The 1-Cylinder Detroit Diesel 1-71 Is Nearly Extinct

[@superiormusic]

"The small group of 1-71 collectors have pooled their information and Chris Kouttron has begun a 1-71 database. Over several years of collecting 1-71 information and documenting survivors, he tells us the earliest serial number is #8 and highest is #926. The current count of known 1-71 survivors worldwide currently stands at 79 units" -Dieselworld magazine, 25 April 2018

[@cunicularius2064]

Damn, that'd be cool...

[@jlo13800]

A Maico 760/700 makes 26 HP at 1200 rpm with out a roots blower, go german 2 strokes and not shitty american 2 strokes, Well the Rotax 850 ETEC turbo takes it to another level, kinda like comparing hydrogen fusion to fission

[@jlo13800]

@@cloggedpizza239 probably if you take care of it, im running BRP XD-100 2 stroke oil thru my 8v92 2 stroke turbo. I like alcholo fuels better and dont like diesel, also more plant based 2 stroke oils such a castor 927 maxima, way overkill for a detroit though.

[@jlo13800]

@@cloggedpizza239 BRP-XD-100 is a bit overkill for a 2 stroke detroit. Many outboard and snowmobile 2 strokes can run great for over 5 years if the the proper maintenance is done.

[@jlo13800]

@@cloggedpizza239 The Detroit run harder steel shafts and can run better on the modern synthetic 2 stroke oils with injection!

[@brjr2009]

Detroit diesel. turning fuel oil into noise since 1938.

[@jeffmiller3150]

And smoke.

[@greystripe3737]

@@jeffmiller3150 lots of friggin smoke.

[@doodlegassum6959]

Dont forget erections. Many such cases

[@toddgittins5692]

The Green Weenie

[@thatsearsdude]

😂😂😂 Yeah

[@sugarhillsrr]

In the middle 60"s there was an oil well boom in northern Indiana just north of Wabash Indiana, I remember seeing several GM 1-71 engines attached to water pumps. I loved the sound of them running.

[@76629online]

It's mind-boggling to think about how much freight Detroit Diesels have hauled in the US. Not only in heavy trucks, but also in locomotives and ships.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

Tesla ev truck left the chat..

[@josefrobbins8781]

*and are still hauling.

[@VitoVeccia]

It's amazing. I was shocked to find it in studebaker's and ford's. And in boats, generators, backhoes, you name it. My jaw just keeps dropping every time I see it. It's crazy when you really think about it.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

There are two diesel fire pumps at a steel mill where I occasionally work that run 6V53 Detroits. They test them once a month, and for some reason they fire up at operating RPM, no mufflers. If you're working out by that pumphouse when they do, you'll cuss and drop your tools when they start screaming, haha! I want a 6V53-T in a square K20 Suburban with a 10-speed RoadRanger so bad I can't hardly stand it, they sound amazing and are indestructible.

[@johncholmes643]

And wars that were won

[@clinkerclint]

Very cool video. The Detroit 1-71 is the only Detroit two-stroke that doesn't sound like a Detroit. Thanks so much for making this video for us.

[@Edik0704]

3:35 given that information, the 1-71 has a efficiency of 27% (12 kw, 4.50L/3.74 kg of Diesel), which is kind of impressive for 1938

[@Doppelwhoppermcdonald]

@Retired Bore your are right but if i remember right there are also DD which have a blower and a turbocharger

[@mikegray8808]

@@Doppelwhoppermcdonald They all have a blower

[@Wingnut353]

@@mikegray8808 all the detroit diesels have blowers yes, but as he was saying many have a blower bypass valve + turbo this removes the pressure load from the blower essentially freewheeling it.... sure there is a little drag still but its a good compromise. The roots blowers are also very efficient as they supply pressure pulses rather than constant pressure. Current Achates power designed engines are kinds of like two detroit disel blocks pointed at each other and geared together (with the vale train completely removed.. and on top of that they can hit 50+% efficiency targeting 55+%.

