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Detroit Diesel 2 stroke history. Interesting read (with link to main article).

bambihunter
This is way too long of an article to C&P it here, but it is great reading for Detroit Diesel engines. We had a 6-71 in a 1950 Oliver tractor when we lived on the farm (left 1987). I have always held a place in my heart for that tractor, and that impressive engine.

Here's the prelude (link to article at bottom):
There is not one person in North America who has not, in some form, whether they knew it or not, been impacted by the venerable Detroit Diesel engine. A wartime workhorse, this simple, highly adaptable engine at one time propelled just about every types of heavy North American road vehicle such as buses, fire trucks, and all sorts of heavy equipment. Affectionately knows as "Green Leakers", "Screamin' Jimmies", or just "Jimmy", were (are) also extensively found on the water, the Detroit Diesel engine powered many fishing boats and a great many work boats.

This high speed two stroke engine, painted in that iconic "Alpine Green" color, is nearly an oddity to most European engineers and mechanics. Although not as common as twenty years ago, they are still widely found in service in North America. As I type this, there is four aboard this ship I am on now, two 8V92, and two 8V71- not to mention the two EMD main engines.

While going to mechanic school, I always looked forward to that transit bus ride home, the iconic sound of that 671 always put me to sleep for a quick nap. I remember one time, while working in the mechanic division of the Victoria Fire Hall, we had to bring Aerial 3 to the main hall for servicing. During that short trip, that engine lived up to its moniker, Screemin Jimmy. As we drove down the road, I could hear all the car alarms going off, as we went by - I was grinning ear to ear. Being a fire truck there was no restrictions on the noise or power level you pulled from the engine, just get there quickly was the ethos. I will not soon forget the "singing of the pistons" on the first engine I ever rebuilt, a 12V71. If it had not been for the steady sound of that engine at full load on the dyno, my heart would have stopped, I was so excited. To this day, there is no better sounding machine in my mind.


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Comments

21 comments

Date Votes
  • Horse Plains Drifter
    Also commonly known for decades as a "Jimmy Diesel"

    Many people do not know that they are two cycle engines.
    3
  • Don McManus
    Germany used two-stroke diesels as aircraft engines through WWII.  I believe Junkers built them.

    A 2-stroke diesel puts a lot of power in a small package.
    0
  • Horse Plains Drifter
    A 2-stroke diesel puts a lot of power in a small package.
    Yep, Detroits were much smaller displacement than a comparable horsepower Cummins or Caterpillar.
    0
  • bambihunter
    Many people do not know that they are two cycle engines.
    That's precisely why they have such a distinctive sound to them. If I remember correctly, they are supposed to be good to approaching 2k rpm. That's crazy for a diesel. After rebuilding one of these, you have to be careful setting it back up, especially the governor. We always kept a wooden plank big enough to cover the intake in case it runs away (rpm's just go higher and higher and higher).
    I have wondered before what they could make nowadays with this same concept but with using modern electronics, controllers, etc. Of course it likely wouldn't pass emissions, but I wouldn't be surprised if they could double the output.
    Don, I have also wondered if/how well they would have worked in our Sherman tanks of WW11. It would have likely reduced their inauspicious reputation as a "Tommy Cooker".
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  • Horse Plains Drifter
     If I remember correctly, they are supposed to be good to approaching 2k rpm. That's crazy for a diesel. 
    I have worked on some aluminum block 4-53s that came from some sort of military equipment. They were goverened @3200 RPM.



    [bambihunter said:]
    [After rebuilding one of these, you have to be careful setting it back up, especially the governor. We always kept a wooden plank big enough to cover the intake in case it runs away (rpm's just go higher and higher and higher). ]
    Yes, anytime you have messed with the governor on any diesel engine you better have a way to choke off the air flow upon startup. I have seen highly qualified and experienced Caterpillar mechanics re-assemble governors incorrectly.

    In the late 80s, or early 90s they did make DDEC 8V-92s. DDEC = Detroit Diesel Electronic Control. But alas, the two cycle engines could not keep up with ever changing emission requirements, and went the way of the dodo bird. The now day Detroits are of course four cycle engines
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  • Don McManus
    Many people do not know that they are two cycle engines.

