USS SLATER...Start Your Engine

[@leonardhirtle3645]

I worked on marine diesel engines for over 35 years. I operated them and rebuilt them. I’m old and bedridden now but I love to watch them run. Thank you for this.

[@miniz33]

Thanks for the years of hard work dude, hope you get well soon

[@richardangelini7296]

Prior Navy myself ... one of the jobs I enjoyed doing ...

[@conantdog]

Hang in there friend 👍

[@steveowen5143]

Sounds like its in your blood. Same for me. I'll watch these videos for hours.

[@chloehennessey6813]

Would it be possible to take a trip to one of these museum ships?

[@3400Zlinear]

For a ship built during WWII, the generator room looks cleaner than our kitchen! God Bless the staff who are maintaining that piece of history, Thank You.

[@jimmiles33]

All volunteers 💪

[@jjs8046]

Gotta love the joy of that ever-young gentleman after the engine has started!

[@johnbeck2042]

I am an eighty-year-young petrol-head in Cape Town, South Africa, but must say well done to all who love diesels and who maintain them!

[@nathanarcher6764]

God Bless Y'all; Nothing like hearing that baby purr

[@wskinn]

I do love a large engine at idle

[@bystander1489]

The engineers who designed the ship were incredible people, all drawn on paper with a pencil , eraser , compass, rulers etc and the mathematicians who calculated millions of numbers

[@truthurts1692]

and don't forget to mention- no computers, no calculators, just slide rules and paper...

[@NY-Vice]

​@@truthurts1692 they did not forget to mention any of what you said 😂😂

[@JRRott-mj5jq]

Love old diesels idk why they ever retired the ship still runs perfect the old stuff is the best it will keep going

[@Levisnteeshirt1]

Parts support is a major issue for items all through the the ship ,,, one thing non Navy people wouldn't ever guess is that urine and sea water turns to a hard crystal and begins building up in all of the sewage system ,, many things about ships maintenance is cost prohibitive to keep old ones going

[@OliverMoore1973]

I was holding my breath watching you twist in the new bulb 💡

[@davemardon6756]

Nice. A bit late seeing this.... A big shout out to my Dad who is a volunteer. Love ya Dad.

[@KenHartman152]

I just found this site. My Dad served on the USS Fessenden 142 during WWII. Back around 2006 I found a USS Fessenden reunion group and contacted them. through that group I was able to contact the USS Slater Destroyer Escort Museum and sent my Dad's uniform to you and you sent me a picture back of it on display for a short time spread out on a cot. I was always wanting to visit the Slater to get an idea of my Dad's ship. Unfortunately I was never able to do so. But now through this channel I can. Thank you all so much. And God Bless for the Time and Energy you all put in on keeping the Slater in ship shape condition!

[@jimmiles33]

If there’s something specific you’d like to see, on or off the tour route, please let me know.

[@ianmangham4570]

Cool 😎 🙏

[@roush791]

This makes me homesick for the engineroom.

[@jakenathanwmass]

Really fantastic. You guys do an amazing job. What a great video!

[@danielkennedy1524]

Fantastic! Thank you gentlemen! Long live the GM!!!

[@pmccoy8924]

Great footage. My grandfather was an officer on a tin can in WW2. Good to see what made her hum.

[@jimmiles33]

That’s the reason to keep these engines around. They never forget how to sound. It connects us through the generations.

[@usmanballo7621]

I regocnize those engines GMC , we had them on the ocean mine sweeper , love the sound of the engine , brings back memories

[@rmaiabr]

This reminded me of railway engines from when I took a mechanics course at the Federal Railway Network school in Brazil. I'm passionate about machines, and this one reminded me of the old EMD, Caterpilllar and GE motors.

[@jimmiles33]

Very very similar. The late model Winton and early EMDs borrowed a lot from each other under the umbrella of GM.

[@hilham89]

Those light sticks looks like a giant plunger. Great video sir.

[@Theronj89]

Love seeing this piece of history on the river on my way to work.

[@terrilstout8076]

That is so neat to see and hear. A big thanks to the engineers, and all the other volunteers for making this happen!

[@USSSlater]

We have a great crew!

