Saving the EMD

Please define your acronyms in your message. I don't want to waste time guessing what you mean by EMD, or MTU. An Engine Monitor Display is likely on all machines fabricated by Caterpillar. An Estrela Mountain Dog could certainly ride in an Earth Moving Device. But I don't think that these engines work by ElectroMagnetic Discharge. Now how in the world does the Maximum Transmission Unit have anything to do but display this jargon faster.

Sorry redfred, Electro Motive Division (EMD) Specifically the 567, 645 and 710 two stroke models. Actually a locomotive, but the engine and generator as well as its traction motors have been used in the drilling and marine industry for years

MTU is part of Detroit Diesel, dont really care what the acronym stands for...

With a claimed (up to) 26,000 hours between overhauls Motor Turbine Union probably don't regard the 4000 series as a throw away.

Delicate is still a good description though, any stray current from the Alternator field circuit (common with GE these days of make it cheaper and elsewhere) and it is curtains for the bearings. It is essential to maintain the crankshaft grounding device carefully to stop the problem. Oddly the same crummy rotors don't kill Cummins.

Apart from the MTU 4000 and the new Cat C175, high horsepower engines are mostly pretty old at the core. The EMDs you speak of decending from the Winton, GE from Cooper Bessemer and of course Cummins have had the KV50 for ages, a quick stroke job and it is the QSK60. The QSK78 is a new design but borrows heavily on the KV50 and the 12V170 Komatsu from whence it came.

The fast ability on line that you speak of is a definite bonus for emergency power something shared with little sister, the Detroit 2 strokes. Emissions were one thing that got the Detroit 149s, as was noise, fuel consumption and the inability to get above 100hp per cylinder reliably (a lot to expect from 2.25 litres). It all went back to lack of investment at critical now long past times, so it became easier to hive the division to Diamler Chrysler's MTU Friedrichshafen than to go it alone. Diamler Benz have since hived off MTU Friedrichshafen (High HP Diesels) but kept MTU Munchen (Gas Turbines). Parts of Detroit Diesel also went too and parts kept (Highway Diesels).

GE's partnership with Duetz for the 6000hp Locomotive Diesel didn't end well. The Higher HP Loco Diesels may yet fall into Cat's hands. I fully expect MTU to end up in the CAT portfolio now that they (CAT) are on the acquision trail so firmly, assuming of course that Komatsu don't wake up and buy it first.

So sadly the EMD 2 strokes are just about the last girls standing from the golden age of land based 2 strokes. Marine of course is another story, a Sultzer story.

Isn't this an example of natural selection? Market forces? "Adapt and survive"?

Yea so I've been told, its time to be skilled with a lap top to keep working on modern day medium speed engines....

Still dont have to like it.

I have worked with diesel engine company in India for more than 11 years and would be happy to help you, if possible with my network. I am currently helping many other brands in India. Pl detail me at . Regards. Sanjay

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