I never knew where the tech came from. In the late '70s I drove truck for a company named Mitchell Transport, We had the contract to haul all of Lehigh Cement and they had air starters on their trucks and they worked GREAT! There was one that had a leaky tank but I don't remember the #. Everything I had driven before had at least 4 BIG batteries and all these needed was a regular small automotive battery. Of course we had the advantage of stuff that didn't sit long. Even that one that had a leaky tank always started for me although it would be on the end of the air.
Mitchell Transport for me was located in Mitchell IN but that is a coincidense They were actually a great big company owned by leaseway who owned just about everything including roadway and yellow freight. Best job I ever had-good money and insurance, home every night, Then Reagan stepped in and deregulated trucking at the same time he fired all those air traffic controllers.--Ruined Us-- the good old days were in the past.
The thing is I really Identify with Reagan but I don't relish what he did to me personally. I already had 8 years in there along with 4 in the USMC from '74-'78 with about 15 below me on the board and would have undoubtedly retired from there and we had just signed a new contract the prior summer then BOOM with the stroke of a pen I was done.
OH woe is me- I've done alright for myself, but can't help but look back and think it might have been better
You young guys should keep it in mind that you need to do what you can to protect your job.
Consolidated Freightways... now that is an oldie.In the mid 70's I pulled wrenches on large trucks and heavy equipment. Loved to start the trucks with air starters. They sounded very cool when you depressed that button. Never had one fail to start the very first time.
Also worked on Large Industrial diesels up to 15,000hp. They were air started also but injected air directly into the cylinders to get the engine rolling over then you hit the fuel. Those had a 15" bore and a 21" stroke. Ran at 450 RPM.
I drive a Ford F350 with the Northstar 7.3lt diesel. I would love to fit it with an air starter. Probably give some light minded soul a heart attack if you hit the button and they were standing near you.
I had heard of those but have never seen one in action. My old D-4 (1951) has a gasoline pup motor (a horizontally opposed twin) to start the diesel. Sometimes, the pup is a bit of a chore to start but once I get it going (pull a rope) the diesel will start. If it is down around zero or below, I just let the engine crank , with the compression release open, while I have a cup of coffee. Then with the head warmed up and the oil flowing well, the engine will fire right up.
The starter motor will occasionally tend to kick back and I've suffered a few strained shoulder muscles because of it. WH
Oh My Goodness is right!