ID diesel from a military number????

[GeneratorGus]

I'm wondering if it might be possible to ID an engine from a number stencilled on the radiator. The radiator is a replacement but is obviously military and obviously made for the diesel engine I'm trying to ID. I posted it here a while ago but wasn't able to make an ID http://http://www.smokstak.com/forum...ghlight=diesel. The guy I bought these engines from saved them and a few radiators from being scrapped from a marine repair shop. The radiator I got is brand new and has the number RA12722 stencilled on the top.
I've since managed to get one running and have taken it to a few shows but no ID yet.
To add to the mystery, in my earlier post I mentioned I found the number 1444 stamped on the connecting rod and rod cap, when I was cleaning the engine I found a serial number (1444/50)stamped on a boss near the radiator mount. I checked my others and found they also carry the /50 and the serials are only a couple of numbers apart but the last two digits are less than 50. I'm thinking maybe these engines are part of a limited or experimental production run of 50 engines. Also kind of suspicious is the compression release (between the air cleaner and fuel filter), which is threaded at the end, evidently to be connected to something else, possibly a a device to measure combustion pressures. Another odd thing is the fuel fill elbows into the bottom of the fuel tank, the fuel pickup fitting is attached at the bottom of that elbow. There is no vent in the tank and the only other connection is the 1/16" injector leak off tubing. When the engine is running it pulls the fuel level in fill elbow down to just above the point where the fuel pickup is attached. The fuel will stay at that level no matter how much fuel is in the tank, possibly to keep a constant pressure in the fuel delivery system. Promlem is it is quite difficult to get fuel into the air locked tank. I have to unhook the leak off tube and very slowly syphon fuel from the can into the tank, also the fuel will puke out of the fill tube when it expands during the mid day heat. Not something you'd expect to experence if you had just purchased one of these engines. I had to tee in a vent along with the leak off tube.
I'm attaching one more picture of the engine with the radiator on, also one of the chain drive cam set up and the fully machined connecting rod and crank. I didn't clean the inside of the engine, it didn't need it.

[Rattlenet]

Great listing Gus, Can you tell where to get any infro, and parts, for a delco gm generator all i have is mod no. 1-4435A1 I THINK ITS ABOUT 30-50 KW. cant find anything. looks like a MASH unit or korean war era. any infro apperated tx. rattlenet .

[Jud]

For many, many years, perhaps as far back as WWII, all items purchased by the military have National Stock Numbers. This is true of M-1 Garand rifle barrels, Sherman tank treads, and everything else. The question is whether the number on the radiator is a NSN --- if it is, then you can get a copy of the blueprint from the government. I had a bunch of springs which looked a lot like M-1 carbine parts. They were in their original packages with the NSN. I was able to identify them correectly after getting a copy of the print. If you can get the print, then the print might lead you to the engine maker. Also, because the government buys from several makers at a time, the maker may turn out to be "makers" --- meaning that two or three companies may have supplied parts and or complete engines.

[Jud]

Here is some more information on the NSN, from an official source:

Definition: (DOD) The 13-digit stock number replacing the 11-digit Federal Stock Number. It consists of the 4-digit Federal Supply Classification code and the 9-digit National Item Identification Number. The National Item Identification Number consists of a 2-digit National Codification Bureau number designating the central cataloging office of the NATO or other friendly country which assigned the number and a 7-digit (xxxxxxx) nonsignificant number. The number shall be arranged as follows: 9999-00-999-9999.

[~Wittes-End~]

That's some good information. Hopefully this will give me some leads on the 15 KW Kato Gen End I have. I need a voltage regulator for it and if I can get a print I may be able to have the electricians at work make one for me. Looks like there is still hope. I have been trying to get a voltage regulator for almost a year now. Thanks.