafts have rocking forces acting longitudinally and in a vertical up-and-down motion. The engine as it is placed demonstrates this perfectly. This is the reason why most modern vehicles with 3 throw crankshafts are fitted with a balance shaft or shafts.

[@mechmusicman]

We had a WWI shipyard in Madisonville, Louisiana on the Tchefunta River. In 1927 the steam plant blew up and burned. They installed this same Type Atlas engine to run the huge line shaft workshop. My grandfather worked there and helped. My dad became general superintendent in the late 50’s-60s. Around 1968 that engine had run 40 years, every day and night. He parked a huge Electric motor next to it and retired the engine. It was a beautiful installation with brass handrails etc. When they switched that electric motor on, the belt let out a squeal you could hear all over town.

[@jayfmiller]

Turnin the knobins, pullin the leverins, lifting the legin, holden the tonguen just right and prayin. What fun!

[@jickdawmonelason7239]

jayfmiller not really that difficult...

[@johnparrish9215]

What a grand old engine. Makes you appreciate what we have now.

[@doctorno0070]

Why do I get the feeling that this almost 90 year od engine is going to outlast every brand new car made?

[@THOMASTHUNDERPEEN]

+doctorno0070 Because it runs at such low RPM it's damn near impossible for it to damage itself when properly maintained.

[@hvguy]

+Paul Muñoz which is why the old Cummins and old diesels last forever. 👍

[@JimJones-zc9mk]

+doctorno0070 Did you know that some jeeps sold over seas had a 3 cylinder diesel in the 1960s.

[@TheTomco11]

Because it's heavily over engineered?

[@doctorno0070]

You hit the nail on the head.

[@Desmoduece1]

Running that engine would wear you out! Nice video.

[@whorayful]

85 years young and still sounds sweet.

[@melanthony2064]

What an awesome motor, thank you for sharing this 👍. Built to last that's for sure

[@ramairgto72]

"My Atlas 3 shake brings all the boys to the yard"

[@TugboatMatt]

that must be one hell of a ride being on the trailer

[@0xXAllForNothingXx0]

Balanced to the strict tolerance of +/- 150 lbs.

[@tirbomax]

LMMFAO!!!!!

[@BarcelonaAustinA35]

3 cylinders...

[@Nader620]

Looked like it was running on only two cylinders. I can't believe it was supposed to shake like that. It would have shaken the boat to bits.

[@appraised7090]

I love that enormous gauge at a about shoulder height.

[@cobra02411]

If I'm not mistaken that's a direct reversing engine. In other words to get reverse you have to shut it down, throw some levers and start it up backwards. Captains quickly learned to angle into the docks in case it didn't start back up...

[@turbocompound]

Perfect engine, it's good for shaking cream to butter......

[@somerandomguy3868]

I like these old engines slove the puzzle and it will start every time

[@bobrown60c]

Amazing how things have changed,from that to a push of a button

[@Colt-tf6xf]

Wouldn't it scare away the fish ?

[@RickFrick]

Is this the engine of the Suzuki Samurai who's standing behind the engine?

[@philnichols3122]

Some of these wear made in a local factory. Mattoon Illinois. I was told they were reversable motors.

[@arizal7768]

Nicely balanced! How long did it take you to figure out which valve to turn and when? I have loads of respect for any person who can figure out how to make these old engines run again!!!

[@mikewmount]

Nice engine. Thanks for posting.

[@iansrving]

Tell me again how much torque your Honda Civic has...

[@mikebunn185]

I was on a fishing boat that had a three cylinder 180hp Buremeister and Wain engine. I don't recall any vibration- just a steady "chuff chuff chuff" no matter what the power setting (max 180 rpm) - maybe the engine in the video needs bit of tinkering to run more smoothly.

[@CrazyBuzzy1]

+MIKE BUNN ...I think once the shake starts it is difficult to steady that thing.You can see that is not even bolted or welded to the trailer,I see only a couple of chains...

[@TheTomco11]

Shitty trailer and no heavy tug to damp it

[@240SSONLY]

like a fucking boss... so much respect for that old man

[@artiedeko]

reminds me of the guy behind the curtain in the wizard of oz...especially in the beginning of this clip.

[@lembriggs1075]

Yes! He’s some engineer huh? Almost as if that old engine could not function without him fooling with things. Almost as if he’s afraid it might blow up or wear out if he’s not constantly giving it an adjustment.

[@Leblond987]

Thank God diesel engines have improved since then!! That thing on the trailer sounds like its barely running on one cylinder!

[@angrodNumenesse]

+Leblond987 Wouldn't surprise me if it was running on one cylinder. These old engines were typically designed to only use all cylinders under load. Since there was no load put on this engine (except at startup) it wouldn't have needed all three.

[@stevethackery9853]

+angrodNumenesse So where did you get that from, then? I've seen Gardners where you can manually disable one or more cylinders for light load running, but I don't think that applies to this engine. It's actually running on two cylinders, rather than one, but I think that's probably because it needs its injectors overhauling, and it would probably benefit from having some load on the engine.

[@clementgoetke2385]

reminds me of the cartoon tugboat willey the way hes bouncing up and down

[@W4BIN]

I can't but wonder where the cooling system is.

