[AT] Tractor Diesel Engine question - non-antique

[Gene Dotson]

    Grant

    Most engines are well overbuilt for the designrd tasks. Engines may be 
built for basic tasks and years of service with basic systems such as 
mormally aspirated. These engines may be speced for many tasks by adding 
turbochargers, intercoolers, changing camshaft timing, duration and lift and 
injector size and type. Also varying engine speed for a certain application. 
Internal engine changes such as piston skirt oiling and cooling. Higher 
output engines may have stronger crankshafts and connecting rods. An engine 
designed for a constant speed application will have a lower horsepower 
rating than the same engine used for highway truck use where more speed is 
occasionally needed. RPM has a large influence on the rated horsepower. A 
Farmall 560 with a 281 cu. in. engine turning 2200 Rpm developes  58 
horsepower and a 660 with basically the same engine developes 84 horsepower 
at 2800 Rpm.

    Turbocharging and computer controls have had an impressive influence in 
modern diesel engine designs. High pressure, multi-stage fuel systems have 
greatly improved the fuel efficiency and at the same time reduced the shock 
loads on all engine components. Modern truck engines can be tuned by 
sattellite communication links depending on power required for any region of 
the country. Giving best fuel economy in the plains states and increasing 
the fuel and boost for the mountain west. The computer can control the fuel 
flow, ingine boost and available RPM.

    The main reason for different specifications is to eliminate the need 
for making a specific engine for each usage when an engine can be built to 
power requirement of aech task.

                            Gene


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Grant Brians" <sales at heirloom-organic.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 6:43 PM
Subject: [AT] Tractor Diesel Engine question - non-antique


>I am hoping someone on the list (perhaps Mike Sloane?) can help me on
> understanding something on recent design Diesel engines. Every tractor and
> truck manufacturer of any size now has multiple versions of their diesel
> engines with different Horsepower ratings and Torque rating curves. 
> Clearly
> they are varying settings in the controls of the fuel systems and some
> versions might have a turbocharger or intercooling. What I am trying to
> figure out is when there is an engine that is NOT electronically 
> controlled
> (there are still some), what SAFE changes could an owner make to settings 
> to
> take advantage of the inherent capabilities of these units.
>     In particular, I have Perkins and New Holland engines that fit into
> these categories. In one case the nominal rating of the tractor is 78HP 
> PTO,
> but my unit was dyno tested when I bought it with 93HP from the factory 
> and
> others have "adjusted" these engines to get over 100HP PTO. I am also
> looking at possible acquisition of another tactor that has tractors in the
> same "family" using the same engine but with different adjustments that 
> are
> as much as 45% higher horsepower. These variants of the engine are all
> Tubocharged and Intercooled, so can a skilled and knowledgeable diesel
> mechanic change the settings?
>     Inquisitive people would like to know! I am not saying that I would
> make any of these changes, but I know that in the past when I have 
> converted
> OLD engines to better components that their performance has materially
> improved, sometimes yielding 25% more work.... Also, at times the fuel
> economy has gone up, but I know that would not happen in these newer
> engines. I do know this would void the no longer applicable warrantee on
> these engines if one were to perform the changes, but I still have a 
> burning
> curiousity.
>           Grant Brians
>
>
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