Death of a Caterpillar

[@peregrinefalcon78]

I worked on a locomotive engine (Dash 8 with a 7FDL-16) that had similar buildup. The previous operators had ran it without changing the filters for a significant amount of time, so much so that the filter’s cardboard bodies had disintegrated. The only reason the current operator knew anything was wrong was that the oil pump started making noise, they called us for a new oil pump. Turns out all that soot, grease, and cardboard burnt pieces covered up the oil pickup. We replaced the oil pump, oil and filters and they were having to run the motor to temperature, let the pickup grab a bunch of soot and gack, and clean it out. There was so much junk in that engine they had to do that 10 times before it would run for more than 30 minutes without clogging the pickup and shutting down for low oil pressure.

[@ApproachAspect]

The 7FDL-16s seem to be good motors. They're everywhere still today and being rebuilt by Wabtec for railroads.

[@stevelacker358]

@@ApproachAspectcertainly no diesel ever sounded better than a 7FDL-16. Chug chug chug chug!

[@JasonMyers-c6z]

Very cool! I used to fuel the BNSF locomotives.

[@williamhamill813]

I have never seen someone break an engine free with a porta power. Wicked smart.

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks.

[@Speedy2222]

15:00 that is impressive. never would have thought of that

[@markmaker2488]

@@TheZachLife I’ve got a seized 6bt Cummins that I want to try this on. Is there a particular cylinder to use and what psi should I stop at. Any tips would be greatly appreciated, cheers!

[@NathanStickney-q1t]

You must be from Maine.

[@Burnsidef250]

I've heard of people using grease guns as well.

[@SIGINT007]

That “oil” stopped being oil about 500 hours ago.

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

At work I'm running as less than a year old skidsteer that the shop has ignored the 500hr oil change interval to near 1000hrs, simply because we've got major changes coming and the skidsteers will be going away, replaced with "mini loaders"

[@semidemiurge]

Zach. That was impressive as hell. I'm talking about your diligence and getter done attitude as much as your wrenching skills. I appreciate all of the insights you have shared about oilfield operations. This is a wonderful part of life you are sharing with the world.

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks.

[@greggb1416]

Zach with the “high-and-tight” haircut…, love it. You sir amaze me with your skills. That is awesome to see that unit running. Look forward to seeing it in full service action Great video, Thank you sir.

[@Joe-KN4IFI]

I can't believe Zach you got that beast running. The sheer size of that Cat engine just amazes me. Great job !!

[@fmagx]

Zach, reminds me so much of growing up. My dad brought plenty of oil field junk home from the scrap yard to turn it into working equipment. When my dad passed away I was left with the largest collection of Buda engines on earth.

[@tomuchfunwithgas846]

Rust is natures Lock Tight.

[@gorak9000]

Yup, and it's red, and just like red lock tite, the only that that will free it up is copious amounts of Terry the Torch

[@edeco50]

@@gorak9000 .you would be surprise how carburetor cleaner is good at eating

[@martyswaney1098]

Learned more about a 353 than l will probably ever need to know. Thanks.

[@cementer7665]

I must say that I am impressed. My initial thought is that someone had vandalized the engine, but after you started taking it apart, I believe that it just set out in the rain, with nothing over the exhaust. I used to go back between the engines on those old mechanical drive drilling rigs and lay down and keep warm, while they were running my test string, or retrievable packer/stinger in the hole, and I DO love the sound of those Caterpillars

[@demartin5366]

Wow, Zach! Love this diesel engine, just awesome. I am so amazed at your skills to troubleshoot and get 'er done! This is one of my favorite of all your videos. Its like you "bond" with your machines with your expertise and knowledge. You are certainly a gifted mechanic. Thanks so much for sharing your skills with all of us. It is much appreciated.

[@Vile-Flesh]

Loved this video. I had thought about recovering waste oil with a shop vac. Good to know that it recovers waste oil just fine. Nice work on getting it to run, I thought it was a total loss and I cannot believe the sheer neglect that engine endured.

[@steventrojanowski3595]

I liked it man, you’re one descent mechanic.. making junk come to life!!!

[@riverrat2592]

Zack, you are awesome at what you do. I love watching your content and can't wait to see what you have in store for this poor old kitty and pump!! You keep making videos and I'll keep watching them! I still can't believe you don't have more subscribers.

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks.

[@FishFind3000]

Did they use crude oil for engine lube?

[@ET_Don]

Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, machining, hydraulics, pneumatics, SCADA, and the list goes on. It's time to change the old saying from jack of all trades to "Zach of all trades"!!! Happy Holidays, Zach.

[@TheZachLife]

Hahahaha Thanks.

