run away detroit

[Bill in KS]

The ole man didn't get to excited but the boys headed for the hills

detroit 4-71 in gmc 650 running away start after the 30 years

[Busted Knuckle]

Brings back memories!

Reminds me of the first one I ever saw running away. (well sorta)

Imagine an "old" man quite a bit larger than I am now (about 6'5" and well over 450 lbs) starting an 8V71 on a home built floor stand an it ran away on him.
He jumped on it and rode it across the shop floor while yelling for one of us to hand him that piece of red plywood on the floor! He had a piece of 3/4" plywood about 16" square painted bright red that had been next to the engine when it started.
I finally realized what it was he wanted and grabbed and handed it to him as he was making his second pass by us! LOL!
That was some sight to see a large man like that riding that engine across the shop floor, and needless to say after watching it run away like that we didn't buy that engine from his boss. At least not that time, and if we did buy it later we didn't know it because he'd fixed or painted it! (over the yrs we bought several engines from his boss and as far as I know he always treated us right because they all served us well!)

One thing is for sure. Those boys will NEVER forget that!
 BK  

[BRUISER]

that is why you use a block of wood to close it off not a rag

[luvrbus]

That's why you use vise grips on the control tubes on a engine that hasn't been fired in years all the starting fluid wasn't the best move either

[RickB]

That is my worst nightmare come to pass...

[TomC]

Initial startup on any 2 stroke Detroit should be with vice grips on the rack itself with the valve covers off.  This will lessen the likeliness of a run away, but not eliminate the possibility.  Good Luck, TomC

[bkelly1011]

"I think it's warmed up now, Dad."