[@jlo13800]

Another awsome 2 stroke, its an oversized snowmobie engine and thats a good thing

[@jlo13800]

Is that a cleveland 2 stroke 268

[@jimmiles33]

@@jlo13800 yes. That’s a 8-268a. A just meaning she’s got steel pistons instead of aluminum.

[@santanupradhan125]

Iii in q 😂

[@robleary3353]

Love seeing old machinery being bought back to life and given another go!. Glad there are still the skills and knowledge to do so!. Great informative video!. Nuff said! Maddog, Melbourne Aus.

[@johnny22single99]

ABSOLUTELY---------> OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!. 🙂

[@vintage42]

The Slater is sister ship of USS Atherton DE-169 named for my uncle. Glad to see the Slater doing so well. Last saw her on a road trip from Louisville in 2006 but tour did not include engineering spaces. The video made me nostalgic for when I was propulsion officer on the USS Guam LPH-9 in the '60s.

[@onkcuf]

Wow. Aint yoo tube great?

[@aj-2savage896]

Some years ago, I didn't know about SLATER, but saw it on my travels north. Of course, immediately turned around to toor the ship. This is a fantastic artifact! Blessings to all who care for her.

[@craigmclean8260]

Nice sound to this engine! Same model as used on the now-retired/sold Seattle Fire Boat, Alki (built in 1927, repowered in 1947, IIRC).

[@General-Eclectic]

20th century industrial artwork.

[@DM-wy5hy]

Love the sound. Worked with both Caterpillar and Onan Gensets. Brings back memories

[@jlo13800]

anything 4 stroke is throw away shit, 2 strokes rule!

[@jlo13800]

Caterpillar is a 4 stroke toy!

[@jlo13800]

But a 3516 how big bore spacing for a an air box and buillet aluminum water jacks for a 2 stroke conversion, D99's some have been converted to 2 stroke!

[@attosharc]

My wife and I were in Albany and had a deck tour s few years ago. It was Sunday, but a gentleman who happened to be there took us on board. We couldn't go inside, and this video shows us some of what we missed. Thank you.

[@Sidebranches]

The leaking seals are awesome. I have taken care of 2 on a Mississippi River gambling boat.

[@tonyInPA]

Great job getting the diesel exercised…hope to see other museum ships diesels singing again! 😉

[@USSSlater]

Our Emergency Generator works as well. That is able to start on batteries instead of the compressed air in the event we lose all electricity and need to run pumps.

[@gregsbiplays9899]

@@USSSlater Is it the ship's original emergency generator?

[@USSSlater]

@@gregsbiplays9899 yup! Her engineering plant is all original.

[@Tedjenkins55]

Awsome thankyou. Now this is how you bring a museum ship back to life no constraints from the navy. Honestly there is something special about hearing the slow thud (like a heartbeat) of a diesel engine maybe a generator not main engines (can I ask do you run them) and seeing smoke from the funnel/stack. Its a shame the navy doesn't let other museum ships start there generators and give the ships there heartbeat back. Great job everyone on the uss slater and a hello from the uk.

[@terrilstout8076]

Rick. I'm a volunteer. Sadly due to do insurance constraints the main engines cannot be run.

[@Tedjenkins55]

@@terrilstout8076 the generator is more than enough any engine sound from within the ship and smoke from the stack is epic enough. I hope to get over to the US in next couple of years and visit as many museum ships as possible. uss slater is one of top ships to visit. You guys do an amazing job thankyou for keeping navy history alive literally 👍

[@billmoran3812]

@@terrilstout8076 insurance underwriters would have you keep the ship under glass in a warehouse. Far too much power is given to paper pushers.

[@Tedjenkins55]

@terril Stout it echos the same on this side of the pond. You have to have a safety meeting and a risk assessment on a "broom" before you can use it. Your all doing a fantastic job thankyou

[@redbovine]

On some ships especially the larger ones with boilers just getting 1 boiler fired would probably bankrupt the museum.

[@roycepruett5862]

Enjoyed your video, reminded me of my time in the engine room of the Uss Abnaki (ATF-96) back in 1958, then the USS Hassayampa (AO-145) in 1961.

[@raybame5816]

WOW is all I can say. The sound of music right here. Thanks to all who worked for this moment.