[@Wingnut353]

@Retired Bore I don't think any of the achates engines have gone for an electric blower yet... since that would require a pretty beefy electric motor that isn't used 99% of the rest of the time, it would make more sense to just disengage the blower entirely, bypass it and rely on the turbo or a pair of turbos small and large or an electrically assisted turbo at idle. When running unloaded they are obviously 100% drag.... since they arent' doing anything at all so your statement that they are inefficient unloaded is well... it should go without saying. Perhaps an electrically assisted turbo would make a lot of sense as it could also be used to reduce turbo lag.

[@CaptHollister]

It's even more impressive when you realize that VisioRacer got the conversion wrong. He converted using Imperial gallons (1 Imperial gallon=4.25 liters), but in reality he should have converted using US gallons where 1 US gallon = 3.75 liters.

[@RichardGoodman]

I have a 2-71 and it is a lot of fun to run. I did a video with my two grandchildren and so happy to share with them! Sincerely, Richard Goodman

[@samaguirre3283]

These smaller little known engines really are something plus you gotta love the sounds/musical notes they produce, keep up the excellent work 👍

[@fuse8052]

The obscure information you find is both amazing and fascinating. Thank you for all of the work and detail you put into your videos

[@VisioRacer]

Thank you, mate!

[@finehit]

Great videos in the 1980s I work for Williams Detroit Diesel Allison in Decatur Alabama. The second day I was there they made me move a 12v92 with a forklift from from a three-shelf engine holder in a tight spot I was nervous as hell I didn't want to drop it. And I used to take 3 inline 71 engines to Schwartz street cleaners industry fun job. I know them cylinder kits and blowers were heavy as heck enjoyed the video

[@bertgrau3934]

I remember when I was in the Marine Corps, we had some 2-71 Detroits, to run our generators, for our radios. They were a pain to get started, but would run until out of fuel without any problems, if you kept the fuel tank full it would run a very long time. They need to be topped off with oil a lot.

[@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195]

Easy to start with a can of ether. The fuel draining back down the fuel line away from the pump is almost always the problem other than the filter needing to be changed.

[@shaunnesbit1698]

@@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195 i had a 353 that would start if you looked at the starter !! check valve in the fuel line

[@jamesgeorge4874]

Great vid, neat little chunk of history, I was told the 1-71 was more proof of concept / viability then expected sales leader, and GM put that to the test very shortly thereafter the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The 71 series was built with roller valve lifters, and injector actuators, and were technologically far ahead of other engines, save for aircraft engines of the era. Notwithstanding the 1-71, the rest of the family are happy to spin at governed rpm, which is pretty high, for a diesel. Happy 2023 !

[@jtaylor37160]

Cool vid. I had the pleaser of driving a firetruck powered by a 2 stroke Detroit. One thing we learned is you have to get these engines hot and wound up or they will leak oil and everything else. There is no noise like it in the world and they like being reved out and driven hard. It is an experience I will never forget and a shame generations ahead will probably never get to experience.

[@Hydrogenblonde]

Thank you for showcasing another unique and unusual engine.

[@phantom0456]

Love the sound of this thing… you can tell it’s a two-stroke by the rapid combustion pulses relative to RPM’s. It sounds fantastic.

[@mgdurandolo]

Always love your vids, so well researched - and thank you for not dragging them all out to 20 min with filler, like so many do ;)

[@demonic477]

I have always want one as a back up generator but have never had a chance to get one there so rare

[@craigmclean8260]

There is an outfit, called Emerson & Matkin that sells Detroit 2-71-based gensets, in 12.5 and 20Kw units. Not many left; this engine is also becoming increasingly rare; production stopped in 1986, IIRC...

[@zonie1953]

Happy New Year from Arizona Samuel 🌵

[@carguybikeguy]

You always have the best stuff. Be well, friend. Looking forward to this next year.

[@edwardt9585]

Johnson and Towers made some upgraded Detroit diesels for marine applications . I worked for a Bertram dealer and saw some of them . 12V71's with he engine blocks sanded smooth and painted in white Imron with chrome and polished parts . The 6-71 J&T put out 425 hp .

[@mikegray8808]

J&T 671 TI 450 HP and 671 TIB are 485 HP

[@pacificostudios]

So this is the story of what happened to Winton. As a railroad fan, the name comes up, but you make it easy to see how Winton helped lead GM into the awesome EMD.

