Perkins Diesel Engines

[GHarman]

Anyone have experience with these engines. I know that Jeep had one as an option in the late 1960's. A gent that I went to school with had one! GregH

 

[JPS]

Yes, I have one in a farm tractor. I think it is a 354. Straight 6 cyl. jps

 

[GHarman]

Yes, I have one in a farm tractor. I think it is a 354. Straight 6 cyl. jps

How many hours do you have on it? Any problems? GregH

 

[steved]

We had a 5 cylinder (or was it 3?) air-cooled Perkins on a drill rig... that thing would sit for hours under max load at WOT. I would guess it had well over 5000 hours on it (it was 6 years old at the time), and was not well maintained until I got on the scene.



It ran like a champ for what it was... never failed to start, even in sub-zero temps. The only thing that ever gave trouble was the alternator, which turned out to be the result of a broken wire (one wire alternators will burn themselves up if disconnected from the battery and ran)... the alternator doubled as the cooling fan.



They are a well thought out deal.



steved

 

[Doubleclutch]

I had one in a 64 D100. 4 cylinder, <100 hp. Bought it from the guy who hauled Nitrogen to the powerplant. He converted the truck to the perkins with dodge 4 speed because everything fit- no plates! (1973 when he couldn't get gas to get to work, but COULD get diesel). Of course, he COULD have used motor mounts instead of mud flaps... Didn't run fast, but ALWAYS ran. Until fuel pump diaphragm ruptured and filled crankcase up with diesel. Diesel is a less desirable lubricant than Delo 400. That was the double-ugly. Lots of white smoke going down a hill in cold weather if you throttled it just right. Loved that truck!~
Greg

 

[PToombs]

Massey-Ferguson uses them in their tractors. I ran an older, ('70's) Allis-Chalmers backhoe that had one too.

 

[DKupec]

John Deere has been using Perkins engines in some of their smaller tractors for decades. I've never heard anything bad about them.

 

[rbattelle]

Last month's diesel progress had a special insert commemorating the 75th year for Perkins. From what I've read, they're pretty well thought-of.

Caterpillar bought Perkins back in '97 to "flesh out" their engine lineup in the smaller displacements.

Ryan

 

[GHarman]

If I was to tackle a project vehicle. A Perkins Diesel conversion would be the reason! GregH

 

[TFucili]

John Deere has been using Perkins engines in some of their smaller tractors for decades.

Are you certain on that? Anything smaller than Deere's own "Saran" three cylinder(i. e. 3179) was a Yanmar that I had seen. Fill me in.

 

[FDavid]

Great, great engines. My dad has been a Massey guy all his life all with Perkins Diesels and we never had any problems out of them. I just picked up a new MF 240 with a Perkins and no complaints at all. Excellent reliability, power and fuel economy.

 

[DKupec]

Are you certain on that? Anything smaller than Deere's own "Saran" three cylinder(i. e. 3179) was a Yanmar that I had seen. Fill me in.

John Deere has used engines from several different manufactures. If I remember correctly Perkins were the only engines that John Deere was using in ther diesel tractors in Europe for a while.

 

[JLEONARD]

I ran a T6. 354 in a boat for many years. Ok engine, just trouble finding parts thru the marine markets/dealers... lots are no longer made.

I DO know how to "tune" it up though...

Ther knock on Perkins in the automotive applications was they couldn't handle the rpm needed for highway speeds. Longevity wasn't there.

 

[JFlagg]

A friend of mine here in St. Louis has a twin turbo Perkins in his 70 something Ford pickup. He is a member on here, but I don't remember his name on here. He is 2wpuller on CompD though. Knowing him its runs real good too...

 

[captainmike]

Perkins diesels have been used in boats,mostly in sailboats, for years with very good success. The smallest, that I am familiar with, is a 35-50 HP 4-108 (4 cylinder, 108 cu in. ). there is also a 4-154, 4-236, and a 6-354. I think the 6 is 140 HP. I haven't seen one that was turbo. All were highly respected and long lived.

 

[Little Bill]

mazda used 'em

I had a Mazda B2200 in the early 80's with a 2. 2 liter, normally aspirated Perkins. Had over 200k on it when the frame rusted out '97. One water pump and a few glow plugs was all the motor ever needed. Wish I still had it, it got 50 mpg on the highway.

 

[JR2]

What could I do with this Perkins Forklift Motor Diesel Brand New in box



What transmission would bolt up and does anyone know if its a mech pump or would I have to deal with ecm and stuff?

 

[TFucili]

The photo shows a rotary injector pump on the left side of the engine. Looks like a Lucas pump. Interesting that the ad starts off saying "Brand New", then says "brand new rebuilt"...

 

[GHarman]

I believe to ad is referring to two different motors. One Diesel (new) and one gas( rebuilt) . GregH

 

[Alan Reagan]

Perkins is a great engine. I have one in my tractor and it is 12 years old with no problems.



Some (if not all) of the Coast Guard 110s run twin Perkins. I believe they are the V-12s and they have been good engines.