[@j.s.561]

Not only does it sound nice, it also looks very nice. It's actually too bad to put it below deck. Many thanks from Germany

[@jimmiles33]

I’d kill to have one of these in my backyard! 😅

[@jackking5567]

I really wish I could visit such a living museum like this. (circumstances stop that) I'm not ex-forces but I am fascinated by the workings behind the scenes of such 'floating cities'. Sure they have guns and move on the sea but there's a whole new world to what makes all of that happen. Top work folks. Hopefully some are inspired to keep the museum functioning.

[@Losman666]

I grew up going in the USS Texas and the USS Lexington. I already could imagine that old metal and oil smell that I really love. I also love hearing that constant humming of the electricity going. Wish I was there with y’all to witness this beauty come to life. Cheers yall.

[@richardsims1805]

That was areal trip down memory lane! I served on the USS Littlehales (AGSC 15) in the early '60's. She was powered by 2 GM 8-268A engines for two shaft propulsion. Light off procedure was nearly identical except our air compressors (2) were located in the engine room. We were limited to 450 RPM (idle) for 1/3 speed, 600 RPM for 2/3 speed and 890 RPM for full speed (10 knots). That was 60 years ago and I still remember it like it was yesterday!

[@USSSlater]

If you are ever interested in volunteering in the engine rooms, we would love to have you! We have weekly volunteers but also host spring and fall work weeks when volunteers from across the country come aboard for a few days and help out. Can find all that info on our website.

[@richardsims1805]

@@USSSlater I live in Kentucky and Albany is a bit out of my commuting range, but will promise to stop by in the Spring for a visit.

[@USSSlater]

@@richardsims1805 We look forward to seeing you! We will be open by the second week of April.

[@jlo13800]

is a GM 8-268 a 2 stroke likje rotax and Fairbanks morese, im on a tug with 2 stroke 645 EMD

[@JeffKubel]

I wonder if foreign intelligence raises an eyebrow when they see smoke coming from the stacks of some of these "museum ships". 🤔 😆

[@randominternetguy]

I'm sure there's always a new guy that doesn't quite know how real the threat of the mothball fleet is.

[@jaysonlima7196]

I would say that yeah probably. "Hey ivan that "museum piece" looks like its getting ready to get under way....."

[@regal105]

@@randominternetguythe mothball fleets glory days are long past

[@jonathansparks3386]

@@regal105those old mothballs can still run with the best of ‘em. Mothball ships can still unlimber hell fire and destruction. I’d have no problem with them boats

[@TheMilwaukieDan]

The Mothball ships of this century are ships built in the last 25-30 years tgat have been taken out of service. How ‘viable’ they are I’m not sure though.

[@bjornlarsson7751]

amazing ship

[@johnbattista9519]

My father served on the DE-36 and made contributions to the Slater over the years and I started to do the same. Great to hear it fire up. I visited about 4 years ago. Want to go back again soon

[@johnerway7255]

She purrrrs nice. Great job guys.

[@michaelphillips8238]

BZ to the entire crew! Love to see these purr like that -

[@williambarry8015]

Got to hand to these Museum Folk. Just a few dedicted people doing the job of a few hundred and on a miniscule budget.

[@stevebyrne4235]

Great video; larger powerplant than the DD 4-53 in my fishing boat. Thanks to all

[@citetez]

Probably no noisier though!

[@haraldpettersen3649]

Thanks for the start for us viewers 👍

[@davidbaldwin1591]

4:30 I like the name "bayonet gauge". Old drop of oil to the new drop: "They expose you to intense heat, then poke you with a sharp stick to see what happens".

[@mahogany3947]

That freaking light stick is fantastic cool video I'm now a subscriber

[@gordonoostenbrink7907]

Love the sound,,,,music,,,awesome thanks for all you do !

[@clifffoltz651]

Thanks to the volunteers and the staff of the Slater !

[@brianburns7211]

Thank you for posting this. Gus Negus was a friend of mine who contributed greatly to getting the engines running.

[@USSSlater]

Gus was a huge contributor to getting this engine running 15 years ago. If you Google his name and USS Slater, you can read all our publications in which he is mentioned.

[@AugustusTitus]

great video!

