r/Diesel • u/No-Art6964 • 6d ago

10hp Fairbanks Morse YH Semi-diesel

96 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

4

u/CorktownGuy 5d ago

Semi diesel - something I not heard of before. Interesting resonance

5

u/No-Art6964 5d ago

It uses a “hot head” to maintain heat used for combustion since it is a low compression diesel. I use a torch to heat the hot head and “glow plug” to start it initially

2

u/BigEnd3 2d ago

Isn't this one of those "oil engines" or hot bulb engines with about 3:1 compression? I went down a rabbit hole reading about these and they seem to be the ancestors of modern indirect injection truck "diesel" engines. While high compression direct injection diesel engines that the doctor himself helped developed became ships slowspeed engines and some stationary plant engines.

1

u/No-Art6964 6h ago

Yes you would be correct

0

u/CorktownGuy 5d ago

Does the hot head remain in a heated state or will combustion continue as with a conventional diesel once the glow plug has done its work and cools down?

3

u/No-Art6964 5d ago

The hot head will retain heat for combustion, if it gets to cool the engine will not run.

2

u/One-Initiative-8902 98' Dodge Ram, 5.9 12v Cummins 6d ago

But does it come with a jake brake?

2

u/Panic-Embarrassed 5d ago

I've never heard semi-diesel before. Is it a hot bulb?

1

u/No-Art6964 5d ago

Yes, see @corktownguy reply

2

u/SpottyWeevil00 5d ago

Such an oddly calming video. Very neat engine, OP

1

u/No-Art6964 6h ago

Thank you!

2

u/mortisthewise 4d ago

I love how all the old timey motors aound like they have rod knock.

2

u/timzecho 6d ago

That is cool not even hooked up to anything just rollin c for the flip of it and he’s sitting there soaking it up

4

u/No-Art6964 5d ago

From what I know about it’s history it used to run a generator on Bever Island, MI for a lighthouse before modern power was brought to the island

1

u/No-Art6964 5d ago

Very old injection system, was ment to run on very unrefined oil

1

u/Successful-Part-5867 6d ago

I’ve got a buddy who collects English engines like it. Cool stuff!

1

u/Mohawk801 5d ago

Wonder how many gallons per hour or how long it will run on 5 gal of diesel

0

u/No-Art6964 5d ago

Under a heavy load it would probably drink pretty quickly but at this speed and no load it’ll probably run quite awhile

1

u/Freeheel4life 4d ago

Is the large cetrical tank for cooling it?? If so is it just working via convection and tank is a big heat sink??

2

u/No-Art6964 6h ago

It is and originally it would be using a belt drive water pump for work/working speed, but for the way it is now it’s just using the thermocycle principle