[@leftlanewilson]

"i didnt even know that had metal in it" made me laugh. Great video, best will it run style videos I've seen in a while.

[@prairiefork]

Enjoyed the video, you are a very resourceful man. Don't believe the oil was ever changed in that engine, such abuse of equipment.

[@advancednutritioninc908]

Zach, Wow! I gave up a few times ... But you pushed it on through!! Excellent problem solving! Like I have come to know about you! I just can't believe you used all that ether on that engine knowing that it could hurt it?? (LOL) With all the rust in the cylinders I was shocked it didn't lock up again. Thank you for the great video!!

[@Greggers123]

The adventure into the unknown continues.... Fantastic Zach!!

[@tomuchfunwithgas846]

Think the only time the oil was changed was when it was put in the first time. Worst I've ever seen.

[@Core-vu6mc]

So did someone run that engine until the oil transformed into a semi-solid? Then probably someone added diesel to get it running but failed, I guess? Great job, btw.

[@stephransley4371]

Incredible to see what skill and ingenuity you have.

[@chuckh.2227]

Rusty Cat lives! Nice job with the porta power defibrillator! Looking forward to seeing that massive pump come to life!

[@misterbacon4933]

You're not the only one!

[@Duane-O-Matic]

Zach, you are a boss. Much respect. Every guy, (self included) that has taken some junk and gotten it to work knows the feeling. For about 2 seconds you know what it feels like to win the Daytona 500. Happy as a sissy first day of sissy camp. My Dad pumped wells, he loved oil and I still do...hard to explain. Uh, I am an IT guy in AC office downtown in big city with no dirt under fingernails ever, haha...Life will make you laugh...that ole girl didnt sound too bad, even when you had her running on 5.

[@tiamat_023]

shoutout to that flatbed guy !

[@terrycannon570]

Zach I just recently got a John Deer tractor going for my neighbor. It was blowing black smoke out of the exhaust and the blow-by tube. Worst I ever saw. It would run for less than a minute then shut down. It started with a cracked head. He replaced the head and never could get it to run without the black smoke and shutting itself down. He put a new injector pump and all new injectors still no change. After I set the valves and set the pump timing I realized he had the injector lines crossed at the pump. It had so much soot in the oil I suggested he change the oil before doing any work with it. It now runs great and he has changed the oil. One bump of the starter and it will start right up no ether. I would suggest with the thin oil you have and amount of carbon in the pan you may have some similar fuel problem. Now no exhaust smoke and no blow by.

[@TheZachLife]

Interesting.

[@royb.1441]

The porta power is a GENIUS move man

[@kennethney4260]

Really enjoyed the video. Please do a follow up with whether the pump works or not...

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks. I will 100%

[@nigelsears7191]

as always love your content and love how varied things are , have a good week looking forward to the next episode

[@tomsoil9909]

You've brought a boat anchor back to life!! I would be more concerned about the GD pump!!

[@tylerrenick7157]

I love the 6 1/4 bore motors!! I live over in lakeside if you need any of the tools for it.

[@misterbacon4933]

This vlog needs immediately shown on every technical school for education purposes! Great job!

[@steveladner4346]

I've never seen a roll tail with that many axles.

[@googacct]

I did not even know what a roll tail was until today. I had seen trailers with the roll on the back, but never had thought about what its purpose was. Learned something new.

[@pfitz4881]

Can't believe all that sludge.. and you still got it to fire up. You do like a challenge !!!

[@richardlincoln8438]

You are a tuff man Zach. A lot of us would have given up on that internal rust bucket. I am curious to see what the bull gear and crosshead look like. By what we've seen of the engine, i'd bet the fluid end is beyond used up. Thanks for bringing us along on Your adventures. Best Wishes to You, Your Family and Friends.

[@togo3624]

Great video, Zach. Never doubted you would get her going.

[@BrokeMiner]

It’s like watching a kid in a candy store.

[@markdav61]

Happy Thanksgiving Z Man. Cool video.

[@kc033056]

Belated happy thanksgiving. You are something!!! GREAT VIDEO!! Where would a pump like this fit into your operation? I was hoping for a rebuild video on the engine. That haircut looks more like a late spring model as apposed to a late fall one. lol

[@TheZachLife]

It’s a mud pump for drilling. I’ll explain it all when I get to work on the actual pump. Thanks.

[@robertmcbee4671]

Howdy! I am sure someone other than me has posted that the previous owners may have used gasoline in the oil to help break down the sludge and other buildup inside the engine, which is why you seemed to have smelt gasoline. I like your doggedness in sticking to your project and get it going . Hell...that looked like fun and if I was 30 years younger, and had you asked, I would have been there in a heartbeat to lend a hand. But I know that these channels are all about individuals working on their own stuff and the journey to get it accomplished. Nevertheless, I think this project was great and am looking forward to see what come next! Keep up the good work! Oh.. forgot to ask... have you checked the turbo to see if it turns. Without that it won't run very well!

