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anybody know much about these hidden gems??

fsmech

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Jan 15, 2014
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western australia
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field service mechanic
Found these old general motors diesels in a back up power shed, in excellent condition, anyone no roughly how old these would be? Would have loved to here them run, but was only there fir a short time
 
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GMG

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Apr 19, 2013
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Hawke bay NZ
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retired
Beautiful find GM6-71s a very versatile engine if they are backup engines they should be in good condition the sound of those old lady's gives you goose bumps
Been around for over 70 odd years they are classics would love to hear them as well.
Cheers GMG
 

fsmech

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Jan 15, 2014
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western australia
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field service mechanic
Thankyou, wondering how rare they are, they are being replaced shortly so thinking of picking one up, even if it's to wrap up and keep covered, I know a lot of younger people don't believe you when you tell them about supercharged two-stroke diesels! Fan if the old 149 series, can still remember the soundeven if haven't seen one for years! These look like had done very little work, only a tiny amount of oil around the exhaust flex.
 

John C.

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Loved working on them. Hated being around them when they were running. Probably the reason for the hearing aid on one ear. That is a really nice looking and dry one. In my experience they were all that clean until you started them.

Thanks for the photo.
 

fsmech

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Jan 15, 2014
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western australia
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field service mechanic
Thanks John, I will try to get another picture up tonight, from my understanding they were massed produced fir the army/navy?? I am 24 so missed the era of the screaming gemmis being everywhere. What machines were they used that you worked in John?
 

Dualie

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Feb 23, 2007
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Nor Cal
I'm sure the general made millions of them, but its a rare site to see one earning a living anymore.
 

Scrub Puller

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Gladstone Queensland Australia
Yair . . . fsmech.

What machines were they used that you worked in John?

It would be easier to list machines they were not used in.

In that era, before the bull@#*# started, a company could have its whole spread of machinery powered by the Jimmys. We had dredges scrapers, loaders, dozers, pumps and so on all powered by 71 series from two cylinder to sixteen cylinder . . . they were available in twenty four cylinder but I never saw one.

Trouble shooting, repair, and parts inventory were simplified. there were blokes around who could and did rebuild engines overnight.

In addition they were available in endless variations.

That 6-71 in your picture could be configured to run counter clockwise, laid over flat on the airbox side and I think the same on the blower side as well as being mounted with the crankshaft vertical and so doing away with the right angle gearbox on downhole pumps.

In their day they were a truly remarkable engine and even though they used a bit of fuel they were cheap and easy to rebuild and the "whole of life" numbers were pretty good . . . they made some folks a lot of money.

Cheers.
 
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kshansen

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Central New York, USA
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Retired Mechanic in Stone Quarry
Spent many days rebuilding those. Only ever worked on 53 series and 71's. Have seen a 149 but never heard one run. We still have a few kicking around the company. A 6-53 in a Grove crane and a 3-53 running a genset, that one I was lucky to be able to work on and bring back to life after it being poorly stored and getting water in the cylinders.

IMG_0036.jpgIMG_0039.jpg

I was not able to give it a decent paint job but it ran nice when it left. Just worry that the same people who let it get ruined the first time will do it again:mad:

At least this one was not a bad as the Perkins I got from them at the same time. That one took a little more in parts and labor but it ran good when it let also.
 
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GMG

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Apr 19, 2013
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Hawke bay NZ
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retired
fsmech Scrub Puller
I did a piston in my rear engine 4-71 on my TS14 it took 1/2 hour to get the motor out loaded it on the old Rodeo ute was at the workshop doors when they opened the next morning. I said I'll pick it up tomorrow hoping I'd get a day off, the workshop manager said you'll pick it up at lunch time!
New pistons and liners a valve grind and I was on my way after lunch. Started working again the next morning, so Yeah they were quick to repair and responsible for me having Aids in my ears
I suppose the only thing that they weren't in was an aircraft?
Cheers GMG
 

Scrub Puller

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Yair . . . GMG

New pistons and liners a valve grind and I was on my way after lunch.

I tell folks stories like that mate and they think I'm having a lend of them . . . I see little fart arse engines these days that can be down for weeks waiting for some widget thing . . . too much complexity and not enough standardisation.

Cheers.
 
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Lee (MN)

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Nov 28, 2013
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53
Location
Minnesota
Occupation
HE Mechanic
The mighty 6-71 was IMHO one of the toughest engines ever made, properly cared for, will be very dry, yes blower box drains will weep a little, but if it will turn over it will most likely run, unlike a good share of the crap made today, LOL.

Lee;)
 

fsmech

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Jan 15, 2014
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90
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western australia
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field service mechanic
Thanks everyone foe your input, could change the thread to old Detroit's and gm's, send in your pictures!
 

stinkycat

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Oct 19, 2009
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Ohio
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retired, disabled vet
Looks like a older 2 valve engine. I worked for a Detroit shop on weekend to pick-up extra money. We would go to a local mine and pull Unit Rig Electro Haul in the shop on a Sat. morning and do a in frame overhaul on 16V71's have it back to work on Monday morning just 2 of us. My full time job we had trucks by 12V149's and Cat D348's on the 149's we could replace liner,piston, rod, and head in 2 hours
 

Scrub Puller

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Mar 29, 2009
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Location
Gladstone Queensland Australia
Yair . . . I hear you stinkycat

on the 149's we could replace liner, piston, rod, and head in 2 hours

On a remote power- station I ran we had v8,v12 and v16 149's. They were easy to work on and bloody marvellous engines . . . apart from the fuel consumption.

I remember I had just the v16 running at about 85% one morning and a new refrigeration operator dropped a 400hp ammonia compressor online with out due warning. Well she let out a bellow and a fart, grabbed the load and before I could get another engine paralleled up she had settled down on overload with all the manifolds, turbos and twelve inch pipe up through the ceiling glowing cherry red . . . man that was a sight to see and hear.

Cheers.
 
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