4 Cylinder Atlas Imperial

[Tanner Remillard]

Here is a big old ugly Atlas Imperial that dad came across the other day. I always loved these engines.

[Jordan]

Holy cow sure is big.

[John Newman, Jr.]

Pardon my ignorance, but it looks like it has 3 push rods / rocker arms per cylinder. Which has 2 valves - intake or exhaust?
Show us that engine again when it starts coming together.

[Andrew Yeary]

Tanner can't wait to see that engine when its done in ten years

[Tanner Remillard]

This engine IS'NT mine unfortunately, just thought I would post a pic of it. And the old guy that ownes it would rather see it rot into the ground then do anything with it I guess

[Andrew Yeary]

well Tanner, I gave you ten years to get it done. That should be plenty of time to talk him out of it and restore it. Your going to be busy if all these old timers give in to you and sell (hopefully cheap) You'll have prijects for the next 100 years. I'm sure we won't here you complaining.

[Brad Kelley]

Here's what it could look like, with a little TLC. This engine runs at the Tuckahoe engine show in Easton, Maryland.

cheers

[John Schwiebert]

Atlas Imperial was an early user of a common rail fuel system. The center push rod will work the fuel injector. I toured Death Valley this spring. There was an Atlas there in about the same condition

[KidDynamo]

There are various Atlas engines operating in and around the Pacific Northwest and some talented repair and maintenance is available for those in need.

If you were lucky enough to attend the Wooden Boat Festival Fourth of July weekend at the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle, you likely saw the "Agnes Foss", a towboat built 1902 and presently powered with a wonderful Atlas that runs like a top.

The owner. a top of the line vintage diesel specialist, allowed full access to the vessel and displayed a photographic history of the boat and her machinery for 4 days as young and old visitors came and went.

Believe me when I say that a workboat with an Atlas would be a joy to work on as they go ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk all day and all night long.

Not enough power for commercial boat owner's, though, and who cared if the crew all go deaf, we got work to do !!!!!!

Yeah, if you like looking at an Atlas sitting on blocks, imagine piloting the "Agnes" up the Inside Passage from Seattle to, say Skagway, Alaska where the Klondike Goldrush stampeders disembarked. And then back.

Just a thought or two that popped up reading this thread. I would buy that Atlas if I was you and get the electrolysis vat working overtime !

[Larry Evans]

If you are interested take a look at:
http://www.oldengine.org/members/levans/atlas/
to see some pictures of a 3 cylinder Atlas a friend of mine got running earlier this year. If you look at these and the other pictures posted you will notice that there are actually 4 push rods per cylinder: intake and exhaust and fuel injection as mentioned and the 4th. one is for the compressed air starting system.

The attached picture is the one mentioned in Death Valley. You can see more pictures of this engine and other old iron in the area at:
http://www.oldengine.org/members/levans/dv/

Regards,
Larry

[oldtool53]

Hi,

I helped to rebuild an Atlas Imperial back in 1976. It was an 8 cylinder turbocharged direct reversing marine unit. Built in 1954. It required 250 psi of air injection for starting and shifting the camshaft. One heck of an air system.

Mark In New Bern NC

[KidDynamo]

In my prior response, I refered several times to the Agnes Foss as a boat with an Atlas but I should have said Lorna Foss.

The Agnes had twin E.M.D. 12- 645's.

[Craig A]

Here's some video of a 3 cylinder Atlas at the Hastings, MN, show:

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32823

[ChadYelland]

question,, the firt engine has 3 push rods wich we wondered about, the others have 4,, but 1 has no spring on the bottom like the rest? so it doesnt seem to be another valve, possilble do do with starting on air or decompression?
. allso i see a tapered key changes the fuel delivery amout, but would it not make the pump late at low load and earlier at high load??

[Robt.]

Here's another one, and it's for sale it says:

http://www.oldmarineengine.com/discu.../5/100793.html

[Boatbum]

The fuel wedges only change the amount of fuel sprayed into the engine, the injector is mechanically actuated from the camshaft. So the wedges sliding in vary the lift of the injector not the timing. It's a really slick system and works well.

There are springs onall the lifters, there just not all visible as the injector springs because they are down on the block at the base of the lifter. I love my Atlas and the exhaust note running at 100 rpm and watching the prop wash!!

Keith