[@Vernon-Chitlen]

Caterpillar is not junk.

[@daleolson3506]

They used to be the best. Trying to live on their reputation now. Suppliers from everywhere they are the cheapest now and their product is suffering.

[@Vernon-Chitlen]

@ I like them. Had a few over the years is all and fed our family.

[@offroadrepairman]

This one is

[@jamesbarber3854]

Most industrial engines have an accessory drive with a shaft to a pulley. It changes the ratio of the amount of torque trying to turn a motor's crank shaft. Better than a pipe wrench directly on the crank shaft.

[@dannywilsher4165]

When I saw that pump, I thought maybe Jack is going into the drilling business!

[@GetterDunnFeller-m6t]

Like your status. One man show , no boss to say no ! , likes to experiment, let’s give it a go !

[@Vile-Flesh]

Exactly. He does as he likes at his own pace, keeps his stuff where he wants while using his money as he pleases and no one to nag him about organizing or cleaning up or telling him he has too much junk or telling him he has spent too much money.

[@TOW4DAYZ]

Just found your channel with this video love it what patch are you in

[@Jamgrass85]

Congrats on getting that beast running!

[@TonyBrehob]

instead of just having a piece of junk iron, Ive got a piece of junk iron that spins. #whyiwatchzach

[@Chris-hd3yc]

Holy shit man. Never have I ever seen anything like that. And then it started. That shit blew my mind. You sir are very awesome. Thats pure content!

[@adamtorgersen6865]

Try changing that fuel priming pump. It's probably letting air in fuel system. Love watching your perseverance! KEEP IT UP

[@Jody-kt9ev]

Congratulations on getting this running. This is the kind engine that the guy on the KZbin channel "I do Cars" would tear down, not try to fix. (If the engine was out of a car or truck).

[@erikih706]

I’ve watched many engine videos, and “will it start videos”. I really enjoyed this one. It was fun to see that dinosaur come back to life. I’d feel pretty good about the progress you made!

[@raykaufman7156]

"And don't call me Shirley..."

[@arthurmario5996]

wow, i never thought it would run. mad grit, persistence and skill

[@dirtfarmer7472]

When I sold my truck, a 2006 KW with a C15 Acert, in 2019 it had 1,128,000 miles, changed the Bypass oil filter every 10,000 miles

[@rdmccun]

Great video man! Happy holidays from bartlesville!

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks.

[@hughezzell10000]

The nice clean bolts holding the engine frame to the pump frame should have been your first clue that they just strapped some old engine from the yard to the pump to sell it that they were willing to sell a "fresh" CAT engine on something else for 7500 is your second clue That the clutch housing isnt bolted to the engine is the next clue Well at least the clutch seems to be working Empty oil filters, hmmmm, are they meant to drain? 8:56 so it's a scrap yard find, not an auction find. Ok. You bought this for the video. Ok. Getting rough enough to break a 3' wrench is my definition of rough by hand I was just waiting for you to try to start it without checking the rack - no excitement for me there Well you got about 20 of the 450 hp out of it, not quite enough yet. That mud pump is likely worth rebuilding if you're going to do a moderately deep hole with it. Figure on looking for someone with a really big press to get the sleeves out of it, you're probably not going to do it by hand. I tried once. If the bearings and gears are even remotely ok, that pumps got life in it still. The engine - well you got a video out of it. I really like your videos, this one didn't disappoint.

[@memadmax69]

Easiest way to tell if a motor has been overhauled recently or not is to look at the exhaust manifold bolts.

[@oldroscoe2590]

The old diesel lives, didn't start a fire and you still have all your fingers and toes and both eyes. Good job.

[@ruben_balea]

Are you sure it's getting enough air? I bet it has the factory air filter with enough dirt on it to grow a sack of potatoes! 😅

[@WyoWellTester]

Safe to say the overhaul story was a bit of a stretch

[@CH-um4iy]

Outstanding! Can you imagine if you had a new one and maintained it?

[@jason0870]

Great vid. These revivals are great.

[@peterparsons7141]

That was fun. I’ve been pondering a backup hydro diesel generator. I’m amazed that these motors will still run considering the abuse, hard use, and neglect throughout their life. Really interesting video, what I think is funny is that as a viewer when I got hooked at the beginning of the video I had to see it run. I was ready to hop in my truck and drive over there and pitch in to help. It’s just human nature to want to help. ( the good humans , anyway). Porta power move ..incredible.