[@fhwolthuis]

Happy New Year, Vizio! BTW, a US gallon is 3,785 litres 😉

[@mattiavenudo6526]

Your video are becoming better and better, good job. Good insite into engineering

[@carllinden533]

I've always wondered if a diesel could have a hand crank starter! You & this one diesel engine answers this question.

[@michaelharrison1093]

The answer is yes - I can attest on the basis of memory as a teenager having to do this to start the generator on a farm that was way off the grid

[@carllinden533]

@@michaelharrison1093 That is so cool!

[@newjerseybill3521]

Do a search for Lister diesels. Most of the smaller ones are hand crank with compression releases.

[@kimpatz2189]

The single cylinder Japanese Kubota, Yanmar and Mitsubishi engines (and their chinese clones) always are hand crank starting using decompression valves. The british Gardner and Lister also has hand crank option as big as a 6 cylinder.

[@carllinden533]

@@kimpatz2189 How do these things even start!? Don't diesel's need high compression?

[@k-getrengganis7401]

In short terms, the Detroit Diesels 2-stroker, especially the series 71 was just a scaled down EMD 567s because it uses some principled from the 567 but modified to suit the needs and reliability... However, the only thing that isn't scaled down from the EMD 567 is the Clutched-Turbocharger from the EMD 567D3 series, so they just stuck a Turbo on top of the Blower and later puts an intercooler on it...

[@marzsit9833]

except that the series 71 engines existed long before the emd engines were designed. in fact before emd existed, they were known as cleveland diesels.

[@nodularification]

@@marzsit9833 Nope, you're wrong. The EMD 567 entered production the same year as the 71 series, 1938. Cleveland diesels were a smaller displacement than the 567 and were used in marine and stationary applications but not railroad applications.

[@theknifedude1881]

You are the first KZbin channel I subscribed to. Love your sometimes Quirky subject matter. Keep up the great work! Happy New Year 🎉.

[@VisioRacer]

Thanks!

[@rowlybrown]

Hot Spring Cove back in 1977 I met Scott Patrick in the 34-foot schooner Trader, with a 1-71. He was from Lopez I, WA. Wonder if the engine /boat still exist.

[@megadeuz6148]

That was amazing! I didn't even know about the 1 cylinder Detroit! Now I know about them.

[@mikecorleone6797]

I work at the last detroit certified shop on the west coast 😎 i play with screamin jimmys 5 days a week and it brings me much satisfaction

[@chuckselvage3157]

Great little motor a fair bit of torque as well thanks for sharing 👍

[@RenanBorges96]

Happy new year from Brazil Visio!

[@matthewtaylor6018]

Happy New Year my favorite youtuber ! A fan from Hungary!

[@scout2nut]

We had to rebuild the 71 series, V8-71 and 6-71, in trade school, I never knew they made a single cylinder version of them, Kool Vid, Thanks

[@seanworkman431]

As a fan of Detroit Diesel, I never knew that a 1/71 was produced, thank you for this video.

[@VisioRacer]

My pleasure, Sean!

[@c1a2t3a4p5i6l7l8a9r]

I loved hearing those old 8-92s idle lope

[@motorflusterer6307]

Hey Visio Racer, Thanks for your interesting Motor Reports. Greetings from Germany by Motorflüsterer

[@andyharman3022]

In English, motor whisperer?

[@jamest.5001]

I hope you are having a happy 23 so far ! Great video, love the 2stroke Detroit diesel engines!! I wish the 1-71 was still made!! It would be great if someone would make a modern one, 1-53 ,2-53, 1-71, 2-71. Made from aluminum, maybe a 2v71, 2v53, but imagine a turbo 1-71, aluminum version, it could possibly do 30-40 HP I'd love to see a double acting two stroke diesel, in 53-71 cid , a piston firing every time it moves!! Like ping-pong-ping! Haha

[@cpufreak101]

I saw online that someone was attempting to new build one by cutting up an existing inline one (went with a 3-71 since the 2-71 is too rare) but idk how far he got with it. I hope it went well though!

