CAT 3126 Replacement & Emissions

[cannongeorge]

I need to replace an existing crane (powered by a Detroit Diesel 3-71) on an existing offshore oil platform. I have located a replacment crane,

powered by a Caterpillar 3126. Unfortunatley, I will also need to meet EPA Tier 3 emissions requirements. Caterpillar, to date, has been unresponsive. Does anyone know if a CAT 3126 may be retro-modified to meet Tier 3 or if another engine (eg, C-7) may be ordered to meet these requirements?

Thanks

 

[MVieira]

cannongeorge,

You can't take an existing engine and modify it to meet Tier 3 emissions requirements, you will have to repower it with a new C-7 ACERT engine and also the air to air aftercooling that will go with it. Your dealers down there should be helping you with that, which should be; Quinn, Hawthorn, or Johnson in So. Cal. Try calling the dealer again and ask to talk to their Technical Communicator and have the serial number, arrangement number, and the horsepower rating of your old 3126 to give him or he won't be able to help you. Tell him you would like the part number for a Tier 3 C-7 ACERT engine and also what other parts that might be needed like air to air aftercooling that would be needed to repower your crane. Another idea would be to ask your dealer for your product support rep's phone number and call him and tell him what you want. He is a salesman for the service and parts depts. and that is his job to get you the info and prices to do the retrofit. If you can wait you might want to get funding from the state thru the Karl Moyer program, if you can't wait you'll have to fund the repower yourself, last time I priced out a C-7 for a retrofit it was about $17,000 for the engine only. If you still don't have any luck with your dealer PM me with your old 3126 engine info and I'll see if I can come up with a retrofit C-7 part number for you.

Regards, Mike.

 

[cannongeorge]

Mike:

Thanks for you quick reply. Hawthorne (who has been very helpful in the past) says they can't help me, as this application is out of their sales territory. (I'm not sure where the physical order for new engine will be placed, it might be out of Houston or out of someplace else in California. Jobsite is offshore California)A Quinn dealer I called told me they didn't know about Tier 3, and to to call the factory. I called the factory and was directed to a Caterpillar website. I posted an inquiry on the CAT website and the reply (with no return address or contact) sent me full circle back to Quinn. I understand now we're in the Holiday season but I was hoping to find out some quick and simple (I thought) answers so I can start the ordering/permitting process.



The crane manufacturer is on vacation as well, I'm going to work with their existing engine supplier in Houston. If I don't get anywhere in another two weeks I'll PM you - but for now going to assume we need the C-7 engines. I'm guessing 30 week delivery. And yes, I was thinking the air intercooler will require a larger radiator housing. I'm mostly worried about the baseplate and bellhousing designs on the C-7 and adapting them to the former 3126 location. I do have some representative 3126 serial numbers, which should help with drawings.



Karl Moyer program is great, but unlikely SBAPCD will allow it to be tapped for this purpose. But believe me, the engine cost will pale in comparison to everything else.

 

[MVieira]

cannongeorge,

The C-7 engine is based on the 3126E, so all the outside dimensions are basically the same, so you shouldn't have any problems putting the engine in the crane. The hard part will be the added air to air aftercooling, cooling system, and plumbing involved with them, also the added electronics, which you're going to need dealer help on. The 3126E engine designation was changed to C-7 to fall in line with all the new metric designated engines i. e. , C-13 = a 13 Liter engine. The C-7 ACERT engine meets Teir 3, which all off highway engines from 175 hp to 300 hp have to meet in 2006-2007. Engines from 300 hp to 750 hp had to meet Tier 3 this year or 2005. I'm ashamed and disappointed that you're not getting the correct help from the CAT dealers down there. I've worked for the local dealer here for 22 years and there is a stigma at CAT dealers when it comes to helping someone with a CAT engine that is not in a Caterpillar machine. I'm not saying it is right, I'm just saying that I see it happen. I know I don't have all the details in your situation, but if you not getting anywhere in the next couple of weeks feel free to PM me and I'll give you my phone numbers and I'll try to help you.

Regards, Mike.

 

[jrjuday]

You need to call your local cummins dealer ASAP.