ThaddeusW

Well I knew this would happen, CAT is going to work with International to produce a MaXXForce branded C-15. With everyone going with propriety engines it looked grim for both CAT and Cummins. Cummins paired with Paccar to make the PX series engines which are re-badged Cummins engines. Makes sense for Paccar since making a whole engine line is quite costly and the ISB and ISL are proven designs. The IH-MAN Maxxforce 11 and 13 cant reach the 600+ HP the C-15 can. I wonder if they will use a different Emissions system or continue to use the design as-is. I wonder what color the it will be painted. IH will have a nice mix of engines in their lineup: IH, IH-MAN and IH-CAT. This was posted on Hanks by a fellow who's friend works as an engineer for CAT: Caterpillar, Navistar Working On 15-Liter Engine Venture Jan 16, 2009 13:50:47 (ET) CHICAGO (Dow Jones)--Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) plans to collaborate with Navistar International Corp. (NAV) on a new 15-liter engine for the truck maker's heavy-duty vehicles, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Navistar has been seeking a supplier for the large engines amid moves by its existing suppliers - including Caterpillar - to leave the sector or switch emissions technology. Caterpillar plans to supply the 15-liter engine under Navistar's MaxxForce brand by late 2010, according to the sources. The heavy-equipment maker has said it plans to quit making engines for the U.S. truck market in 2010 to avoid the cost of complying with new domestic emissions standards. However, Caterpillar, Peoria, Ill., could license its existing large engine for Navistar to produce, or opt to continue making power trains under the Navistar brand. Both companies declined to comment. The joint venture, part of a broader truck alliance announced in mid-2008, would allow Navistar to build out its MaxxForce line of medium and heavy-duty engines without the expense of developing a 15-liter unit from scratch. The pending deal would reduce Navistar's reliance on Cummins Inc. (CMI), which also supplies the truck maker with 15-liter engines. Caterpillar's plan to exit the U.S. engine business and Cummins' decision to use a different emissions system from Navistar's sent executives from Navistar, Warrenville, Ill., searching for alternatives. For Caterpillar, "This is a way to participate in the truck engine industry, but not have the exposure of being a direct supplier to it," said Eli Lustgarten, analyst with Ohio-based Longbow Research. Daniel Ustian, Navistar's chairman and chief executive, told analysts Jan. 5 that a 15-liter engine solution will be unveiled in March during a trade show in Kentucky. "We'll have our own 15-liter," he said. About a fifth of the 146,285 trucks Navistar built in 2008 were equipped with 15-liter engines, up from 16% in 2007, according to Power Systems Research, a Minnesota-based equipment data service. Navistar has built more engines in-house in recent years to cut costs. Caterpillar and Navistar have been working on an alliance since the summer to build Cat-branded construction trucks for the U.S. market beginning in 2010, as well as commercial trucks and engines for overseas markets. Caterpillar's global dealer network and logistics operations would provide Navistar with the overseas distribution presence it now lacks.

Wow they look good! So they custom made them for you then? I would love to know if they could have chromed them, would really look sharp!

I have seen Penske trucks governed by making the rear ratio so high you were at 60~65 mph running against the governor on a 2500 RPM CAT C-7. They got 4 MPG with a 7 liter engine ! That retarded setup pissed me off every time we rented one of those. Haha just like electricity. But seriously it looks like Auto's will one day become standard and we will have to pay big premiums for manual trannys.

That diagram wont work, theakerstwo has the right diagram. I can explain how to do it as well: You have four batteries, 6 volts each. Two batteries in series will yield 12 volts. Split the batteries into two "banks", each bank of two has one batteries positive hooked to the others negative. This now gives you a 12 volt bank , as each battery has a terminal free, a positive and a negative. Now wire the two banks in parallel by wiring both of the banks positive and negatives together. You now have one big 12 volt battery bank. Now word from the wise, before you start connecting terminals together be sure your polarity is correct. Measure with a volt meter. The current can easily melt wires and cause fires. Oh and remove any rings when wrenching battery terminals. Why? well there was a story of an electrician who had a wedding band on while wrenching the terminals. His ring was in contact with the metal wrench and he accidentally shorted a large battery bank through the wrench and his ring. The resulting short burnt his finger clean off. The wound was cauterized from the heat so reattaching it was impossible.

The Allison's automatically down shift when braking helping to slow the truck. Autos are very good for off road work, especially when playing in the dirt. Some dislike them some love them. One thing is certain though a newbie with an auto can be very dangerous. All they do is mash and go, god forbod they take a turn too hard and over the truck goes. If the driver is careful it shouldn't be a problem.