[@sydecarnutz972]

As a former submarine mechanic, our HP air compressors made 4500 psi! Have you beat there LOL. We had LP air for the service air system and for other pressures it got reduced into those systems from the HP one. It took a lot of maintenance to keep those things running! Lots of late nights on duty swapping in new pistons and check valves I remember!

[@brustdiesel]

How many stages? 5? 6?

[@kevincrosby1760]

If the Slater ends up needing compressors capable of overcoming the exterior pressure "at depth", she has bigger problems than how well they work... Thanks for your service. It takes a special kind to serve on subs. I did my sea time on a Replenishment Oiler...What I believe that you referred to as a "High Priority Target"?

[@clayforge4696]

As an active MM I'm also used to the HP air being around 3000 or so not 500

[@Aftermath779]

When something is alive, it's a good sign.

[@nerd1000ify]

If any of you guys are ever in Brisbane, take the time to visit HMAS Diamantina at the Queensland Maritime Museum. As a River class Frigate she has a great deal in common with a DE like Slater, but some other things couldn't be more different. Big contrast between the diesels seen here and Diamantina's steam plant with triple expansion reciprocating engines! Diamantina is permanently dry-docked so her hull remains in good condition, unlike the museum's other steamship ST Forceful which sadly will soon be scrapped as they cannot afford to keep her afloat and nobody is willing to give a place for her to stay out of the water. Having done volunteer work for QMM, I can't really say I'm surprised that she was allowed to get so bad...

[@richardsims1805]

On the USS Littlehales (AGSC 15), our main propulsion diesels were (2) of these rock crushers. Idle setting was 450 (one third), 600 was 2/3, and full speed was 890 RPM. All ahead full speed was 10 knots. Some fun in 1962!!

[@onkcuf]

Yay, let there be light!

[@vienduongxinchao]

I love that noise

[@fp3359]

Thanks amd respect for the workforce. Greeting from Holland 🇳🇱

[@bullnukeoldman3794]

Cute little engine. I ran FM 38 8-1/8s for several years. A bit larger...

[@Trains-With-Shane]

Awesome! Learned a little something. I knew about the big EMD Division and medium duty Detroit Division diesels of GM but thanks do this video I discovered the Cleveland division. Which.. from the wiki, looks like their 2-stroke varieties may have become the big EMD locomotive diesels. Anyways GREAT job getting this thing up and running. The boat seems to be in really good shape! I always love hearing these big old diesel engines run. Whether prime movers, auxiliary generators, etc.

[@williamjones4483]

Cleveland Diesel Division was considered to be a separate entity until 1962 I believe, when General Motors folded it into EMD. Most people have always considered these engines to be EMD regardless. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Diesel_Engine_Division

[@roadwolf2]

It’s a big Detroit diesel to me because it said General Motors near the dipstick. But that’s just me.

[@nixxonnor]

Do they happen to pronounce this ship's name as USS Later? It is obvious that these guys know what they are doing, following memorized shecklists and procedures. Very nice to watch.

[@jimmiles33]

No we all call her Slater. Frank Slater gave everything for his country, so we don’t skimp on his name.

[@davidmondello6504]

I miss those sounds!

[@GeekBoyMN]

I was on a Newport class LST in the 80s with Alco 251C mains and 251E generator engines and this reminds me of that. We also had 600psi compressors for starting air that was stepped down to around 150psi to give the starters the volume they needed. At that time 600 was considered medium pressure, and I think 1200 was high pressure. We had 150psi LP compressors for the engine controls, clutch packs and various other stuff compressed air is needed for. This engine room is cavernous by comparison and me being 6'4" I had to duck a lot going through WTD all the time. Thanks for showing all of this!!

[@jlo13800]

was your alco a piston port 2 stroke version

[@GeekBoyMN]

@@jlo13800 251 series are 4 stroke

[@jlo13800]

@@GeekBoyMN there probably is plenty of room to cut ports into it for a 2 stroke conversion.

[@GeekBoyMN]

@@jlo13800 Do you have blueprints and engineering drawings for that? No? Didn't think so.

[@jlo13800]

@@GeekBoyMN some ran as 2 stroke for submarines back in the day. the tug im on has EMD 645. fairbanks OP 2 strokes are pretty fascenating.

[@Tchristman100]

Same engines that power John Waynes Wild Goose. These are in remarkable good shape since it didn't smoke but for a few seconds.

