Caterpillar Pony Motor

[Old Magnet]

It's the same deal whether original or conversion. Direct start with glow plugs and ether starting aid was rated down to -10 def. F.
Below that some engines offered manifold air heaters. If no air heater than water jacket heat is required. What engine and how cold a temperature are you referring to?

There are limits....It is not advisable to use electric starting in temperatures below the pour point of SAE No. 10W oil without addition of some heat to the cooling system of the engine or dilution of the crankcase oil.

 

[d9gdon]

If it was pony start to begin with and you swap it to direct electric start, then you just change out the pre combustion chambers with the type that accept glow plugs by unscrewing them out of the head with a splined tool that you can get from Cat for about $50.

Of course you have to add a battery and a heat start switch and wire them up to the glow plugs.

Maybe that's what you're asking...

 

[chevota84]

If it has the original 2 piece chambers you need more than the spline drive. There's an insert and a bolt to press the top part out and then you thread the bottom out with the spline tool. 8h chambers for the glow plug conversion.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Xparent Blue Tapatalk 2

 

[Birken Vogt]

Yep, that mostly answers my curiosity, just one more thing, that is do the chambers come out the top with the heads still on the engine? Or do you have to get them out the bottom?

 

[chevota84]

Yep, that mostly answers my curiosity, just one more thing, that is do the chambers come out the top with the heads still on the engine? Or do you have to get them out the bottom?

Right out the top.

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[baexcavating]

greg, where did you get your d7 direct start conversion kit?

 

[Greg]

Got the starter from Thill Tractor in Eau Claire, Wi. When I did this one I talked to a lot of people first. Many said that just put the starter on and don't bother with the glow plugs and the like. Just give it a small puff of starting fluid just before turning it over. That is what I have been doing since the conversion eight years ago. Does fine this way. Worst part of whole thing was bracket to mount the alternator. Finding a place for the two big 4D batteries was a bit of a challange too. Overall it worked out great.

 

[Fat Dan]

I got one setting in the shop which came of a D7E which needs head gasket, and ring gear if anyone is interested. Switched this machine to direct electric.

What did that wind up running you $$$ by the time you got the starter, glow plugs, pre-cups and gen & reg? I'm thinking of converting because the ring gear on the flywheel is buggered significantly from grinding the starting pinion to start the diesel engine. Also how hard was it to find the parts?

 

[Fat Dan]

I'm not sure if we are talking about exactly the same thing here. You might be talking about engines that were direct electric from the factory?

I was wondering how you got a machine that was originally a pony start to start with an electric starter. Surely in cold temperatures they needed a lot more help than just spinning the engine with the starter.

Many of the D2, D4, D4-12A Traxcavator had the attachment option for the 24V starting motor.

 

[Fat Dan]

1957, 955C, 12A-03563, D351 engine. See pony mounting housing and below is the hole and studs for the 24v Electric starter the plate that covered the starter hole was missing that is why the studs are dirty

 

[MattR]

http://ponymotor.embarqspace.com

try this

I plan to do my D8H sometime as well

 

[Dave Neubert]

I worked at a sand and gravel plant back in the 70s and they had a 988 A wheel loader with a pony motor all controls where in the cab. I thought this was unusual

 

[Fat Dan]

http://ponymotor.embarqspace.com

try this

I plan to do my D8H sometime as well

@MattR Thanks I just sent them an email to give me a quote. I ask if they had glow-plug precups.

 

[Fat Dan]

I worked at a sand and gravel plant back in the 70s and they had a 988 A wheel loader with a pony motor all controls where in the cab. I thought this was unusual

I was working on the AK Pipeline at pump station 3 south of Franklin Bluffs in 77 and there were many one off Frankensteined machines out there. I couldn't tell you if pony motors were an option on the 988's but it is amazing what people can do with a paperclip, a roll of Duct tape and an old piece of iron.

 

[RZucker]

@MattR Thanks I just sent them an email to give me a quote. I ask if they had glow-plug precups.

Years back I worked with two 18A D9s that had electric starters without glow plugs, those old critters would start at 35 degrees F without ether after just a few turns. I know nothing about the history of how they were assembled or timed, but it was really amazing how easily they started.

 

[Cody danos]

I was working on the AK Pipeline at pump station 3 south of Franklin Bluffs in 77 and there were many one off Frankensteined machines out there. I couldn't tell you if pony motors were an option on the 988's but it is amazing what people can do with a paperclip, a roll of Duct tape and an old piece of iron.

when the 988s were first introduced in 63 or 64 the pony motor was an option

 

[gary808]

We converted our d7e to direct start after buying it. The last owner ground the ring gear off and that did havoc on the scavenger pump as well. We bought the correct bendix and nose cone and converted a 40mt we had. We did two glow plugs on the back head and it starts really easy. But we're in the tropics.

 

[Fat Dan]

We converted our d7e to direct start after buying it. The last owner ground the ring gear off and that did havoc on the scavenger pump as well. We bought the correct bendix and nose cone and converted a 40mt we had. We did two glow plugs on the back head and it starts really easy. But we're in the tropics.

Only two glow-plugs, hummmm, good idea but in for a penny in for a pound, I think if I go that far I'll go all the way and do all four glow-plugs. It already had a tank heater (percolating type) on it, that and a space heater are a must in Alaska to begin with.
Thanks for the input

 

[gary808]

Only two glow-plugs, hummmm, good idea but in for a penny in for a pound, I think if I go that far I'll go all the way and do all four glow-plugs. It already had a tank heater (percolating type) on it, that and a space heater are a must in Alaska to begin with.
Thanks for the input

Ohh I deffinetly recommend all 4. We just ran out of time and the other two we bought were questionable in condition. Machine has been tied up on jobs and It hasn't been high on the repair list. One day though.
But with the electric start i run the plugs then crank with the decompression lever on then flip it with my boot. Seems like it's easier on the battery's and starter and let's the engine get up to speed and have some momentum. Usually fires instantly in 60degree westher.

 

[Fat Dan]

http://ponymotor.embarqspace.com
try this
I plan to do my D8H sometime as well

Thanks MattR:
I contacted Bryon @ ponymotor.embarqspace.com, and he said he could fix up a 12v starter all I needed was the plate number off the direct starter hole, for the correct nose cone pattern, and S/N for a low, low price of $995.00 plus shipping. I asked about the 24V system, glow-plugs and pre-cups for the D4; he side stepped the question by saying the glow-plugs were 24V and added the 12v would spin the engine over significantly with the aid of the decompression. It seemed like the only help he could provide me was the starter. Now that was for my 57, D4, I'm sure he has other options for other sized equipment. He advertises conversions from pony to 12v and 24V start/charge systems for the D2, D4, D6, D7 and D8.