Air starting the 80 H.P. Fairbanks

This is the Oldenburg Fairbanks diesel.In 1927 this engine was purchased for $8726.00
Specs.
80 H.P. Type Y style VA
50kw dc generator
2 cylinder 300 RPM
12" bore
15" stroke
Weight 21,175 lbs
12000 gallon fuel oil tank was specified for engine
Produced electric for .0123 per kw hour
This engine was retired in the early 70's. Now it belongs to the Franlin County Antique Machinery Club

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• fairbanks
• diesel
• flywheels
• electric
• dc

[sol1234lion]

I go to that show every year

[pileofiron]

@sol1234lion OK see you there!!! Fred

[MrJosephMopar]

am i reading the description right? does it say 15 stroke?

[pileofiron]

@MrJosephMopar It is supposed to be 15" stroke...I will correct it...

[kentnelson84]

That had the neatest sound when it was starting up! GA-LUMP! GA-LUMP!

[NathansBackwoods]

Do you know how low it idles? i would imagine its about 40 rpm, but im not sure.

[1diesellover]

@MrJosephMopar 15 inch stroke

[Squarerig]

Is it true that the Red Indians imported these for to make smoke signals?

[paack3]

@MrJosephMopar 15 inch

[tonytiger75]

@bernard240vdc Unless the generator was designed to be a starter it won't work as one. More than likely this one would burn itself up before it would turn that engine for starting. That's why they start it with air.

[Dylan409137]

at the antique gas and steam engine museum up in california, they have a huge 3 cylinder fairbanks that is always fun to watch start up

[ccronn]

check out the smoke rings, lol!

[bernard240vdc]

to answer Testecull,s comment here no need to try to rig a electric starter on this machine because that d.c generator this engine is powering could very possibly be used to crank this engine on starting only thing possibly needed would be batteries at a appropiate voltage plus some swichting gear and some wiring battery voltage would depend to a degree on that generators normal voltage

[bernard240vdc]

that generator is a d.c machine a d.c generator and most if not all d.c machines can be used both as either a motor or a gen so that means that this outfit could possibly also be started electrically using the generator as a cranking motor with appropiate d.c power from either batteries or another d.c source i worked on railway locomotives and on some older locomotives the gen was used to crank the 1500 h.p diesel fed by batteries for starting