The Old Machinery Magazine Forum

Forum Categories => Stationary Engines => Topic started by: freshieslures on 30 June, 2012, 02:56:22 pm

Title: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: freshieslures on 30 June, 2012, 02:56:22 pm
I Just put in an offer on a Macdonald, 4046f. Anyone have a date and hp etc. No photo yet as there was too much stuff on top of it.

Justin
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: rustyengines on 30 June, 2012, 06:19:21 pm
Hi Justin
4046 was made in 1928 and is 5Hp at 500rpm
The ‘F’ was a series of engines starting with the F in 1919 then ‘FF’, FD, FE, FEB, FPI, the last one made was a FEB 1954 and a FPIB made in 1951 and only one was made 
Ian
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: freshieslures on 30 June, 2012, 11:28:29 pm
Thanks Ian, just have to wait and see what happens with it.
Justin
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: freshieslures on 14 July, 2012, 11:24:21 pm
Well i ended getting the engine and picked it up today. This is the way i like to find them, complete and close to home. It has been sitting under a tree for at least 20 years but was well covered. Got the oil can out and got everything moving.
I was going to try and start it but had no kero on hand. The diesel side of the tank is still 3/4 full but needs a good clean out.
Any tips on starting as this is my first mac.
Is this the original transport?
 
Cheers Justin
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: rustyengines on 15 July, 2012, 03:39:15 pm
What a lucky find, has it been restored once before??
Looking at the McDonald book there is pictures that show trolleys with wheels just like yours including a wooden box at one end so I would say the transport is original
Ian
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: freshieslures on 15 July, 2012, 06:47:06 pm
G'day Ian,
I think it may have been an older resto. The hopper, flywheels and tank look to have been repainted at some stage. I have been looking at a few mcdonald pics but haven't found any with a similar transporter. I'll have to get a book to try and understand when all the different models and changes took place, sure were many.

Justin
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: rustyengines on 15 July, 2012, 09:49:22 pm
Hi Justin
Pictures from A. H. McDonald book for the purpose of research
Ian
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: hoarder1 on 15 July, 2012, 11:01:38 pm
Very nice Justin, you've done well there mate.  Can't help you with startup, but I reckon it shouldn't be too big a deal.  Drop a bit of oil on the piston/cylinder in the meantime.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: hoarder1 on 15 July, 2012, 11:03:37 pm
Sorry mate, I was thinking it was a horizontal piston...  forget my unhelpful instructions in the last post. 
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: freshieslures on 17 July, 2012, 02:02:27 am
Thankyou Ian for the pictures. There must be alot of transporters out there given the amount of engines made.

Sorry mate, I was thinking it was a horizontal piston...  forget my unhelpful instructions in the last post. 

Not sure what your talking about hoarder1

Justin
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: mikelsjunk on 18 July, 2012, 06:56:06 pm
Justin,  thats a nice engine - a real beast - the best kind.  I've got a copy of the AH McDonald book if you want a look.  No idea on originality of wheels or transport, other than the obvious - that the tool box is an old army ammo box or the like.

Michael   
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: freshieslures on 19 July, 2012, 10:29:14 am
G'day Mike,
Yea thanks, i'll have a read one day. Hope you had a good holiday. I can see why the Mcdonalds are a popular engine, it has groan on me. No magneto or spark plug to worry about, i think it is a keeper.
I got it going yesterday, i had to straighten the fuel valve redress it and lap it in. Put it all back together swung it over and away it went.  It is running a bit quick and when you back it off one notch it is too slow, but i'll work on that. Also leaks some fuel out of the needle, may need repacking.

See ya Justin
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 19 January, 2020, 03:01:01 pm
Lets open this up for  quick question.
Hi Justin have you got this Mac running properly now? If so can you post a couple ofpics of the transporter and it's turntable/pivot point please?
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: Grasshopper on 21 January, 2020, 05:46:44 pm
Hello Justin,
A nice pick up with the MacDonald engine and a very nice transporter to go with it.
It will enable you to while away the hours perfecting it to the standard you want, although by the look of the pictures you have a very good head start.
I have two SPI 4HP MacDonald engines which will become one going engine that needs a transporter. I will build one for it soon as I can acquire some steel wheels which are becoming very scarce to get due to collectors hunting them down.
The other engine will need another head, oil pump and a gib key for the fly wheel, I keep looking around and eventually I may come across someone selling these items or at a clearing sale.
Time is on my side, I don't need to hurry.
Keep us posted how you go with your tuning, I believe one of the secrets with this type of fuel system is having the needle valve grounded properly and adjusted to seat and seal properly to avoid excessive over fuelling .Lots of exhaust smoke as a result and a sharp diesel Knock.
Cheers for now,
Grasshopper Max from Warwick Qld.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 21 January, 2020, 10:15:16 pm
I will be most happy just to get mine to start and smoke out the compound.   ::)

