Re: Old Caterpillar

Posted by Britt Misker on August 18, 2003 at 18:48:01 from (209.248.2.141):

In Reply to: Old Caterpillar posted by kyle S on August 09, 2003 at 00:49:45:

Just a couple of thoughts:
If the engine isn't stuck, before you try to start it, go to each drain plug on the engine, transmission, final drives and loosen the plug. Back it out slowly until you see fluid come out around the threads. If it is water, drain it out & refill it with the proper oil. If nothing comes out, remove the plug & probe through the accmmulated sludge. Be expecting a bath. Those old Cats had quite a large drain plug if I remember correctly. If there is a lot of water, there is a chance that the oil pump will be stuck. This will cause the shaft to twist off with expensive results. I don't have any Cat 30 experience, but there could be an inspection plate on the side of the crankcase or the oil sump that you could remove to check the oil pump.
If you decide to try to crank it after macking sure that the pump will pick up oil and not water, it woulld be best to remove the rocker cover and pour oil over the rocker arms & valve springs, etc. Then remove the spark plugs (if is gas powered) or release the compression if it is diesel. Then remove the oil line that goes to the gage. Crank the engine over (no longer than 30 seconds at a time, allowing 3 minutes between cranking for the starter to cool down) until oil comes out of the oil pressure gage fitting. Reconnect the gage line and continue cranking (while observing the above caution) until the oil pressure reads in the operating range. While you are getting oil pumped through the engine, it would be a good time to check the ignition system. You will need to clean out the fuel system completely.
There is a good chance that the carburetor and magneto will need to be rebuilt.
The main object of this exercise is to get lubrication to all of those bearings that have sat dry for all those years. I have seen engines destroyed due to the fact that they were started before oil was pumped to the dry bearings. (Garranteed to happen if the oil pump is stuck.)
A little care and patience at the beginning will go a long way toward saving many $$$.
Good Luck with the old Cat.

Britt

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• Re: Re: Old Caterpillar Britt Misker 18:54:54 08/18/03 (0)

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