[@5.43v]

Achates power makes the latest ones

[@hugejohnson5011]

Great video. Thank you and Happy New Year!

[@gaiaartemis]

Happy new year Visio!

[@calvinwright5040]

My buddy has a 8-71 Detroit. Detroits are My favorite "2" stroke diesel ever

[@Failure_Is_An_Option]

"2"

[@edsmachine93]

Good video. Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year.

[@2000freefuel]

the twin cylinder 2-71 is lighter than the 1-71, the flywheel on the latter is about 400 pounds.

[@clintonstubbs2319]

That Detroit 1-71 diesel is a very interesting and heavy Diesel engine. VisioRacer makes some interesting videos about cars and different engines. Happy New Year and Cheers!

[@ImpManiac]

Happy New Year! 🎉 Paul 😎

[@gavmansworkshop5624]

Every Detroit I've driven has been a pleasure to drive. That European crap... Done that too and fondly return to the good stuff right here.

[@adamc.sieracki4145]

The one lung version of the Rootes scavenged engines used on so many vehicles. The baleful moan of the blowers in the night reminds me of city bus and Greyhound rides. The uniflow scavenging is also used on those huge container and tanker ship engines.

[@johnnymunro4650]

Happy new year to you too 😊

[@Dannysoutherner]

This is cool, not heard of this motor before.

[@Tom-wl9sx]

Interesting video 🙃 Happy New year

[@samuelcoelho1609]

Happy new year! From Brasil

[@tonychavez2083]

I Vote the Ford 300 six as a candidate for a video. 👍🏼

[@Failure_Is_An_Option]

We could do a whole year of Ford failures. Good point!

[@tonychavez2083]

@@Failure_Is_An_Option save it, you must be a bowtie boy.. maybe someone needs to school you on on the 300 six

[@Failure_Is_An_Option]

@@tonychavez2083 Oh the ferds love der turds...

[@ericgilhart5951]

I've been looking for one for a while now

[@John_cupra290]

Happy new year from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, been a great year for your videos and looking forward too the “23’s” next ones. Cheers 🎉

[@kennethjackson7574]

Back in 1976 the Coast Guard Machinery Technician School at Yorktown, VA, had one. I understand GM traded several 6-71s so the engine overhaul shop had new engines to learn tear down and reassembly of GM diesel in exchange for that engine.

[@drinkorswim]

Kenneth Jackson it is still there.

[@batelargo]

The GM Diesel 1-71 was a well know engine within medium sized refrigerators/freezers and small electric generators in either train carts and other applications all over US/Canada and great Britain and still was very common until early 70's. Then EPA began attacking them in the name of ambientalists and were replaced with moderns units. Most of them were discarded as scrap but still you can some working and probably from world war 2 era. Yes, it was a test cell prior to commercialization and that 1 cylinder model found a quick application in powering cooling units in trains.

[@90FF1]

Enjoy the comments from the guys who actually worked on or with these old engines. Always a bit of new light is shed. Thanks.

[@austincjett]

In 1990 at Kadena AFB, Okinawa there was a running 1-71 located at the marina.

[@dennisford2000]

Would love to see a scope pattern on a high resolution crank sensor. I bet it slows immensely at tdc and then accelerating like crazy, every stroke, had it been made lighter it would have shaken to bits

[@5naxalotl]

all depends on how much mass you're driving. i'd guess they made the flywheel pretty damn heavy, since nobody's blipping the engine through gear changes, and then the load is effectively a flywheel

[@dennisford2000]

@@retiredbore378 but it would despite having this characteristic, as it happens inside the individual cycle

[@big0bad0brad]

@Retired Bore Any waveform's a sine wave if you're brave enough

[@dennisford2000]

@@retiredbore378 regardless of what you think you are incorrect. The individual compression stroke slows the crank and can be seen in a scope pattern. You are a keyboard warrior. Hi speed sensors are used for misfire information that can see this

[@dennisford2000]

And likewise on firing the crank cannot help but accelerate, and it doesn’t do it instantly.

[@1toonhead]

Hehehe those 4 gauges looks like a cute paw print on the dash.

