Gale Banks on Modern Diesels

[RustyJC]

This article is bound to stir some discussion.



Rusty

 

[mwilson]

I'm good with my "Tractor Motor", thank you very much... ... ... ..... :-laf

 

[RustyJC]

Yup, my pore ole tractor motor pulls my 5th wheel just fine, thanks. :-laf



Rusty

 

[DNordvik]

Banks has been a shill for GM for years. This article is no suprise.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Yawn!!!!!!!

 

[Regcabguy]

Cummins 'mo betta.

The editor of Diesel Power in the latest issue would still prefer our tractor engines for his personal rig over the competition.

 

[rscurtis]

I don't recall him complaining about the old tractor motor when it was powering his LSR Dakota to over 200 MPH- and it was driven to the speed trials to boot.



He could be on to something about the new Ford's power, a recent road test on Motor Week showed a 0-60 time of over 8 seconds. That seems a little lazy for a 400/800 engine.



The reason the B engine has been around so long is that it was properly designed and overbuilt in the first place.

 

[RustyJC]

Banks' vision for the diesel engine is exhibited in the Audi and Peugeot LeMans diesel-powered endurance racers. Lots of cylinders (V-10s), lots of revs (for a diesel) and light weight of reciprocating components (this requires lower BMEP/torque) to make horsepower. That's fine for racing, but it really doesn't relate to a working diesel. If I wanted an engine that I had to rev to make usable power, I would have kept my 1996 Ram 3500 V-10.



Rusty

 

[SHobbs]

Thats funny, a tractor engine. Guess thats why so many of us like the darn thing. Slow, sure, reliable, easy to maintain and loud.

 

[Wiredawg]

I'll take my Cummins/Dodge combo any day of the week over the Ford/Chevy. None of my trucks have ever let me down, are strong pullers and are easy to work on. What else is there?



Seems like he built a Cummins/Dakota that won the Diesel Land speed record. Pretty impressive w/ a tractor motor.



Wiredawg

 

[Wingate]

Thats advertising dollars at work!!. . Looks like GM went out and bought themselves a clucking chicken.

Maybe we can have a Ford vs Chevy Celebrity Deathmatch with Mike Rowe in one corner and Gale Banks in the other. . !!!. .

 

[CUMMINZ]

I don't think my DC can be beat but I will say that the Duramax's at the dynos on the high end sure sound much more powerful:-laf than the cummins.

 

[SVick]

I think being called a tractor motor is a compliment. How many tractors use Dmax or Power Joke engines? A tractor needs to be kept in service, not in the shop!

I also don't care for Banks products anyway, I guess we are even.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I think being called a tractor motor is a compliment. How many tractors use Dmax or Power Joke engines? A tractor needs to be kept in service, not in the shop!

I also don't care for Banks products anyway, I guess we are even.

I second that thought, Currently there are NO V-8 diesel powered farm tractors that I know of. Little utility tractors in the 20-100 hp range use 3-4-5 and 6 cylinger INLINE diesels. Those larger tractors in the 100 to 300 hp range ALL use 6 cylinder INLINE diesel engines. The largest farm tractors in the 300 to 575 HP range ALL use 6 cylinder INLINE diesel engines. There is a very good reason for this absolute FACT. The inline engine is much more durable, simpler, easier to maintain AND AND produce more low end torque. Low end torque is what working trucks need to haul a load. This is why ALL class 5-6-7 and 8 trucks ALL use inline engines. Gale can just go and cash his GM check and laugh at the public that unwittingly buys into this whitewash. Those of us that know better are of no concern to the elete corporate spokesmen IMHO

 

[EDankievitch]

I'll kep my old farm tractor engine ya all can keep your Goverment Motors change... ... .

 

[CUMMINZ]

The last time I looked a 4000HP locomotive are not in-line engines and they are very efficient and reliable.

 

[NIsaacs]

I think when you deal with extremely large power units the inline configuration becomes impractical because of the length of an inline 12, 16, or 24 cylinder engine. We have two large generators at the complex where I work, one v12 and one v16 both Cummins.