    Don, I have also wondered if/how well they would have worked in our Sherman tanks of WW11. It would have likely reduced their inauspicious reputation as a "Tommy Cooker".
    The M4A6 used as diesel engine based on the Wright Cyclone radial engine.  Production was stopped at less than 100 units.  I would guess the reason was due in large part to logistics.  We needed to ship/pipe aviation fuel to fronts all over the world, and if the tank and the plane used the same fuel, logistics was much simpler.  This no doubt cost a lot of lives in the tank corps, but this would have to be balanced against the added complexity and potential for bringing an advance to a halt because of limited fuel availability.
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  • select-fire
    Interesting read... Mr. Kettering is the man who invented the starter ..instead of hand cranking engines. Kettering University is outside Flint Michigan in which he started. A private engineering university in which seeks qualified students to attend. Interesting you tube..turn down the sound..

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  • BobJudy
    Interesting read... Mr. Kettering is the man who invented the starter ..instead of hand cranking engines. Kettering University is outside Flint Michigan in which he started. A private engineering university in which seeks qualified students to attend. Interesting you tube..turn down the sound..
    Kettering isn't outside Flint, it is inside the city. Kind of an island in a sea of a lawless liberal wasteland. It used to be General Motors Institute,(GMI). At one time most of the students were sponsored by the various GM divisions. The city has become one of the worst places in the country but Kettering just keeps plugging along. Bob

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  • cbxjeff
    I retired from Detroit Diesel/Allison in '92 after 23 years.  I worked on many research projects but only the diesel for a year or two. Most of my years were spent on gas turbine research.  If I remember correctly, those 2 strokes could be configured may ways.  I think the power takeoff could be from either end of the crank. Also, no intake valves (slots in the wet sleeves) but 4 exhaust valves.
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  • kannoneer
    The old Detroits would run backwards, too. 
    0
  • select-fire
    BobJudy said:
    Interesting read... Mr. Kettering is the man who invented the starter ..instead of hand cranking engines. Kettering University is outside Flint Michigan in which he started. A private engineering university in which seeks qualified students to attend. Interesting you tube..turn down the sound..
    Kettering isn't outside Flint, it is inside the city. Kind of an island in a sea of a lawless liberal wasteland. It used to be General Motors Institute,(GMI). At one time most of the students were sponsored by the various GM divisions. The city has become one of the worst places in the country but Kettering just keeps plugging along. Bob


    I know all about GMI... My Uncle who was about 3rd in line at GM went there along with his son. Both my sons attended Kettering University. Been there many of times.
    0
  • spasmcreeksrun
    had  6v71  in a twin screw grain truck....just get in, start in up and put the throttle to the floor and never let up
    6
  • buddyb
    Years of driving an old Peterbilt 359 with a 318 Detroit is one of the reasons my hearing is so bad.
    3
  • dcon12
    buddyb said:
    Years of driving an old Peterbilt 359 with a 318 Detroit is one of the reasons my hearing is so bad.
    Huh? Don
    3
  • pulsarnc

    our 1973 Lafrance fire truck had the old Detroit 2 stroke engine . Single stage pump , put it in gear , bottom out the throttle and pump for hours on end ! Loved to hear that sucker roar

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  • Horse Plains Drifter
    had  6v71  in a twin screw grain truck....just get in, start in up and put the throttle to the floor and never let up
    Yes, how to drive a Detroit Diesel, AKA Double Breasted Road Oiler: Slam hand in door getting in truck. That way you'll be pizzed off all day and drive Detroit accordingly.
    3
  • dreher
    So to start your day the alarm doesn't go off, you are running around trying to get to work and your wife starts in on a bad PMS day and starts screaming at you.  While speeding to work a cop pulls you over and hands you a speeding ticket.  You finally pull in at the depot, it has just started pouring rain and your boss sticks his head out the office door and yells at you calling you a $#%%#$@#@$ and to get your ass in that truck and get moving.  As you run thru the rain, you jump up on the second step to your truck, your foot slips on the wet metal and you REALLY, REALLY bark your shin.  You climb into your truck and start the diesel.  You are now in the right frame of mind to drive a Detroit Diesel!!!! >:)
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  • BobJudy
    BobJudy said:
    Interesting read... Mr. Kettering is the man who invented the starter ..instead of hand cranking engines. Kettering University is outside Flint Michigan in which he started. A private engineering university in which seeks qualified students to attend. Interesting you tube..turn down the sound..
    Kettering isn't outside Flint, it is inside the city. Kind of an island in a sea of a lawless liberal wasteland. It used to be General Motors Institute,(GMI). At one time most of the students were sponsored by the various GM divisions. The city has become one of the worst places in the country but Kettering just keeps plugging along. Bob


