Some guy has a wheel loader on his property. I need to get it started. However, I'm an absolute complete NOOB

[AmishSlimJim]

If the engine seizes then the machine is yours no matter what. Bear in mind you could rent machines for the work you have and still be financially and mentally better off than fixing a dunger.
You need to look at this by keeping reality front and centre and put your emotions at the back door. Heck, people who have the knowledge and experience to fix **** probably walked past this machine for a very good reason.

That's a bummer if it seizes. I'm green as the grass outside and thirsty for any experience I can get. I'll see what I can do but I'll probably throw in the towel if the engine doesn't turn.

thank you for your time

 

[AmishSlimJim]

Ok. Heres the low down. What I would do.

Walk up to it. Check the engine oil dipstick to see if it has oil in it. It likely will. Good.

Next hook up some good batteries. Two healthy decent size batteries for a pick up truck should be ok. You need to know if its 12 or 24 volt. I would guess 24 volt but no guessing. Once you have that done on to the next step.

Pull off a section of air piping where you can get your piece of plywood to cover the air intake if it starts and takes off. Also gives you a chance to make sure theres nothing in the piping like birds nests or a mouse house.

If all is good to this point hit the start button.
If it goes KA CHUNK AND nothing happens thats bad. Could mean its seized up.

If it does nothing you may have a bad connection, dead batteries, or something isn’t hooked up properly. At this point you could jump the starter posts to see whats up.
If and when you get to this point you should have pictures that show clearly the posts and terminals of the starter motor and someone should be able to give directions as to what terminals to jump.

Or it might crank and most likely won’t start immediately. Let it crank for 5 seconds. Stop. Thats a start, it means its free to turn. At this point I would giver a good sniff of cosby Sauce ( ether/starting fluid) and hit her again. It may kick and sputter and hopefully smoke rolling out the stack. Don’t crank it for more than 30 seconds. You will kill your batteries and cook the starter. Let it chill for a bit. Give it another good hit of nostril sauce and go again.

If things are ok this should produce some sort of result. It should be producing decent amount of smoke and kicking and firing. If its not there might be other problems, Ie: it has no diesel fuel. But get yourself to this point and then we might be onto a real adventure! Good luck Sonny! And remember have fun

yeah, its 24 volts.

if i turn the key/hit start button and I hear a ka chunk or a click... I'll probably check the solenoid ontop of the starter.

thank you for writing this. it really helps and I'll probably follow this step by step. i really appreciate it

 

[AmishSlimJim]

I wouldn't be using much ether. First see if it smokes. That tells you it's getting fuel. Trying to start on just ether could damage an otherwise good engine. If you get black smoke is a good sign. Then you could try a tiny shot of ether. Still not a bad idea to see if the engine turns by hand. Trying the starter might not work. There could be a problem with the starter.

what about white smoke? does that mean I have a coolant leak/ oil leak?

thank you for your time.

 

[AmishSlimJim]

I think some of these guys are being a little dramatic. I bought a truck with a 220 Cummins that sat for at least 18 years according to the owner. We barred it over, hooked up some batteries, and cranked. It started putting out white smoke immediately. The battery situation wasn't great so we gave it a sniff of starting fluid and it fired right up and built air. I drove it onto a trailer and it followed me home. You're willing to ask questions and admit when you don't know something so I think you've got a chance if you do what JEVANS says.

View attachment 320626

Yeah, i have high hopes that the girl will start with no issue. I've seen plenty of guys on youtube resurrect old tractors from the dead with no problem; machines look like absolute rust buckets.I think the front loader was just left there because the owner died and there was nobody to take it. It came with the property.

Thank you for your time.

 

[AmishSlimJim]

the point sailed over your head.
The machine is free and irresistible to young dreamers, who don't have a clue what they would do with it if everything went perfectly.
In the case of this loader it does not even have a bucket, it has log grapple.
So it is great if you are a logger and everything else not so much. It is an epic albatross.

I could turn it into a snowplough. eh, some people have pretty fords in their garage as a passion project and then there's me... I'm having fun at least.