[@toddgittins5692]

Like you even look at gauges, running a Detroit. Start, throttle wide open. It runs, till it don't.

[@michaelmurphy6869]

Great video! Thank you Visio! Love those old Detroit's. Happy New Year to you and your family from Idaho.

[@patrickcraig6032]

Not seen a 1-71 in many years.1974 was at USCG MK school .At the engine lab there was one. The USCG used many 2-71's as generator engines.

[@NobbiesGnomeRescue]

John Alfred Prestwich, any plans on highlighting his groundbreaking engines..?

[@NobbiesGnomeRescue]

I have 1908 600cc single…

[@65bug519]

There were a few 1s and 2s that came as a multi power unit with a genset attatched as well as a clutch and pto .

[@stephensarkany3577]

There used to be one sitting in the North Charleston show room of an industrial supplier, I asked about it & tried to buy it but was told that it didn't belong to them. One time I went there & it was gone, I asked about it & they said that the owner had picked it up, I think it might have been stitting there 20 years.

[@bumpingblazer657]

Happy New Year! 🥳

[@philowen2755]

Happy New Year.👍

[@jasyamaha]

Excellent, thank you.

[@NehuennSant]

I have the 2-53 coupled to a Lincoln welder! Have to get it running

[@Simo-nk1oq]

Excellent video.

[@kevinhoffman6592]

Happy New Year to U 2

[@stephensu4371]

more video of this kind unique engine please

[@artofdisguy3401]

They made several varieties with generator and water pump built together, used up north in mining the Yukon and alaska

[@danhard8440]

hay Visio i like the sound of the 1 cylinder Diesel but here in Murica we never hear anything of the ones made overseas Asian and euro made can you see what you can find out and the specs on them maybe new and old ones

[@TecraTube]

interesting share. thanks bro

[@El_Chompo]

I would love to see an experiment where they made a 2 stroke diesel, but replaced the blower with turbos. I know it wouldn't be practical but I think it would still work, you would just have to power the turbine to spool it up before it could start, maybe with one of those hybrid electric turbos like they use in racing now. The reason it would be interesting to me is because turbos are so much more efficient than blowers. You might even be able to just have a tank dedicated to storing compressed air that built pressure while running and then was used to blow into the engine to get it started and that way you might not even need to spool the turbos. Man I wish I had the time and means for projects like these... I love these fun ideas. Edit: Oh there was a turbo one at the end. I was too exited to watch the whole thing before I started commenting. Very cool. It didn't mention though how it started up though without the positive displacement of the blower.

[@Bata.andrei]

The blower is not used for supercharging. It is purely used for scavenging. There are two stroke Detroit diesel engines that are turbocharged, but they also have the roots blower. The uniflow design cannot function whitout forced scavenging.

[@El_Chompo]

@@Bata.andrei Ahhh ok thanks for the clarification. Yeah I'm pretty sure you could make a purely turbo one work, you would just need to "jump start" the airflow because it wouldn't start with just a turbo but if you blasted some air in during startup I think you could get it going on just the turbo. I could be wrong but it would be fun to try.

[@Bata.andrei]

@@El_Chompo look for the channel "two stroke stuffing" he did build a racing 50cc two stroke uniflow, as well as a supercharged 50cc two stroke. If you are interested in two strokes his channel is a wealth of knowledge.

[@tjsbbi]

As others have said the blower is needed for the engine to run at all. The non-turbo engines with just a blower are considered naturally aspirated.

[@ginoperretta373]

a normal 2 stroke has a sealed crankcase, detroit diesels do not. this is why detroits need a blower

[@ramadhanisme7]

What an interesting diesel

[@Nightmaretyrant]

Sounds awesome, such a clean thump.

[@michaelharrison1093]

It would be great if you could make a video about some of the Ricardo research engines. These are really interesting engines

[@KW-ei3pi]

Very well presented. A little hard to understand your English, but well done. Thank you!

[@ckuehncnwhsyt]

This could be really interesting. Maybe polish up your ESL and get back to us.