I think they are both K-series, 149 cubic inches per cylinder. When they fire up and hit wide open in just a few seconds it's awesome V or not



Nick

 

[mwilson]

I second that thought, Currently there are NO V-8 diesel powered farm tractors that I know of. Little utility tractors in the 20-100 hp range use 3-4-5 and 6 cylinger INLINE diesels. Those larger tractors in the 100 to 300 hp range ALL use 6 cylinder INLINE diesel engines. The largest farm tractors in the 300 to 575 HP range ALL use 6 cylinder INLINE diesel engines. There is a very good reason for this absolute FACT. The inline engine is much more durable, simpler, easier to maintain AND AND produce more low end torque. Low end torque is what working trucks need to haul a load. This is why ALL class 5-6-7 and 8 trucks ALL use inline engines. Gale can just go and cash his GM check and laugh at the public that unwittingly buys into this whitewash. Those of us that know better are of no concern to the elete corporate spokesmen IMHO

In most cases a 4 stroke V-8 Diesel used in a Class 8 truck has resulted in complete diaster. The later Mack V-8 wasn't too bad but the rest of them did not cut it.



I exclude Detroit Diesel 2-strokes from this as they are a completely different animal, no torque unless held to the governor, basically a fairly tough 8 cyl Diesel weed whacker motor...



I have been around trucks for my entire life and have seen a multitude of V-8 failures in the past 35-40 years where a manufacturer took a completely reliable engine currently in use in a genset, a bucket loader, and other industrial equipment and stuffed it in a Class 8 to offer more power.



Navistar, Cat, Cummins etc. all tried it and failed. Low reliability, high warranty failures, sleeves moving, too heavy, excessive fuel consumption, cooling issues, whatever.



I feel that a V-8 diesel is happy when it has a constant load and is up to operating temperature.

That's why they work so well in locomotive, gensets, pumps, whatever.



I have seen the generators in a hospital tested, I can't remember the time spec but they were each started and clocked as to how quickly they could go from start to full load.

I found it fascinating to watch and hear that poor cold diesels go through that test, a sound like no other!!!!



When you put one in a truck the constant load factor reduces to 50% pulling and the other 50% coasting downhill with 80,000lbs. + pushing on the crank , RPM changes due to shifting, slight overspeeding, driver idling it with 140 degrees block temperature all night, etc. They will not stand it.



A V-8 does not have the natural balance of an In-Line 6 and in a no fuel condition such as coasting at 2100 rpms it is trying to shake itself apart inside.



Do I want one in a pick-up truck??? Not on your life, I don't care how good they try to make me think it is!!!



Not a real technical explanation but the best I have this early in the morning... :-:-laf

 

[TFucili]

Tractor>Play-Toy in my ciphering. As a former purveyor of green tractors, I take it as a compliment. As previously mentioned, Banks is a life-long Gimmick Motors flunky. There's an arse for every seat, as they say. I'll chug-a-lug along on my old decrepit tractor.

 

[RHestand]

I've only had one experience with a Banks product, and it was a bad one. I installed one of his inter-coolers on my previously owned 03 Ford 2500/ 6. 0.
After having Ford R&R 2 OE ICs (Under warranty) that had blown their plastic tops or bottoms off out (Which required a weeks stay each, at a Ford dealer, while I'm traveling, on vacation). Out of total frustration I decided to upgrade to a $1200? Banks kit, which I installed. It was a great looking all metal, welded unit. Except the kit's custom (2-1/2" inlet & 3-1/2" outlet. ) silicone hose from the turbo outlet to the IC pipe kept splitting. This happened 5 or 6 times even with their new and improved versions. On the road I got pretty adept at patching it with a beer can, hose clamps, and Gorilla Tape. I finally got them to ship me 3 at a time.
Just before I sold the truck I had them ship me their final solution/fix (Redesigned hose and IC pipe. ) that I installed. It was still holding the last time I talked to the new owner.
IMO, I shouldn't have had to deal with this for almost 2 years. Maybe it's too much money on advertising, and not enough in R&D?
I do know this, I doubt I'll be buying any more products from Banks or Ford.
BTW, I also love my tractor engine.