Thank you for your time.

 

[92U 3406]

White smoke is either raw fuel or coolant. Your nose will be able to tell the difference. White smoke on startup wouldn't concern me much if it cleans up after a couple minutes.

 

[IceHole]

View attachment 320558View attachment 320559View attachment 320560

My fire pit is an actual dumpster.

 

[AmishSlimJim]

White smoke is either raw fuel or coolant. Your nose will be able to tell the difference. White smoke on startup wouldn't concern me much if it cleans up after a couple minutes.

thank you

 

[Truck Shop]

Glad all you guys have this sorted out and keeping him on the right track. Allot of wonderful gracious
positive advise in two days.

 

[Welder Dave]

Funny, if this was an old D6 everyone would want to see it brought back to life. It's too early to compare it to the Koehring 1266. The OP of that thread had his whole future based on getting the 100 ton+ machine running. The OP of this thread first of all has permission to look at/tinker with a 30 ton loader. He's also getting his dad involved. The only thing they're looking at doing so far is seeing if the engine turns over. That shouldn't be very time consuming or costly to establish. There may or may not be a lot wrong with the loader. If it doesn't turn over could be the end of it. I think a lot of people would be thrilled at the possibilty of getting a machine free. Doing a few simple checks to see what might be wrong doesn't automatically turn it into popcorn fest. It could need a lot less work than 977 that most wouldn't have bothered with. Seems to be if it's for views on you tube it's OK to throw money and time away on equipment needing extensive repair but if it's just somebody looking to see what might be wrong with a piece of sitting equipment and asking a couple questions, they should immediately abandon any thoughts of even looking at it. Every once in awhile you hear stories of parked machines brought back to life needing only minor work. Just needed someone to know what to look for. We haven't seen this loader yet and nobody knows why it was parked. It's a little premature in my opinion to automatically condemn it. The 100 ton+ 1266 is much easier to condemn. Just to move it would cost thousands and thousands of dollars.

 

[Truck Shop]

machine free. Doing a few simple checks to see what might be wrong doesn't automatically turn it into popcorn fest. It could need a lot less work than 977 that most wouldn't have bothered with.

True-------allot of griping about the younger generation at times,-----well he could be out
selling drugs, I would much rather see him try even if it's a worthless endeavor, it's better
to have tried and found out it isn't worth it than being a tweaker.

 

[thepumpguysc]

71 posts and he hasn’t turned the first wrench..

 

[Truck Shop]

71 posts and he hasn’t turned the first wrench..

That's ok----.

 

[Welder Dave]

OP might be smart to not respond until he has more info. Why respond if he's just going to get raked over the coals?

 

[92U 3406]

If it puts a smile on OP's face then that is all that matters.

 

[clueless2]

If it puts a smile on OP's face then that is all that matters.

I was thinking the same thing especially when he said his Dad was going to help.

Ignore the naysayers AmishSlimJim.
I would like to see a photo of you sitting on it and taking it for a ride !!

 

[92U 3406]

I was thinking the same thing especially when he said his Dad was going to help.

Ignore the naysayers AmishSlimJim.
I would like to see a photo of you sitting on it and taking it for a ride !!

I do stuff people think is stupid all the time. You're only here once so enjoy it.

 

[Welder Dave]

I don't know why it's automatically assumed it's going to be an epic thread. All OP asked is what to check on a machine that's been sitting and his dad is involved.

 

[AmishSlimJim]

I was thinking the same thing especially when he said his Dad was going to help.

Ignore the naysayers AmishSlimJim.
I would like to see a photo of you sitting on it and taking it for a ride !!

Hello,

I'll probably travel to the property next week or the week after. Yeah, I'm glad my dad is going to help. I can only hope it all goes well, haha. Great learning experience

 

[AmishSlimJim]

I don't know why it's automatically assumed it's going to be an epic thread. All OP asked is what to check on a machine that's been sitting and his dad is involved.

I haven't even seen the engine nor the condition of the wheels. It could be an absolute dump for all I know. I'm really thankful for all the help.