The Northern Lights Lugger is a 7.2 L 6-cylinder turbo-aftercooled engine rated at 1800 rpm, producing up to 17.5 kW. It powers generator sets from Northern Lights, including the M6105A1, M6105A2, M6105A3 and M843JK.
Also known as: Northern Lights, Inc. Lugger
Maintenance schedule
| Item | Spec | Capacity | Part # | Interval | |
|---|
| Air filter | Cleanable dry-type air cleaner in cast aluminum, noise attenuating intake manifold. | | — | | |
| Fuel filter | Large spin-on fuel filter. | | — | | |
| Oil filter | 12-volt starter motor and battery charging alternator with integrated regulator and belt guard. | | — | | |
| Battery | 12-volt starter motor and battery charging alternator with integrated regulator and belt guard. | | — | | |
| Belt | Mechanical fuel lift pump with hand primer, flexible fuel lines routed to base, fuel shut-off solenoid. | | — | | |
| Coolant | Cupro-nickel tube-type heat exchanger. Jabsco gear-driven raw water pump. | | — | | |
| Oil | Full flow, spin-on oil filter with bypass. | 5.8 quart | — | | |
| Spark plug | Glow plugs for quick cold starting. | | — | | |
Pooled from every document that names this exact engine — confirm the interval and part number against your unit's serial number.
Procedures
12Valve Clearances adjustment
⚠ Engine should be cold and NOT running.
Tools: Feeler gauge, Wrench
- Adjust valve clearance after first 50 hours and every 600 hours thereafter.
- Do adjustment after cylinder head bolts have been retightened; engine cold and NOT running.
- Turn engine by hand until inlet valve starts to open and exhaust valve starts to close; turn one more full turn.
- Loosen lock nut and adjust clearance between rocker arm and valve guide to 0.008 in. (0.2 mm).
- Repeat for each cylinder; replace rocker arm cover and tighten cover nuts to 5 - 8 ft/lbs.
Air Cleaner Service maintenance
⚠ Do NOT run the engine with the air cleaner removed.
- Inspect air cleaner every 200 hours; check more often in dusty conditions.
- Marine: if dirty, wash element in soapy water; rinse and dry thoroughly before reinstalling.
- Marine: replace element if necessary.
- Industrial: element cannot be cleaned; replace when necessary.
- Make sure no impurities enter engine while changing element.
Battery Care maintenance
⚠ Battery gas can explode; keep flames and sparks away from batteries.
Tools: Hydrometer
- Check electrolyte level every 50 hours or once per month; add distilled water to manufacturer's recommended level.
- Check and clean batteries, cables, and terminals every 100 hours.
- Clean corrosion with water and baking soda solution; flush with clean water.
- Tighten terminals and grease them to inhibit corrosion.
- Check battery condition with a hydrometer every 600 hours.
Bleeding the Fuel System maintenance
⚠ Escaping diesel fuel under pressure can penetrate skin causing serious personal injury.
⚠ Use cardboard or wood, not hands, to search for suspected leaks.
Tools: Wrench
- Loosen bleed bolt A on top of the filter.
- Pump hand primer B on fuel lift pump until pure fuel without bubbles escapes from bleed bolt A; tighten A.
- Loosen bleed screw C; pump hand primer B until pure fuel escapes; tighten C.
- If engine does not start, loosen a fuel line at the injector while cranking until pure fuel escapes; tighten connection.
- After engine starts, use cardboard to look for fuel leaks.
Changing Lube Oil Filter maintenance
⚠ Overtightening can damage the filter housing.
Tools: Filter wrench
- Use a filter wrench to remove old filter; discard in approved manner.
- Remove and discard old filter gasket; clean mount face.
- Spread thin film of engine oil on new filter gasket.
- Screw filter on until gasket meets sealing surface.
- Tighten one-half turn farther by hand only.
- Fill engine with recommended oil; start and check for leakage.
- Stop engine, wait 3 minutes, and check oil level; add oil if necessary.
Cooling System Flushing maintenance
⚠ Allow engine to cool before working on cooling system.
⚠ Open filler cap carefully using protective clothing when engine is warm.
- Flush cooling system every 600 hours or every 12 months, whichever comes first.
- Marine: remove expansion tank cap and drain engine block.
