50 Series Detroit Diesel

steve.barnett71 · May 23, 2016, 05:15:33 AM

Anybody have experience with a 50 series detroit diesel engine? Look at a bus with one in it. Anything I should be aware of or look at?

Oonrahnjay · May 23, 2016, 05:40:06 AM

Quote from: steve.barnett71 on May 23, 2016, 05:15:33 AM
Anybody have experience with a 50 series detroit diesel engine? Look at a bus with one in it. Anything I should be aware of or look at?

Look about a page down (page 2 at the bottom of the screen) - you'll see a thread of discussion on this. There are a few posts by "Blue Goose" (Jack) who has done three series 50 installs and assisted other people who have done this. There's a lot of good info in that thread. Also "search" (in the dark-blue ribbon, above) for "Series 50", keep the quotes when you enter it.
Are you looking at a bus with a Series 50 from the factory, or are you considering one that's had a Series 50 installed?
Welcome. Where are you?

steve.barnett71 · May 23, 2016, 06:24:09 AM

Thank you for the reply. We are looking at an MCI that has had the series 50 installed. We are in Indiana but heading to Oklahoma later this week to look at the bus.

TomC · May 23, 2016, 06:49:52 AM

In my opinion-the Series is the perfect motorhome engine. Set it at 350hp and 1,100 lb/ft torque. Not a rocket but will be about as fast as the fastest trucks going up the grade (35mph going up 5%). The important part is 10mpg. Two things-the Series 50 being only a 4 cylinder vibrates-hence Detroit designed in two balancing shafts in the crankcase. These should be changed every 300,000 miles. And make sure it has the soft engine mounts to counter the vibrating at idle speed. Being a 4 stroke 4 cylinder, it only fires 2 times every revolution compare to a 6V firing 6 times or an 8V firing 8 times every revolution. Good Luck, TomC

blue_goose · May 23, 2016, 06:54:04 AM

I have had some experience with the Series 50. If you have any questions post them here and I will try and be of some help.
Jack

eagle19952 · May 23, 2016, 08:50:43 AM

be aware.. it will be a rattle instead of a purr...

ask to see the old balance shaft..

blue_goose · May 23, 2016, 09:39:04 AM

Quote from: eagle19952 on May 23, 2016, 08:50:43 AM
be aware.. it will be a rattle instead of a purr...

ask to see the old balance shaft..

Mine has a rattle and also a squeak, but it sure makes good music running down the road. As stated the balance shaft can be a problem with the series 50. I am sure mine has been replaced because when I took the pan off there were marks where it had hit the side of the oil pan. If the engine has good oil pressure the balance shaft will more than likely be ok. It is an engine so anything can go wrong. If you have a bad part there are thousands of CNG engines that have the same shaft and the engines are useless for anything else but parts.
Shake rattle and squeak, but go up that hill.
Jack

steve.barnett71 · May 23, 2016, 09:48:45 AM

Thanks for all the replies. According the owner the engine has about 45,000 miles on it since rebuilt and the Allison 6 speed only has around 12,000 on it. Hopefully I should be good to go for a while.

blue_goose · May 23, 2016, 10:55:20 AM

Steve is they are true milage you will never have any problem. Get all the wiring that you can and all the plumbing . The plumbing of the water, air and exhaust are the hardest part.
Jack

doublee · May 24, 2016, 05:10:12 AM

What model of MCI is it?

Detroitenginespecialist · May 24, 2016, 05:37:09 AM

Steve,
We build about 1-2 Series 50 every other month for a big transit company in Florida. They always insist on using high capacity balance shafts because Detroit had made three upgrades to those components. So this company feels that by using the most recently improved balance shafts, that will give them longer life. The problem is, they are hard to come by from the factory.

If you get serious about purchasing the motorhome with that engine in it, I would offer our service of conducting an inspection of the engine and hooking it up to the computer to see what the ECM will tell you. We don't charge for this service. American Fleet is in Springfield Missouri and only builds Detroit Diesel bus engines.

If you have any further questions please give us a call.

CrabbyMilton · May 24, 2016, 06:59:21 AM

Perhaps setting the idle just a tad higher would take care of vibration problems. My new work van is a FROD TRANSIT CONNECT with the 2.5L 4. It's fairly smooth for a 4 popper unless it's idling at 500rpm or lower. Just a thought.

luvrbus · May 24, 2016, 07:46:45 AM

LOL my 60 series is not the smoothest engine idling at 550 rpm I keep it around 650 rpm,now a old 2 stroke idling @ 500 rpm that is smooth

CrabbyMilton · May 24, 2016, 09:30:36 AM

Can't beat an old 2 stroke for smoothness. But I still love the description that someone on here had of the old 4-71 or 3-71 as sounding like swarm of bees in a spam can. Smooth but loud.

steve.barnett71 · May 24, 2016, 10:21:23 AM

Quote from: doublee on May 24, 2016, 05:10:12 AM
What model of MCI is it?

It is a 1982 MC9