At the RIR when the most stationary engines running at one time a guy bought a small twin cylinder Petter diesel in on the Sunday morning for the attempt later in the day. I went and had a quick look at it as we are scruitineers for the club and I had no issues with it at all. So it cam etime to start it up. Well it took a fair amount of 'start ya bastard' down its throat and once running really belched out a heap of smoke all the time it ran, I loved it. Not to mention that it did make the grade at the right time and was included in the record breaking attempt.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: Grasshopper on 21 January, 2020, 11:22:20 pm
I had a twin cylinder air cooled electric start Petter hooked up to a 10KVA 240v alternator as an auxiliary power plant that ran pretty fast revs but did not belch much black or blue smoke except when I had the 3Phase power operating off it and then under load the smoke increased along with diesel consumption.
It was a good unit all self contained in a cradle along with the fuel tank.
I sold it with the property when I left the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland 12 years ago.
I had a lot of Southern Cross Stationary engines up there mostly BDC and YBs. Sold them all as too large to shift.
Matter of fact in my toolbox I have a Knurled tube for  decompression operating, off a YB Southern Cross if any one is interested in one.
I believe they are like hens teeth to find.
Cheers,
Grasshopper Max
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: Scott on 22 January, 2020, 09:26:39 am
I have a Knurled tube for  decompression operating, off a YB Southern Cross if any one is interested in one.
Pick me, pick me Max.
Cheers Scott
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 23 January, 2020, 04:07:58 pm
That would be a big help for you Scotty to have the tube.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: Grasshopper on 23 January, 2020, 04:13:08 pm
Scott I will give you a ring about Southern Cross part.
Grasshopper Max
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: Keroburner on 24 January, 2020, 09:58:48 am
Hi Cobba, I'm having trouble posting photos of the turntable as the files are to big and I can't resize them. If you pm your number I'll send them to you via the phone. Justin
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 24 January, 2020, 04:16:07 pm
Cheers, job done and thanks.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 25 January, 2020, 02:23:28 pm
Hi Justin, I received the pics thank you. I will build one a little bit simpler but this has given me some ideas.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 07 March, 2020, 03:33:40 pm
Todays effort got me this far.
Welded the centre pivot bolt to the plate. Drilled and counter sunk the screw holes to fix to the transporter rails, made some saddles to hold the axles in place where I have routered the cross beam to recess the axles and finished all the welding on the axles.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 07 March, 2020, 03:36:09 pm
Here's how the axles look mounted and the rear one sitting in place on the rails but not bolted as yet. Tomorrow I have to cut, drill and bolt the stiffening plates onto the cross members.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 08 March, 2020, 03:25:59 pm
Today I got the front end finished and bolted on. Turntable seems to be ok and has plenty of turning circle for when the 'fat pig' is bolted down. All cross members have been plated and bolted and axles are bolted firmly in place just need some more coach bolts to hold the rear cross member onto the rails. This thing weighs a ton as is so it shouldn't break in a hurry.

Looking for ideas of the best way to attach a steering handle, any ideas out there?

Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 08 March, 2020, 03:26:36 pm
More pics.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: Austral on 08 March, 2020, 08:36:03 pm
This thread seems to be floating between Stationary Engines and General Discussion. Why is it so????
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: Austral on 08 March, 2020, 09:07:53 pm
If you want to have a removable drawbar, a very practical way is to drill the axle mount timber for 12mm bolts or, whatever size you want and use eye nuts. Make the drawbar from square tube and locate it with round bar bent 90 degrees for a hand hold and drilled at the other end for a suitable pin.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 08 March, 2020, 09:33:09 pm
The other thread is a differnt one. I'm posting this transporter  stuff here.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 08 March, 2020, 09:36:12 pm
OOPs, Im guilty, I keep getting them mixed up. Must be getting more stupid as i age. Sorry.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 09 March, 2020, 04:31:40 pm
Here it is completed.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: wee-allis on 09 March, 2020, 07:08:57 pm

Cobba,  Excuse my ignorance but what are the plates on your cross members for?
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 09 March, 2020, 09:47:22 pm
Hi mate, it was suggested to add them for added strength. Being a bit short and with the thumping of the engine it might decide to mis-behave and split. If nothing else, it looks tough and adds a heap of weight to the project.
I read somewhere late today that this SE engine weighs around 400kgs and explains why when I had both in the box trailer as to why the springs flattened out, it'sonly rated to 750kgs.
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: wee-allis on 10 March, 2020, 07:26:26 am

As my little grandson says," That splains it then".
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: Grasshopper on 10 March, 2020, 02:58:16 pm
God Job on the transporter Cobbadog,
The McDonald SE will look good on it, well done.
Grasshopper Max
Title: Re: Mcdonald super imperial diesel
Post by: cobbadog on 10 March, 2020, 10:01:09 pm
Grandkids know it all and you have to smile with their logic and words.
Cheers Max, now to one of the big heavy lumps onto it. I think I know which one is to be ressurected and which will become the donour.

It has been mentioned that I mount the heavy end over the rear axle to make the steering lightish. SO my silly dopey question which end is the heaviest on these 400kg deep sea anchors? Is it the flywheel end or the cylinder end with the head and all that injector assembly and fuel tank?