[@markcherniy9059]

Happy new year to everyone!!! Best wishes! 💝

[@Dave5843-d9m]

Two stroke diesels actually don’t need any valves and oil is carried in a dump like any other engine. An air blower feeds air into the intake ports while exhaust escapes from the opposite side. Fuel is added long after the ports have closed so they are clean. Black smoke is entirely to over-injecting the fuel. Control it electronically and it runs clean.

[@Dave5843-d9m]

Opposed piston diesels work the same way but are even more efficient because heat gets into pistons rather than cylinder heads.

[@780brando]

I've never been this early

[@turkeytrac1]

If you're quoting the fuel usage per hour, I hope you remember that the American gallon is only about 3.75 L, and not the imperial measurement of 1 gal = 4.54L

[@VisioRacer]

Never knew that, thanks for correction

[@turkeytrac1]

No problem. I'm Canadian and come across this all the time. FYI, the gallon the Americans use is still in the imperial system, it was traditionally used in conjunction with wine. Traditionally wine had a lots more solids in it, enough that it didn't take the same volume to make gallon as water.

[@MaxNafeHorsemanship]

I was aware of the others and have even driven a few, but have never seen a single cylinder 71.

[@Shaker626]

Its direct competitor was probably the Lister CS series of engines.

[@newjerseybill3521]

Just an FYI, they (any of the 53,s & 71,s) weren't know as Detroit Diesels till 1965 when they changed the name from GM diesel. Notice in the video nowhere does it show "Detroit Diesel".

[@tommytaber7831]

new mic go crazy

[@ericgilhart5951]

I've been looking for a 1-71 for a long time I don't know if I'll ever find one hopefully some day

[@toddgittins5692]

Did you check the junkyard?

[@5naxalotl]

i always feel the single cylinder engine hasn't been fully explored, for example in budget cars. with modern complexity in head/fuel design, it seems like an awful lot of expensive duplication and difficult servicing compared to a single. i have found the thumper character to be quite charming on a bike, and suspect most of the resistance in the car market is irrational ... partly out of the assumption that budget cars must mimic more expensive ones because their owners are insecure my favorite single cylinder is the ducati supermono, which achieves v-twin primary balance with a dummy piston weight -- and neatly avoids a fiddly chain-driven balance shaft. why did this never resurface? am i daft for wondering why sophisticated single cylinders aren't powering cars in developing markets?

[@andyharman3022]

My Briggs & Stratton 500cc riding mower engine has a dummy piston mass in it. Been in production for more than 20 years.

[@5naxalotl]

wow. that's awesome

[@NBSV1]

Because for even an economy car in modern times you would want about 70-100hp. That’s hard to get with a single without it being so big it’s going to be a lot of extra complexity and work to get it smooth. Even then it’s going to shake just because of the big individual power pulses. 3 cylinders are becoming common because it’s an efficiency benefit over a 4 cylinder without adding much complexity or loss of power.

[@mot6021]

The only 1-71 I ever saw was back n the 60s at a engine parts dealer in LA Calif. in parts.

[@The1Doktor]

The really unique detroits are the 51 series, no valves.

[@Comeaud1193]

i rebuild Detroit 2 strokes for a living, keeping the 2 stroke dream alive

[@toddgittins5692]

Job security, big time.

[@ThunderBassistJay]

I think this one gallon at 3:31 corresponds to 3.8 litres, as it concerns an American company. 😉👍

[@derekhieb7458]

Tacoma diesel has a 1-71 cutaway display model in their store.

[@EricaMTB]

Every diesel engine should be a Detroit 2 stroke.

[@RJ1999x]

I think you mean "no"

[@vmaxes]

Glow plugs? I thought ether was mandatory on the old stationary 71's 😁

[@ivanyurkinov]

hey the blower moves the air into the engine thus the word blower, if was to extract the spent gases it would be called a sucker or extractor. due to the open intake and exhaust port the air charge is forced into the cylinder pushing out the remaining gases left over. there i fixed it for you

[@jarradmcdaniel9641]

Only engine where if you could pull the rod caps of it would still run without throwing a rod as piston is always under positive pressure.

[@comptegoogle511]

I think the Detroit diesel could have a second life for hybrid vehicle with direct injection technology and multi-stage electric turbo.