"bursitis" wrote:

the flame doesn't have to get into each cylinder but the more the merrier. i guess you could install two if you thought it was needed.

-doesn't internal combustion require oxygen?

all i can say is. it is an old idea method that has worked well for many years and improved with time and in arctic conditions as well. it works and it works well and cheap.

i wouldn't say it's a horrible idea...it is a quick form of intake heat but i think it has limitations...it probably doesn't like ether either...

-i'd rather have the combustion (and the heat produced) in the cylinder chamber..

"kittylover123" wrote:

-doesn't internal combustion require oxygen?

I believe modern diesels these days have EGR valves that re-circulate the exhaust back into the intake that supposedly helps with pollution.

I am not sure how much exhaust gets re-circulated, but I imagine that there is still oxygen left in the exhaust that didn't have any material to react with.

Since modern diesels essentially recirculate exhaust gases, it likely isn't a huge strain on oxygen resources to have a flame temporarily going in the intake for heat.

I just purchased an old d8h cat that has bin sitting for 15 years, it has a pony motor that I can't get to run, I have been looking at trying to figure out if I could replace the motor with something more modern and that runs, the one problem is to find a gas motor that rotates the right direction, another is to find something with enough hp to do the job, and if it will fit In the position.
This is the engine options I came up with, a liquid cooled polaris 440 snowmobile engine, 20 hp honda v twin air cooled, 20hp outboard motor liquid cooled, 660 artic cat 4 stroke engine.
I like the liquid cooled engine option that way I can circulate the coolant though the engine just like the pony did, exhaust would go through the intake manifold.
I know what everyone is thinking this would be a Frankenstein set up, but then you would have a engine that runs and would work in cold weather, and it would be fun to do, (I'm the guy that has a 2jz in my Toyota truck, 1.9 tdi in my 4runner so i like doing this stuff)
To physically connect the engine to the big flywheel would take a little machining, and there would be some mounting issues but other then that I don't think it would be that big of a deal, and it is affordable, to fix my pony if I can find parts is not cheap.
If you have any engine options that you think might work let me know.
Don't worry guys I have a starter and batteries and a set of pre-com chamber with glow plugs for the d8, but I still think the pony motor is the way to go up here in the cold north with no power.

seems to me that you would still be better off if you just rebuilt your pony? or found a good one salvage??

If can help am still have some used parts for the starting engine D8

"kittylover123" wrote:

just wondering if there's better/different options available for pony motors nowadays...(besides 24volt)

-i know there's guys that would never stray from original...and that's okay...but that's my most recent brainfart....what if...

IF, IF, you can get ac current to the tractor, there are recirculating block heaters. they are 1600 watt. My dad had one on his cummins. Electric circuit out to the heater. In morning when he gets up he turns on the circuit. The heater hooked near upper radiator hose and lower block port recirculated engine water through the heater. By time he went out to start, the hot light would be on , on his dash panel.
I used them on all our snow blowers at the road department.

"BigAgCat" wrote:

MY dozer is apparently too old for glow plugs without doing some serious modding.

I think there are some screws on the side of the cylinder head that help cinch the pre-combustion chambers in place. I have wondered if a person could remove that screw and drill through the pre-combustion chamber and thread it to hold a glow plug. Just, it may be a bit of a problem to re-align the drilled hole if the pre-combustion chambers needed removed and re-installed for some reason.

There are also block heaters that heat up the radiator fluid to help generate heat for starting. Though I think the block heaters don't exactly heat very fast. With the exception of glow plugs or ether, I think a pony is generally the fastest way to get the engine started in the coldest of conditions. Probably 5-10 minutes.

I think part of the reason ponys tend to be most beat up is the fact that there is no starting engine for the starting engine. The pony basically starts working cold and then warms up and gets all the fluids flowing at start, while the diesel gets to enjoy having the pony doing all the work to get him ready to run.

I do kind of wonder what the engine life is of a pony start diesel over the more modern electric start diesels are that never had a pony. I believe the most wear comes on an engine when it is cold, so many diesel engines without a pony are basically starting cold and running cold for a little while.

You need to idle the pony for a while before putting it under a load. Splash oil system takes a while to get oil into the pony bearings. Most folks don't do this either.

#1 Remove starting engine
#2 rebuild/repair starting engine
#3 install stall starting engine
Result=Like new again.