[@dougankrum3328]

Many Marine engines use a heat-exchanger and sea/fresh water for cooling.

[@michaelking3327]

from what i've seen about these engines, the horsepower numbers are low, but the torque numbers are very high.

[@wanderbolt9498]

Engine specs Bore/stroke: Large/Huge Max rpm: Slow Torque: Yes

[@thadmacmillan]

If this trailer's a-rockin', don't come a-knockin'

[@lsswappedcessna]

Backup generator material. Get a LOT of car alternators and a couple of massive belts and a few car batteries and there.

[@GooglFascists]

What happened to the tug boat?

[@richardgray5207]

it shook itself to pieces! 😀

[@marcellucassen8033]

Who cares! we've still got the engine!!

[@d.hansel854]

Now I know where Chitty Chitty Bang Bang got it's name !

[@Glimmlicht]

a bit big for the jeep

[@lockefinely2841]

what do you think an old engine like that would be worth approximately ?

[@johnharrison2466]

you won't find any modern day engine running 90 years from now they might run slow but they are still running

[@Vassilika1]

shake it - shake it - shake it like a polaroid pictaaaaaaaa!!!

[@bobbylee2853]

Music for the mechanical minded.

[@Squarerig]

Hiow is the engine started?On compressed air or what?

[@tugboat1951]

great vid,worked on an old tug (1927)with 6 inline Atlas.Start on 1 cyl.then bring fuel in every other hole til 6 were running.Had air start valves for each cyl.so you didn't have to hand rotate complete flywheel to #1 hole to start.Had a 1 cylinder pony engine for air compressor,or manual main eng.start.Have worked on old Fairbanks Morse and Enterprises, Duetz and Stork Werksper's.300 rpm avg.but swing ing 72" screws,direct drives.You killed the engine and restarted in reverse and vice versa for for'd.You had to make sure your air recievers were always pressed up.

[@henryratajczak3071]

Pure raw torque.

[@brianradomski]

is that a pneumatic air powerd starter?????!!!

[@captnsquid8151]

smooth running little puppy ain't it?

[@hoost3056]

Man, how often do you have to lube the exposed moving parts on that thing? Eeef.....no wonder the engineer had a job....

[@maynardreed4036]

Talk about three handfuls of controls, it must a while to remember which did what. Preet neat old engine.

[@1957kwick]

Now all you need is a tugboat to put it in.⛴⚓️

[@watajob]

Smooooooooooooooooooooooooth!

[@godspeed9969]

beautiful engine

[@kentbrochman4150]

are you sure this a Honda easy start?

[@homefront3162]

Max RPM is like 50?

[@austinwilliams9079]

will this fit in my xj

[@SparksMagoo]

One word..... S W E E T !

[@fredydelgado3123]

para que fueron diseñado esos motores

[@fredydelgado3123]

Un aproximado de la fecha de fabricacion

[@lordofrims]

es un motor de bote remolcador...

[@aaronmiller112]

this is cool!

[@737cfm56]

That trailer needs some outriggers. Course then it might just break loose from the trailer. I love it anyway though!!!

[@ryotaryuu]

Do you have any specs on the engine?

[@benjimenfranklin7650]

I see how it made the tug boat go it waddle like a duck !

[@emph66]

After watching several of these "old engine runs after 90 or so years" videos, I've come to the conclusion that the term "run" means they barely have enough power to rotate the flywheel.

[@thecrazyfarmboy]

Emph Squee i bet they werent much easier to start 90 years ago. it may look like it has no power while starting up, but once its running with rhythm, the torque numbers would be very high. only reason the horsepower numbers are so low is because they turn slowly and horsepower reqpires RPM

[@hiyadroogs]

+Emph Squee You're perhaps a younger man who associates power with high revs. Small capacity engines require high revs to make a given power output because they lack torque. Large capacity engines don't require many revs to make rated power precisely because they naturally produce very high torque. For example; 200 bhp requires 131 ft/lbs of torque @8000 rpm. 262ft/lbs @ 4000, - 524 ft/lbs 2000, 1148 ft/lbs @ 1000 rpm, 2296 ft/lbs @ 500 rpm, & 4592 ft/lbs @ 250 rpm.. A 1 litre petrol engine produces just 75 ft/lbs. This big low revving diesel would be far more fuel efficient than say, a four cylinder 1 litre motorcycle engine producing the same bhp output at 52 times the rpm in order to generate it. A big slow revving marine diesel can achieve 50% thermal efficiency, compared to around 30% for a modern petrol engine of the same output. That's why these old beasts were designed to run like this. Fuel range is very important when you are a 1000 miles from land!

[@BenjaminEsposti]

Yeah these engines are low speed engines. Maybe 300RPM max! It's ALL ABOUT THE TORQUE.

[@waynegeorge2707]

It sounds like only running by one cylinder and barely at that.

[@Mercmad]

i see you have a suzuki for a starter motor..

[@jbz2079]

I think that ole git shook the tug to bits!

[@jamesbradley1695]

Great engine but it looks as though there is enough vibration to damage the hull of a boat! -Assuming it would have been a wooden tug in 1927?