[@mcd5082]

Man I missed your videos Zach! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

[@tugboat2739]

Howdy Zach Awesome video

[@branchharper9287]

Awesome video! Couldn’t believe how dirty that engine was! Fun to watch you get it running!

[@andrewklahold2880]

I wonder if they were running heating oil in that engine

[@wdcjunk]

That's a big hunk of junk.

[@TheoSmith249]

Zach, you are my doomsday buddy

[@GregMosley-l7b]

Did the same to a Murphy Diesel. Runs like a champ!

[@jonnojamwood]

Great video Zac , keep on choochin. Cheers mate.👍🇦🇺

[@Jpaydirt]

That's a spacer plate D353 what a shame it got water in it

[@TheZachLife]

Sure is.

[@Asta-wl8jz]

Your neighbors are going to LOVE you. 😀

[@davidskiffington7039]

Smooth unload

[@localcrew]

Tough to kill one of these engines. Previous owner sure gave his all.

[@bigdog2024]

You sure that engine was not UNDER water, congealed oil, rusted rack? Your “try it and see what happens” is pretty cool to watch, not afraid to try something and see if it works. It’s already broken it cannot get more broken!

[@Drmcclung]

Even though it's just a fun junk project, try rolling the injection timing back a little bit, it sounded kinda over-advanced to me

[@deepwatercane]

Zack, I watch a channel called Adept Ape, and he said any time the outside yellow paint on a Cat block around the bearing area or crank shaft area is red then at some time it spun a bearing. He is a Cat mechanic..

[@Danvers97]

Digging the new hair style man!

[@andysaunders3708]

My neighbour in Illinois had a '67 Impala, 2-door, with a 6-cylinder in it. The outside of the engine looked like what you were pulling out of the inside of that thing. Amazingly, it still ran, but barely. You know who you are, Phillip's brother - you trashed a good car, and it would be worth a fair amount of money today. Sad.

[@OHJUSTFORKU]

Is the turbo stuck....I have a 353 gen plant and the turbo just screams

[@maxx5058]

The question is does the Pump work?

[@peterhodgkins6985]

Well the title of the video hooked me, but I'd have watched it anyway. ;) That's some comical s**t you're doin' there Zach! Gotta love linemen and oil patch folk. I wonder if it'd quiet down (mechanically) with all six cylinders contributing. As it is, she sounds a little loose... Like a couple pistons tryin' to swap holes. Can't wait for more of this one!

[@repete2362]

probably too late but condensation in the gear end of the mud pump is usually a problem . as the gear end may not get hot enough to vaporize the condensation from the hot/cold cycles. anything with cat yellow is $$$$$

[@sambrose1]

Zack my yt buddy you get that pump running and the work over rig built up like you want and this spring I'll take some time off and we'll work over one of your wells.

[@flyboy6876]

If the engine looks like it does. God, I hate to see what the mud pump looks like

[@TheZachLife]

You are probably right.

[@tomsisk6811]

Bet them liners pull right out...NOT ! I still have nitemares from tearing down these old pumps that have sat open to the elements . Had an oldtimer show me his bag of tricks to bust them apart .

[@willpotts9131]

"Doesn't hold much oil, only 10 gallons" I like the way you think

[@brettmerryman2837]

Did you throw the clutch in to rotate the pump any?

[@danjohnson1172]

Best video ever. ZACH the CAT detective

[@Stevesbe]

Who war that guy in the 2nd half of the video?

[@NinerFourWhiskey]

Can you run the engine enough to determine whether the pump is salvageable or not?

[@flyboy6876]

Heck of a lot more patient than I would have been, especially after seeing the bottom of the pan. Scrap prices are not bad, but you may get what you lost. I wish you good luck with the pump. But not holding my breath. I like working on the pumps a lot less work to make them right

[@TheZachLife]

Thanks.

[@donsscooters]

It's almost like it came though a flood or at least was sitting near the coast for a long time. I know that feeling though of bringing something back to life. Its the reason for getting up in the morning some days.

[@claystewart2461]

jpaydirt would be proud of you, saving another cat

[@onestopfabshop3224]

They always say fresh overhaul, or 100k on the in frame. But then it's got more smoke out the breather than out the stacks.

[@n-lessfix-itlist3836]

Great video Zach you had me laughing my ass off

[@mrMacGoover]

It might be worth rebuilding?

[@raykaufman7156]

Did you ever try to spin the mud pump?

[@B.j.Turner-z3j]

Clyde train dfv.

[@michaelmcclure8673]

Mr Paydirt just got a sick feeling in his stomach. Zack how many hp does that pump require to work ?