DELCO starters

[CrabbyMilton]

This last Saturday here in Milwaukee, some group sponsored "DOORS OPEN MILWAUKEE" where many public and private buildings are open to the public. This has been going on for the last few years and it's always an interesting and informative time.
This year, the Milwaukee County Transit System main repair complex was one of them so I really couldn't pass that up.
They had a couple of the brand new NEW FLYER buses out side for people to look at. The operator who was showing them for some reason had to shut down the engine and restart it a few times. I took note of the sound which did not sound like the now familiar gear reduction starter. These buses have the CUMMINS ISL and that was the same engine that is in a brand new SEAGRAVE fire truck I heard it start earlier this year at a suburban FD open house and that was certainly a gear reduction type.
So as I took my self guided tour of the facility, I came across a couple of new spare ISL's and saw the starter on each was the DELCO 42MT. Later, I looked it up and sure enough, it is direct drive which came a bit of a surprise to me. A gear reduction type uses less current and/or has more torque than a straight drive so why not a gear reduction? Well, the only conclusion would have to be cost which would add up for a larger fleet. I really don't know if all of almost 500 of MCTS buses have direct drive starter or not but I'll also note that these new buses also have aluminum wheels which is also a departure and a first for MCTS so perhaps they put the money into wheels instead of starters. The extra cost for aluminum wheels I doubt would improve MPG much anyway in a transit bus.
As a side note, my late grandpa worked at MCTS until 1974 as a diesel mechanic and have very fond memories of going along with him after he retired to visit old buddies once a year and seeing all of the buses as you can imagine as  9 going on 10 year old back then beginning in 1974 it wasn't hard to become a bus nut. This facility opened in 1987 and both of us went for the grand opening. That would prove to be the last "bus visit" since he passed away in 1994. So there were some memories for me on this trip Saturday.

[TomC]

When I was a new truck engineer and sales for Los Angeles Freightliner, there were some companies that insisted on MT42 starters. My guess, was they were familiar with it and had spare parts. Otherwise, the MT39 gear reduction is half the weight, takes half the amps and lasts at least twice as long. No down side. Good Luck, TomC

[chessie4905]

Are you sure a  brand new mt39 will last at leastTWICE as long as a brand new Mt 42 starter? Most people have worn or rebuilt 42's when they go for the new smaller, lighter 37's.

[kyle4501]

I don't care if the MT39 lasts longer - installing it was much easier than removing the old big HEAVY one. . . .

[TomC]

I had a MT42 24v on my previous truck. I rebuilt the starter every other year. Was easy to remove and install-I could sit in the front wheel well and use both legs to lower and lift the starter into place on my knees.

[kyle4501]

-I could sit in the front wheel well and use both legs to lower and lift the starter into place on my knees.

Ain't gonna be able to do that on a Newell !!!