[@poly_hexamethyl]

For such an old ship (built in the 40's?), seems to be in great condition! Must be really well maintained.

[@jimmiles33]

The amount of work put in is enormous. These videos cover a very small sliver of it on Mondays only.

[@ΜιχαληςΚουβαρακης-ν6ε]

Συγκινηση μεγαλη το πρωτο Πλοιο μετα την Σχολη Το 1978 Νεος μηχανικος ολα τοτε Αγνωστα Θαυμαζα αυτον που εβαζε μπρος την Μηχανη ....

[@USSSlater]

Πόσο καιρό ήσασταν στο πλοίο; Κάποιες αναμνήσεις;

[@gardnersmith3580]

Well, that answers the question of how many sailors it takes to change a light bulb.

[@tamar5261]

I used to be in charge of maintenance on an old Lightship. I relied on volunteers to help. They were usually retired gentleman who did a great job. But as they got older and more infirm the numbers dwindled until non were left. It was too much for me as the ship was big and a forgotten screwdriver left in the engine room could mean a climb down 3 deck levels and back up. It was a shame when the charity that run the ship ran out of money but also a relief.

[@jasonz7788]

Awesome thanks 👍

[@tomayrscotland6890]

Great stuff ladds keeping the boat going and being on top of the maintenance.. cheers

[@andysaunders3708]

I have to say, I'd never heard of a Cleveland diesel until now. 1200 rpm. Sounds like it's doing more than that, but I guess it's firing twice as fast as a 4-cycle...

[@finishedwithengines]

Very cool to see old iron up and running!

[@jlo13800]

Yeah that big 38 8 1/8th OP 2 stroke, like to try klotz techniplate 2 stroke oil in here! I got my 8v92 2 stroke on 6 gallons of XD-100 BRP 2 stroke oil from walmart.

[@micahh9351]

the old girl is back!

[@railroadingrambler218]

Great video! I spent a night on the Slater many years ago with my Scout Troop.

[@USSSlater]

We are starting to have troop leaders that slept on the ship 20 years ago bring their own kids. Such a great treasure!

[@davesparky9072]

AWESOME JOB by Crew!!!

[@maximusstarblazer]

This is really fantastic to see!

[@drscopeify]

SO AWESOME! Amazing work guys!

[@binbashbuddy]

That's great, well done guys

[@jonminer9891]

Thanks, guys. I wonder how an EMP would fare against that style of engine. I bet it would keep on truckin'! Anyway, thanks for sharing! Stay healthy!

[@USSSlater]

SLATER has survived nearly 80 years! We joke that there are so many layers of paint that a torpedo can't puncture the hull!

[@user2C47]

I doubt an engine like that one would care in the slightest. The most one of those old ships would notice is that the radio doesn't work.

[@kevincrosby1760]

@@user2C47 The diesels wouldn't care a bit. However, I believe that she has a diesel/electric drive, which opens up a whole new can of worms...and a few generator and motor windings.

[@brnmcc01]

@@kevincrosby1760 Everything inside the engine room is basically in a heavy walled faraday cage, plus partially below the waterline. It's the computers up top like GPS, radios and radar units on the bridge that will get fried. Need to have paper charts in the chartroom, and hopefully someone that knows how to do dead reckoning and the ship will still be able to navigate under her own power most likely

[@kevincrosby1760]

@@brnmcc01 True, but everything that runs on AC power all connects back down to the Ship's Service Switchboard. Electricity does funny things, especially with the Isolated Ground system used on ships. Unless there is a fault, there is no direct path to ground in the electrical system. If you have a high enough induced voltage, hard to tell where it will go. As far as navigation goes, when I separated in 1990 they plotted the course on paper charts and verified position with the GPS. The Gyrocompass may not make it, but there was an old-fashioned magnetic compass right in front of the helm. I seem to remember a group of midshipmen out on a bridge wing trying to figure out a sextant, so celestial navigation is apparently still a thing.

[@4xprops457]

Looks like a lot of fun of me!

[@jimanderson4495]

Thanks for all your hard work

[@Project_Prescott]

I might go see the Slater when I go to Troy NY the weekend before halloween

[@jimmiles33]

Do it. The stem to stern tour is great. But at the very least, do the engine room add on tour.

