Mep003a

[Dog Breath]

I recently purchased a 1982 mep003a for $1200. I took it to its off grid home 3 weeks ago, checked the oil, hooked up 2 batteries and fired it up. Beforehand I read most of the TM’s(important stuff) and searched mep003a on this site and read everything I found. White smoke comes out of the front ex pipe on startup but goes away. I wired it to my shop and ran everything I could including my old Lincoln stick welder on 225 amps. Worked without a hiccup for several startups over 2 weeks. Ran it for 30 hours approximately gradually adding new fuel to dilute the old stuff. On the last start attempt the starter spins but won’t engage flywheel. It was below zero in northern Wisconsin. I suspect the starter cutout? I do have a few questions for you guys
The start knob is missing. Using a vice grips. Is there a replacement? I’m not finding one yet
The faceplate control panel is faded and not readable. Should I just sharpie it up? Can’t find a replacement
I planned on bringing home to give it the love it needs but broke 3 ribs so I left it there until I get back.
is there anything I need to do/check on this beast while changing filters and oil?
should I be concerned about the white smoke from front cylinders on startup?
DB

 

[Scoobyshep]

Add a lubricant to the fuel (there are additives online)

The starter cutout disconnects the solenoid trigger so the motor wouldnt spin. I think something may be binding in the starter.

Places like digikey or newark should have a generic knob that should work on the switch.

Odd things i have found: filters and water separator plumed backwards. this will render the separator useless, so taking a moment to look is worth the time spent. Clean the separator, they dont get the love they need. There is a mod for starter wiring in the control cube, is was supposed to be done but of the 5 i have touched, only 1 came to me with it (its very easy and takes about 2 min to do, look at TB4-3 and see if there are 3 wires there, if 1 of them is P59E16 it needs moved to tb4-12,13,or 14).

there are faceplates out there, some members here may have one available, me personally theres nothing wrong with some sharpie or thermal labels.

Hope this helps and you feel better soon, broken ribs suck.

 

[Dog Breath]

Thankyou scooby. I did see that starter wire write up and will do that also. I really can’t believe it runs as good as it does after years of sitting. A lot of seeds and whatnot came flying out on startup.
DB

 

[rickf]

I would venture a guess that the starter issue is old frozen grease on the bendix, or none at all on the bendix. My guess is that when warmed up a bit it will work. Take the starter off and check for lube on the shaft and on the end bushings if you can access them. Unless you are restoring this for show use there is not issue with sharpie. You need function over aesthetic as far as I am concerned. I may have a faceplate but it is way to cold and windy to dig around for it now. Did you switch the slide over on the air cleaner to winter mode? This will help it warm up quicker and run better when cold. This is an air cooled engine so keeping it warm is a good thing. That is the job of the louvers over the top of the engine, they regulate the temps around the cylinders and heads.

 

[Scoobyshep]

Thankyou scooby. I did see that starter wire write up and will do that also. I really can’t believe it runs as good as it does after years of sitting. A lot of seeds and whatnot came flying out on startup.
DB

Oh yea, I started one after doing an injection pump that had sat for years and got a faceful

 

[rickf]

You say a lot of seeds came flying out?! Did you take off the shroud around the engine to make sure there are no nests blocking the cylinder fins? This is very important.

 

[Dog Breath]

I did open the shroud and no nests before startup. And as it was running I used a big blower to clean fins. They are rusty. Gave it a good visual inspection and after initial 6 hour run loaded, the louveres were open maybe 1/8”. I could rest my hand on each valve cover. I feel good about how this runs so far
DB

 

[Dog Breath]

I would venture a guess that the starter issue is old frozen grease on the bendix, or none at all on the bendix. My guess is that when warmed up a bit it will work. Take the starter off and check for lube on the shaft and on the end bushings if you can access them. Unless you are restoring this for show use there is not issue with sharpie. You need function over aesthetic as far as I am concerned. I may have a faceplate but it is way to cold and windy to dig around for it now. Did you switch the slide over on the air cleaner to winter mode? This will help it warm up quicker and run better when cold. This is an air cooled engine so keeping it warm is a good thing. That is the job of the louvers over the top of the engine, they regulate the temps around the cylinders and heads.

Rick I am searching for the cold weather slide on the tm but haven’t come across that. Genny is 300 miles away ATM. Is it one of the intake tubes going to the lovers? I must rotate

 

[Scoobyshep]

Rick I am searching for the cold weather slide on the tm but haven’t come across that. Genny is 300 miles away ATM. Is it one of the intake tubes going to the lovers? I must rotate

its on the filter can up top

 

[Chainbreaker]

its on the filter can up top

You need to slide the Hat shaped knob up, by pushing down on the knob IIRC, to slide it into Winter position. It's good to hit it with some WD40 first beforehand as they usually are stuck. I've had to hit with penetrating lube let it sit a few min & then tap with small hammer/wrench to free it up. Photo below is showing mine still set in "Summer" mode.

 

[Dog Breath]

Ok that is easy enough. Thankyou

 

[Dog Breath]

Confirmed it is in summer mode

 

[Scoobyshep]

Confirmed it is in summer mode

It wont do much on startup, But running it will.

 

[Dog Breath]

This electrical connector is broke also for the aux sending unit I assume. I need to repair that also. I have a tank to use if the pump works

 

[Scoobyshep]

This electrical connector is broke also for the aux sending unit I assume. I need to repair that also. I have a tank to use if the pump works

That's a float switch for the aux fuel. If you aren't hooking the set to an external tank you don't need it

 

[Scoobyshep]

The -12 manual is your friend here, it has the operating info.

quick and dirty there are 3 fuel pumps 2 are in series and supply fuel from tank through the separator and filters to the injection pump. the 3rd is active only in prime run and aux fuel, it sucks fuel from a fitting by the pump that you can hook to an external tank through a solenoid valve to the set tank. the float controls the solenoid.

 

[Ray70]

Some white smoke at startup is not uncommon on these machines. As long as it clears up within a minute or less I would not worry about it right now.
It could be 1 bad glow plug out of the 4.
As for the start switch knob, I have a few damaged control panels and covers, I can check if I have a knob, I also salvaged a bunch of knobs ( with similar shaft size / profiles) from old radio equipment for this exact reason.... Spares!
I can check that pile as well.
Anything is better than vice grips.
A sharpie is fine to mark the control panel.
I just recently sold my last NOS ( new in the box ) control panel cover. Not sure if anyone else has one, but I did also once see a post here on SS about member @Jimc who made a full overlay sticker to rejuvenate control panels. You could try contacting him through PM to see if he still has them?

 

[Jimc]

Its been a minute since i have been on this site. Unfortunately i do not have any of the overlay decals available. I should still have the file around though. You can take it to any sign shop and have it printed on vinyl with a matte laminate applied over it.

 

[Scoobyshep]

Its been a minute since i have been on this site. Unfortunately i do not have any of the overlay decals available. I should still have the file around though. You can take it to any sign shop and have it printed on vinyl with a matte laminate applied over it.

I would be interested in this as well

 

[Dog Breath]

Fantastic! Let me know what you guys need from me