Bearing inspection

[fabricator]

After running basically 24/7 since December today was time for another oil change so I decided to do a bottom end bearing inspection.
Here is the bottom shell.

Here is a close up of the bottom shell.

Here is the top shell.

Here is the crank journal.

Everything looks pretty good for three and a half months of running.

[LowGear]

"Pretty Good" is this months understatement. 

Soooooooo who set what kind of engine up?  What was done?  How much of a load?  Burning what?

Casey

[BruceM]

Sweet. You must have done a first class job on cleanup, Fab, congrats.  She's going to last a long time now.
Best Wishes,
Bruce

[fabricator]

It's just a stock 8/1 from Gary, with the after market oil filter setup, and a real fuel filter setup, it runs a 24 volt alternator that keeps 2000 amp hours of batteries charged. About half the run time has been on veg oil, I changed the veg set up to a copper preheat coil on the exhaust pipe, I'll post a pic later today.

[LowGear]

I remember your copper fuel line wrapped around the exhaust.  A bit crimped at one spot?

No internal clean-up or push rod train adjustment?

How many kilo watts per day were you pulling out of the system?  How many gallons of fuel?

Casey

[fabricator]

No that was Veggies set up, mine used to run inside the top water line then through the fuel filter to the pump, that was a bad idea, these things use so little fuel the filter never warmed up, so I took a cue from veggie and went a different direction.
Here's my version.




I didn't do a complete tear down, just a lot of picking and scraping and pressure washing, then I put about four gallons of kerosene in it and ran it with my air starter, I did that about four times.
I had valve train adjustments, problems with very unstable idle, all the usual stuff, right now it's burning 3.3 gallons of veg in 24 hours, I really have no idea what it is putting out.

[fabricator]

Oh yeah, I forgot, if you ever try to wind a coil out of soft copper tube DO NOT fill it with salt! It took five days of high pressure water and high pressure air to clear the compacted salt out of it, there are two layers on the coil.
Next time I'm gonna try water, water won't compress.

[DanG]

"Next time I'm gonna try water, water won't compress".....   Frozen? 

[LowGear]

I'd also suggest getting the copper up to red hot and a slow cool down just prior to the wrap.  Salt?  I'd be more tempted with washed but dry sand.  Of course you've actually done it and I'm just setting on the couch thinking about it.  Someday, yes! someday one of my projects will go as smooth as I dream. 

Casey

[fabricator]

"Next time I'm gonna try water, water won't compress".....   Frozen? 

Nope, liquid water will not compress, period, if you were to fill the tube solid full and fold the ends over and seal them it should work.
That is how depth charges kill subs, very seldom did they get a direct hit, but because water won't compress the explosion would push a column of water into the hull and buckle a seam.

[bschwartz]

Hey!! Give credit where it's due!!
The ugly bends with the crimp were mine 

[LowGear]

Well Bret,

As you know how to achieve a memorable bend what was your methodology?   Has it failed yet?

Casey

[fabricator]

Hey!! Give credit where it's due!!
The ugly bends with the crimp were mine 

Damn my memory! Sorry Bro, I hereby revise my accreditation to where it is due.

[veggie]

fabricator,

Looks like you got a good Listeroid there.
Very interested to see how it makes out running long term on WVO.

One thing caught my eye...
In the picture with the coil, the plastic tube is joined VERY close to the exhaust pipe.
Keep an eye on it when the engine is working hard (high exhaust temps).
Don't want vegetable oil pouring over a hot engine.   

thanks for the update,
veggie

[fabricator]

Yep, once I got it installed I noticed that right away, that is gonna get changed to copper with a flare fitting, it'll be copper to the cold side of the engine.