Hi Brooks & List Members, We ran a GM 6-71 (which is the 6 cylinder version of the 2-71 coupled to a 250 KVA Delco alternator for years it never faltered. It was second hand when we bought it and had a total of 35,000 hours on it when we sold it. We needed a large alternator to supply our power needs (a 24 hour truckstop)
As a retired diesel engineer, I can tell you the 2 stroke GM diesel are renown for their longevity, provided one changed the engine oil regularly along with the fuel and air filter. John in Australia ----- Original Message ----- From: Brooks Bradley To: Silver-list@eskimo.com Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 5:36 AM Subject: CS>Alternative/Standby Power Systems First a little story: Back in the 1970's I was the southern division running maintenance manager for AMTRAK. Our Diners, high-level sleepers and high-level chair cars were powered by! Detroit Diesel 2-71 Generator Sets (20KW constant output capacity). These self-contained units were used throughout the fleet, as they had been earlier....by Santa Fe, Burlington Northern, etc. They suffered every kind of abuse imaginable....especially from poorly-performed maintenance......and they just kept going. We ran some of them over 60,000 total hours before even rendering a top-end over-haul. Some of these engines were in consists (system train units) that covered over 1,000,000 miles....between overhauls. Bottom line....these systems are TOUGH. Much moreso than systems presently being manufactured. I do not know, personally, any of the people at the business where I located these 2-71- powered systems-----but I certainly do know this 2-71 based Diesel/Electric System. These units, because of their peculiar postive-displacement plunger-type injector pumps can even run off of warm PURE VEGETABLE or waste oil.