- Marine: open block drain cock and remove hose from bottom of heat exchanger tank.
- Marine: flush with clean water until drains are free of discoloration and sediment; drain completely and refill with recommended mixture.
- Industrial: remove radiator cap and open drain cocks on radiator and engine block.
- Industrial: flush until water is clear; drain completely and refill with recommended coolant mixture; clean radiator fins.
- Check hoses and connections and repair any leakage.
Engine Oil Change maintenance
⚠ Never use flushing oil or additives in crankcase.
⚠ Dispose of waste oil in an approved manner.
Tools: Oil drain container
- Change engine oil and oil filter after first 50 hours; use Service CC 30 weight oil during first 100 hours.
- Change oil and filter again at 100 hours; thereafter change every 200 hours.
- Warm engine, loosen clamp on oil change tube, remove cap, and drain oil.
- Replace cap and tube; refill with recommended oil for the season.
Fuel Filter Replacement maintenance
⚠ Do not overtighten.
Tools: Filter wrench
- Remove spin-on filter by turning counterclockwise with a filter wrench.
- Fill new cartridge with fuel and apply engine oil to gasket surface.
- Screw on until gasket surface contacts sealing surface of filter base.
- Tighten two-thirds of a turn by hand; do not overtighten.
Raw Water Pump Impeller Replacement maintenance
⚠ Place protection under screwdrivers so pump housing is not damaged.
⚠ Keep an extra impeller and cover gasket in reserve on board.
Tools: Needle-nose pliers or two screwdrivers
- Change seawater pump impeller every 600 hours or as needed.
- Remove pump end cover.
- Pry out impeller using needle-nose pliers or two screwdrivers.
- Remove all pieces of failed impeller and clean inside of housing.
- Press in new impeller and place sealing washers in outer end of impeller center.
- Replace cover using a new gasket.
Retightening Cylinder Head Bolts maintenance
Tools: Torque wrench
- Tighten bolts when the engine is cold.
- Loosen nuts and remove rocker arm cover.
- Tighten head bolts with a torque wrench in the order shown.
- Tighten evenly in 2 or 3 passes, ending at specified torque in final pass.
Winterizing / Out-of-Service maintenance
⚠ Store set in a dry, protected place; if stored outside, protect with a cover.
- Marine: drain fresh water and seawater cooling systems completely; shut off seacocks before opening drain cocks.
- Marine: drain water supply lines and wet exhaust line; loosen seawater pump cover and drain pump.
- Industrial: drain and flush radiator and cooling system; leave dry or refill with antifreeze-water mixture.
- Industrial: fill fuel tank or add biocide; seal air cleaner inlet, exhaust opening, crankcase breather pipe, and fuel tank vent.
- Marine and industrial: change crankcase oil and filter; loosen alternator belt.
- Disconnect and clean battery; remove to warm storage if possible.
- Clean outside of unit; paint scratched or chipped surfaces; apply corrosion preventative to exposed metal.
Before Starting operation
⚠ Use protective clothing and open the filler cap carefully when the engine is warm to prevent burns.
⚠ The battery switch must always be kept ON while the engine is running.
- Check coolant level about 1 in. (2.5 cm) below filler cap sealing surface when cold.
- Check crankcase oil with dipstick; level must be in waffled area.
- Check fuel tank level and open any fuel valves.
- Marine: close sea-cock; clean sea strainer; reopen sea-cock.
- Marine: place battery switch in ON position and keep it ON while running.
Extracted from the manufacturer documentation linked to this model. Values are copied as printed; confirm against your unit's manual and serial number.
Common questions
What is the displacement of the Northern Lights Lugger?
The Northern Lights Lugger has a displacement of 7.2 liters with 6 cylinders.
Which generators use the Northern Lights Lugger engine?
The Northern Lights Lugger powers 4 generator set(s), including Northern Lights M6105A1, Northern Lights M6105A2, Northern Lights M6105A3, Northern Lights M843JK.
What is a common problem with the Northern Lights Lugger engine?
A commonly reported issue on generators using the Northern Lights Lugger is: Engine Hard to Start or Will Not Start. Cause: Improper starting procedure. Fix: See starting section of this manual. Take special note of Bypass Switch operation..