Diagram time!:

It depends where you reside I guess. Here in NYC our wonderful mayor ordered a ticket blitz to close budget gaps. It was of course illegal and against Union rules but somehow it was enforced. The public went ape s&%# and the PBA went as far as take a full page ad in the Daily News and apologize for the illegal ticket blitz, that they had no control over and also please dont blame the cops. What tipped everyone off was a sudden jump in frivilous tickets like a guy who was ticketed $50 for sitting on a milk crate (illegal use of a milk crate). And another one that made the papers was a pregnant woman who could not stand on the subway platform and had to sit on the stairs. She was fined over $100 for loitering in the subway and blocking the stairs. The officer informed her he was under pressure to give out as many tickets as possible, further evidence of a blitz. Its sick to nickle and dime citizens for petty offences that shouldent even be ticketable. Plenty of better things to look for.

Imagine if everyone contested every ticket written. Here in NYC the wait is at least a month/month and a half for a court date. If everyone contested it would be years for court dates and the system would melt down. Cops wouldn't bother to show getting many tickets thrown out.

Wire that puppy right to the batteries as Eaton instructs you to. That indeed could be the problem.

I read through the Gen 3 Autoshift installation guide and it appears that the Transmission ECU can use either 12 or 24 volts (max of 36 volts). It should not have to be connected to any voltage regulator as all wiring diagrams show the transmission ECU wired directly to the batteries or electrical distribution box. This is so the power to the ECU is not interrupted during starting. I see no reason for it to be wired to a voltage regulator. Have the tech look into this and have a look at the official Eaton install guide which is filled with tons of wiring diagrams. Here is the link the the Autoshift page and the install guide in on the lower right of the page. Now I realize you might not have a generation 3 Autoshift and I reccomend talking to Eaton and find out exactly what voltage your ECU needs (I would bet Mack used the DC-DC inverter because it might be a 12V only ECU). If the older ECU's only operated on 12 volts I would start looking at the 24V to 12V DC-DC inverter as this might be the source of the problem. The voltage regulator might be malfunctioning and sending as much as 28 volts to the ECU blowing it out. Have the tech check the output voltage of the inverter, it should be 12-14 volts. It might be an intermittent problem and the only way to be sure would be to replace the DC-DC inverter with a new one. Call Eaton and ask if there is an updated 24 volt ECU for your gearbox and confirn that your current ECU model is 12V only. A Hybrid 12/24 volt system gets real hairy when electronics are involved. You have the European cab electronics/lighting that use a 24V battery bank and alternator and American systems that use 12V (ECU's and trailer lighting). If something goes wrong you might be getting 24-28 volts on a wire that can have a max of 12-14 on it and *POOf* theres goes the ECU. Get wiring diagrams for your gearbox and see if there are any relays or switches that are in the vacinity of 24 volt systems. A wire might get crossed somewhere else and sending 24V back to the ECU. If this keeps up I would look to upgrading to a Gen 3 Autoshift and wire the thing for 24V and Sell the old gearbox. I would like to see the solution to this problem.

In their fantasy world the power will come from renewable sources like wind and solar. Sure a home can run on solar or wind but what about large industrial plants that start motors in the hundreds or thousands of horse power? What about Aluminum plants, steel mills and other power hungery industrial plants? Maybe large molten salt batteries or capacitors can create an artificial spinning reserve for those industrial uses.

Funny you mention that as I heard that Daimler is testing cabovers here in the USA. The reason is they were getting better fuel mileage with them. Dont know how true it is but I wouldn't be surprised if we see a MB Actros with a DD15 and Fuller gear box driving dana/meritor axles.

I like that Scania P and the old Autocar. Great pictures!

LocomotiveBreath, Accuride makes a 13 inch rear super single rim for Dayton hubs. You cant use steer axle rims on the drive axles, you need a rim that has a lip to seat the rim on the hub and the outer lip for the clamps. Here is the link for their PDF catalog. And here is a link to their catalog page.

The thing that gets me is arent those ECM boxes hermetically sealed? The connectors should in fact seal out all moisture, fluids and dirts. If not then blame it on poor or cheap design.

Hmm after you said that I took a look and I believe its a tow loop or hook. I don't think mud flap brackets have four sturdy looking bolts through them .

Hey everyone, I was just going through my Macungie 2008 photos and I found a picture of what I believe is an LMSW. Anyone know the model and who owns it? Real beauty right there!

Its a brain teaser question/riddle that throws bad math at you to throw you off. Here is a page with many explanations like mine. The riddle is slightly different but follows the same bad logic and math.