Military diesel heaters

[modelaratrod]

I recently picked up a few of these military diesel heaters and got a few of them up and running, what I'm looking to do is use one to heat my shop and on to heat my bus/tiny house and I would like to feed it with an electric fuel pump off of the vehicle's diesel tank. Fuel is currently provided by a Jerry can turned upside down three or four feet off of the ground feeding through a fuel strainer then into some kind of a float setup and onto a solenoid fuel pump that meters small doses of fuel into the burn chamber.

I'm thinking a two PSI electric solenoid fuel pump should be plenty but I can't find any specs of the Tillotson fuel float in the last picture it appears to just be a reservoir controlled by a float that the electric metering pump siphons out of. I do not see any part numbers just the manufacturer name cast in the top.

Do any of you have experience with this heater and the fuel pressure requirements to run it?

Thank you in advance.

 

[modelaratrod]

Heaters

 

[Bogie1632]

I didnt look at anything in the manual, but the Army Tech Manual, TM 10-4520-262-12&P, is available online for that shown NSN. It's like 406 pages but might help.

As a gee whiz in case you haven't use mil tech manuals before, when you look at the parts listing they will often list both the manufactures part number as well as the NSN. They also list Cage codes. You can Google those cage codes to find who the manufactures was. Cage = manufacturer. Those can be very helpful sourcing correct parts that may have had part numbers updated over the years.

Good luck.

V/R
Bogie

 

[modelaratrod]

Thanks, it shows Hunter MFG as the manufacturer but it has Tillotson cast into it.
I'm thinking 2psi should not over power the float, I could always use the over flow from the float bowl as a return to the tank.

 

[Bogie1632]

Thanks, it shows Hunter MFG as the manufacturer but it has Tillotson cast into it.
I'm thinking 2psi should not over power the float, I could always use the over flow from the float bowl as a return to the tank.

I should have also mentioned, with cage #s in the book, that's usually just the original manufacture. That part could also have had many manufactures that made that exact part that met the NSN requirements as often happens.

Is there a reason gravity feeding isn't working for you? Been a few years since I used a heater like that but never had a set up leak on us. One set we used was gravity, one was siphon, both kept us warm. I doubt a 2psi pump will cause issue though. If anything set up a return loop before the float. You'd get fuel to the float but when its closed any extra fuel and pressure would go right back to the tank (using a slightly larger ID line). I wouldn't think out the vent would be the best option long term.

V/R
Bogie

 

[cadunkle]

I know that company well. No experience with the heaters though, only shelters and air conditioners.

 

[gearhead1]

I worked on them and used them, but no idea on the pressure. I agree also that 2 psi would not cause an issue. I think it’s low risk.

 

[modelaratrod]

The gravity feed works great for being stationary, I'm looking to permanently mount one for heating the bus and want to feed it from the 60 gallon fuel tank.

I found and ordered a Carter fuel pump that's 1-2 psi so I'll try it out and add a return after the pump if it's overwhelming the needle and seat.

 

[Spareparts]

Edelbrock makes one also for small engines, but a little pricy at like $56.00

 

[TractorJeff]

Maybe a comment in the Military Manual stating, "Do not elevate Fuel Supply higher than ** number of inches as my cause improper operation?"
I would put a hose with a pressure gauge on the Jerry Can, turn it upside down and elevate reading the pressure of the gauge on the floor.
Make Sense?

 

[Bretny]

No need for a hose with pressure gauge to measure the pressure. Generally every 1ft of elevation equals 0.4psi

This would be a better question to ask on steelsoldiers.com