3-53 questions

[stoneeaglefarm]

Starting to work my way thru this Clark I bought. Its been 2o years since I have had a Detroit in a machine. Besides it being loud there suppose to be a good engine I hear. Its start good now thats its warm, Bellows some smoke as she starts, Warms up and I ran it around and while she sits seems very little color in smoke, What are good signs and or bad as far as smoke, There is leaking but hard to say were until I steam clean it next week, What are common leaks on the 3-53, Hear they all will use oil as they work. Gonna get thru that then start checking tranny and rear ends, Thanks to all with help so far on this my first clark. I found out its a 1978 high low gear, Forward-reverse for a tranny, No clutch. Thoughts on that .

[treeslayer2003]

if it don't billow blue smoke, your good.
thoughts on what? the clark powershift? very good lol, bulletproof.

[BargeMonkey]

 Its a detroit, if your not leaking oil then you are out of oil. Clean air, good fuel and coolant and you shouldnt have many problems. My forwarder coughs a good cloud when she starts, unless you really start blowing white / blue smoke i wouldnt worry.

[so il logger]

X2... Anywhere oil can leak on a 353.... It probably will. Great engines though just don't lug it allot, run it like your'e mad at it :D :D Them beast's love higher rpm

[tj240]

the valve cover is the first place it will leak. we have one in our loader and there may be a drip hear or there thats it. they do love to run at high rpm. good luck

[rockwall]

Can you post some photos of the Clark?

[John Woodworth]

You will have a Air box drain behind the starter, a elbow with a tube pointing down, draining there is normal, if you ever remove starter, clean the tube, if it pluge you will start seeing blue smoke.