[@chuckbear1961]

The boat was very massive and lot of weight wood or steel dampens it out to make it smooth

[@peteacher52]

Little Toot's muscles.

[@kae4466]

considiring that that this engine is mounted on a trailer w shocks and not a sturdy platform , geee.

[@tlfrantz1]

No trailer mounting for that thing, it would be in a go-kart!! Drive that thing around shows I would!

[@mrfingers1920]

Remote start wasn't an option on that one.

[@henrydog6]

Like playing a fine old piano or organ!!!

[@inzpectergadget]

Was any one else thinking harmonic balancing?

[@jacquesblaque7728]

+inzpectergadget Not here. Mebbe ye're thinking about harmonic damping, to control crankshaft ringing? Sure could run smoother, no doubt. In a tug it might shake some hull plates loose.

[@wontputrealname]

inzpectergadget Three cyl engines with 120 degree crankshafts have rocking forces acting longitudinally and in a vertical up-and-down motion. The engine as it is placed demonstrates this perfectly. This is the reason why most modern vehicles with 3 throw crankshafts are fitted with a balance shaft or shafts.

[@johnathanhatley4647]

I feel sorry for the tires on the trailer thats supporting the engine...

[@MrRedeyedJedi]

Wanna see this old engine start?ok, hang on, let me just turn a 100 knobs and levers

[@mechanicworld6453]

smooth like pudding

[@JimJones-zc9mk]

Big block 3 cylinder ! ! !

[@stevethackery9853]

Hmmm........ starts on three cylinders, but then drops back to two for the rest of the video. Probably needs a bit of work.

[@tlfrantz1]

The cylinder drop is the EPA energy star compliance kicking in...

[@vincentstellato5783]

that trailer is kind of sketchy

[@CRFbadass]

Yes it is!

[@gravedigr12]

I don't mean to complain but whats the point of a boat motor on a trailer throw that baby back in a tug boat and have some fun

[@lsswappedcessna]

They could use it as a home generator. A bunch of alternators, belts, and car batteries later, and you're fully self-sufficient. Only need diesel.

[@renegadeoflife87]

@@lsswappedcessna Then you;re not self sufficient if you need diesel. Not unless you have a crop field and the process equipment to make biodiesel.

[@lsswappedcessna]

@@renegadeoflife87 Tell that to people who stockpile fuel. Diesel engines can also run on a lot of different things if properly equipped, not just diesel. As long as it lubricates the engine like diesel does and is also able to be compression ignited, a diesel engine will run on it. That's the basis behind used oil engines, used oil can be stockpiled easier as it doesn't really go bad.

[@renegadeoflife87]

@@lsswappedcessna Lubricating the injection pump, not the engine itself. Yes diesels can work on a wide range of fuels, but will underperform or be hard to start if that fuel is not comparable to a normal diesel fuel in properties. Some of the earliest-ever diesel engines used coal dust as fuel, with airblast injection to get the dust to float on a stream of air.

[@lsswappedcessna]

@@renegadeoflife87 Yes, I know it is for the injection pump but was not being specific. The part about coal dust engines is pretty interesting, I'll have to do further research on that topic. As far as underperformance or hard starts go, it could be remedied by starting the engine with a small amount of diesel-like substance and switching to the alternative fuel once the engine is warm. I believe some hobby jet engines do this with kerosene, and switch to Jet A, as kerosene is cheaper than jet fuel but shares many of the same properties. Kerosene and jet fuel also share many properties with diesel, and kerosene can be bought in bulk for stockpiling. All you'd need to do is add lubricant to the fuel for the injection pump. You can also use cooking oil, but you'd have to start the engine using a different fuel as well as make sure the cooking oil is liquid, as it can solidify at lower temperatures. Making biodiesel isn't actually that difficult, by the way: www.thoughtco.com/make-biodiesel-from-vegetable-oil-605975 Most everyone who cooks keeps a few jugs of vegetable oil handy, so maybe raid the kitchen if you want some.

[@UpcomingJedi]

I can imagine what happened to the tugboat. It sank after being shaken apart by that POS.

[@PuttPutt8084]

Try twin counter shaft balancing in odd # of cylinders

[@edwardmcvaugh5545]

Garras Porgratix i

[@samanli-tw3id]

What's a POS?

[@jackflash6377]

It wouldn't shake so bad if it was mounted on something solid. It doesn't look like it's even bolted to that trailer. Naturally it's going to go into a harmonic vibration at certain speeds depending on what it's mounted on. That trailer bed seems quite flexible.

[@michaelking3327]

that "POS", as you call it, will be running long after all of us are dead and buried.

[@toadofoz]

when it hits three knots, you'll see some serious shit.

[@rhare7353]

Not enough O's in smooth to describe this engine

[@mangkoes]

weird and complicated starting method

[@PorchBass]

Needs a bit of balancing, eh? haha

[@ridzuannurain_z3811]

Very shaky

[@goggolinchen]

great

[@steyrpuchmangmailcom]

ridem Cowboy

[@dayadalwadiya912]

good

[@samanli-tw3id]

Is it two or four stroke?