    I know all about GMI... My Uncle who was about 3rd in line at GM went there along with his son. Both my sons attended Kettering University. Been there many of times.
    Your sons had the benefits of a practical education  at Kettering. Sadly most places of "higher" learning aren't as practical. It was GMI when I was growing up a mile or so away in a prosperous solidly middle class town. It's hard to believe that Flint had about the highest average income in the country at that time. Now they compete for the highest crime rate. Kettering has bought up property around their campus to expand their little of island of sanity to try to keep the students safe. I didn't mean to lecture you about Kettering but when I think of what my home town has become it ticks me off. Bob
    3
  • lkannes
    spasmcreeksrun: 31535309116059/comments/31535332594075
    had  6v71  in a twin screw grain truck....just get in, start in up and put the throttle to the floor and never let up

    We had one of those as well. We always drove it like we were mad at it.

    0
  • select-fire
    BobJudy said:
    BobJudy said:
    Interesting read... Mr. Kettering is the man who invented the starter ..instead of hand cranking engines. Kettering University is outside Flint Michigan in which he started. A private engineering university in which seeks qualified students to attend. Interesting you tube..turn down the sound..
    Kettering isn't outside Flint, it is inside the city. Kind of an island in a sea of a lawless liberal wasteland. It used to be General Motors Institute,(GMI). At one time most of the students were sponsored by the various GM divisions. The city has become one of the worst places in the country but Kettering just keeps plugging along. Bob


    I know all about GMI... My Uncle who was about 3rd in line at GM went there along with his son. Both my sons attended Kettering University. Been there many of times.
    Your sons had the benefits of a practical education  at Kettering. Sadly most places of "higher" learning aren't as practical. It was GMI when I was growing up a mile or so away in a prosperous solidly middle class town. It's hard to believe that Flint had about the highest average income in the country at that time. Now they compete for the highest crime rate. Kettering has bought up property around their campus to expand their little of island of sanity to try to keep the students safe. I didn't mean to lecture you about Kettering but when I think of what my home town has become it ticks me off. Bob
    Both my sons were recruited by Kettering. My Uncle actually went on to Harvard after GMI and got his law degree. I went inside kettering to some of the labs and was highly impressed on what those students worked on.

    3
  • austin20
    This is way too long of an article to C&P it here, but it is great reading for Detroit Diesel engines. We had a 6-71 in a 1950 Oliver tractor when we lived on the farm (left 1987). I have always held a place in my heart for that tractor, and that impressive engine.

    Here's the prelude (link to article at bottom):
    There is not one person in North America who has not, in some form, whether they knew it or not, been impacted by the venerable Detroit Diesel engine. A wartime workhorse, this simple, highly adaptable engine at one time propelled just about every types of heavy North American road vehicle such as buses, fire trucks, and all sorts of heavy equipment. Affectionately knows as "Green Leakers", "Screamin' Jimmies", or just "Jimmy", were (are) also extensively found on the water, the Detroit Diesel engine powered many fishing boats and a great many work boats.

    This high speed two stroke engine, painted in that iconic "Alpine Green" color, is nearly an oddity to most European engineers and mechanics. Although not as common as twenty years ago, they are still widely found in service in North America. As I type this, there is four aboard this ship I am on now, two 8V92, and two 8V71- not to mention the two EMD main engines.

    While going to mechanic school, I always looked forward to that transit bus ride home, the iconic sound of that 671 always put me to sleep for a quick nap. I remember one time, while working in the mechanic division of the Victoria Fire Hall, we had to bring Aerial 3 to the main hall for servicing. During that short trip, that engine lived up to its moniker, Screemin Jimmy. As we drove down the road, I could hear all the car alarms going off, as we went by - I was grinning ear to ear. Being a fire truck there was no restrictions on the noise or power level you pulled from the engine, just get there quickly was the ethos. I will not soon forget the "singing of the pistons" on the first engine I ever rebuilt, a 12V71. If it had not been for the steady sound of that engine at full load on the dyno, my heart would have stopped, I was so excited. To this day, there is no better sounding machine in my mind.


    Very Cool
    0

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