[@kristoffermangila]

If memory serves me right, the main engines of the Slater is a GM-EMD engine, a 567 if memory serves me right. These were the engines that power the EMD E-unit and FT diesel-electric locomotives. The War Production Board diverted production of these engines to the Navy to power DEs like Slater as well as subs, subchasers and LSTs, to the dismay of railroads, especially in the west, who wanted to get rid of their expensive-to-operate steam locomotives.

[@jimmiles33]

Slater has 268 generators and 278a main propulsion generators.

[@kristoffermangila]

@@jimmiles33 oh ok.

[@williamjones4483]

4 Cleveland Diesel Division 16-278A diesel engines with electric drive. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Diesel_Engine_Division

[@av8tore71]

@03:48 designed to leak a little reminds me of my dad old Ford Model A the water pump shaft bearing is actually cloth its bacially braided flexible acrylic yarn packing and requires a sweet spot if its too tight it will bind and if its too loose it'll leak coolent

[@peterbustin2683]

Fascinating ! Many thanks from UK.

[@Kickn_NZ]

You absolute champion for doing this, such an excellent video to watch had me enthralled the whole way through.

[@dwayneoxford9719]

Sounded like a 318DD at beginning. Sat up beside many in the heyday of the cab overs.

[@jamerbunz5768]

Randomly saw this video in my feed while playing World of Warships lol

[@USSSlater]

We were featured in a Naval Legends video a few years ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZa1gaOsj72WrdE

[@tettazwo9865]

Great video!

[@redj59]

Wonderful

[@scotteriksen4825]

Great job!

[@foghatdwjones1771]

The big gens on the Gresham were GMC-671's and the stack talk is identical. The electrical panel is also the same.

[@GeekBoyMN]

How do you mean "big"? We used 6-71s on the small boats on my ship. The generators were Alco 251E V8 that had 9 inch bore and 10 inch stroke.

[@raygale4198]

The 6-71 was the first true 'Detroit Diesel General Motors' designed Diesel, the engine shown in this video is a Cleveland Diesel, a division of GM. Cleveland were absorbed into GM and design features from the Cleveland went on to be used in the 567 EMD diesel, made by Electo Motive Division of GM. It's amazing to think that Charles Kettering and his team at GM designed the 71 series in the mid 1930's and it went into production until the mid 1990's virtually unchanged, it finally being the EPA that killed the range of GM 2 stroke engines. If that name Kettering looks familiar, think ignition systems, Delco starters and generators and other brands that escape me, he was a brilliant engineer and team leader, his biography is well worth reading.

[@foghatdwjones1771]

@@GeekBoyMN we also had small GM's in each ER, 3-71's if I recall and our "small" compared to the 6-71's. Seldom used except when the mess section was baking and that was in exchange for fresh bread right out of the oven! They ( the small) were prone to running away on start but the OS trip always caught them.

[@williamjones4483]

@@raygale4198 General Motors always owned Cleveland Diesel Division. In 1962 Cleveland Diesel was folded into EMD which was the locomotive manufacturing division.

[@raygale4198]

@@williamjones4483 You are correct prior 1932 it was Winton Engine works. GM bought them out in 32 and changed the name to Cleveland Diesel Division in 38. So Cleveland Diesel was always owned by GM. Design features of the Cleveland engine went on to become the EMD

[@vanguard9067]

Wow! It sounds good.

[@busterdee8228]

That's a mighty clean vessel if the crew looks like visiting dignitaries.

[@jimmiles33]

She’s a museum, so we have plenty of time to clean. “Run she may, shine she must”

[@busterdee8228]

@@jimmiles33 So is SS John Brown (which I like btw), but it doesn't look like a jewel.😉

[@theenginemanfromthepast.]

Fantastic Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@rdety]

Interesting Video!..Great Content

[@jimskewes8337]

Love that sound. Music it is.

[@agems56]

Who would have guessed that older Safeway trailers used Mercedes diesel 4 cylinder engines in their reefers!

[@petermccuskey1832]

Thank you for the content

[@loadingcylinder9067]

did not know you guys have a youtube channel i live 10 min away and have gone at least 10 times

[@USSSlater]

Glad you found us! If you are ever interested in volunteering, feel free to reach out.