Cummins 855

[Midnite]

I'm not really familiar with the bigger Cummins engines, but I work for a local phone company and we pulled the old generator out of a wire center we were upgrading the power facilities in. It was a Cummins 855, and the data plate on the engine showed a date of 6/70 which would be about right for when the building was built.

The fascinating thing to me was that the hour meter showed only 317 hours! That engine must've been darn near brand new after 41 years of service! They fired it up once a year for testing, and also for the odd power outage, but that was it.

Just thought it was interesting.

 

[AClayton]

I'm not really familiar with the bigger Cummins engines, but I work for a local phone company and we pulled the old generator out of a wire center we were upgrading the power facilities in. It was a Cummins 855, and the data plate on the engine showed a date of 6/70 which would be about right for when the building was built.



The fascinating thing to me was that the hour meter showed only 317 hours! That engine must've been darn near brand new after 41 years of service! They fired it up once a year for testing, and also for the odd power outage, but that was it.



Just thought it was interesting.

Midnite,



Ironic that you posted this; I work for a large phone co. also and have contractors in my bldg. this week to replace the old Detroit 12-71 2 stroke Generators. The Cummins Onan's sound sweet but those old workhorses that did the job for over 40yrs sounded better IMO. Nothing wrong with them other than age... ..... one had 211 hrs and the other just shy of 300hrs. Man, were they loud... ... ... 24" of sound deadening was installed 15yrs ago due to the new City ordinances for sound control and you could still here them run outside!!



Alan

 

[CKelley1]

i still have some 855's in use. i also have a v12 1710 that the parts will interchange with it has a turbo on each bank and even the turbo will exchange. the genset is still worth a $100 a kw

 

[magothy1]

I run a pair of 1970's model 855's in my shrimp boat. The things are built like tanks. I just checked in here to see if I could find a source for some mufflers, I'll start another thread.