(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Detroit 6-71 pulling power

G

gordey

Member
How much weight approx can a 6-71 (in a truck) pull at a reasonable speed? Thinking about buying one to haul tractors. Thanks
 
What's a reasonable speed? What version of the 6-71? I'd say of you're dealing with the old standard 238 version... it's going to feel alful sick with much more than 10 ton behind it. That's not to say they didn't move 50 ton with them back in the day... but they also had 5.30 gears and 8LL's....
It'll sort of move a Dodge/Cummins load at about the same speed on more fuel.

Rod
 
In it"s day it would run 72,300-80,000 gross at hwy speeds. It was the hills that would get it. And most of that was driver error by lugging the engine down. Just remember when you get sit down and get settled,put your left hand in the door frame,grab the door with your right hand and slam the door shut. Open the door remove smashed hand and proceed to drive the tar out of it. With the right injectors and set up you can get 110hp per cylinder in a 71 series with a turbo. As a tractor hauler I"m sure it will do ANY thing you ask it to do with ease.
 
238 hp 6-71 is the little one. Change injectors/ add a turbo for more power.
6-71's wouldn't have been around as long as they have without being able to make sufficient power.
 
Don't for get the oil drain pan for under it to pour back in. As an old guy out in Ks put it Detroit is the most forgiving and the least durable. The Cat was the most durable but the least forgiving.
Get the cardboard for the head lights and a clothes pin for the grille. If it smells a hill or sees on it will fall in it's face.
They leak like a sieve also. I always believed that was due to the pressure in the block when running. It wont stand idling.
 
Lol. That is the way I was told to drive them also, Slam the door on My hand so I was p off really well, Then drive the snott out of them, Only way to run them.
 
I'm in the process of putting a '71 Chevy C90 back on the road. This truck wasn't a semi truck, but a grain hauler with a dump bed. This truck was originally retired because the cooling fan assembly let loose and went through the radiator. On top of an $1100 radiator repair, I also had to find the fan and fan-idler pulley assembly. Despite Detroit putting millions of these engines on the road, I had an incredibly hard time of finding a used one. I was wanting a new one, but Detroit has long given up on these engines.
My only advice is that I hope you buy this truck cheap.
 
A Detroit is like some girls-They make a lot of noise in town-but you get them out in the country they won't put out!
 
its a mixed bag, Detroit powered anything is selling for way less of what the same truck with a cat or Cummings is, which makes it a good deal to buy,the engine itself was a decent design but like the older harleys they never made one that didnt leak oil from someplace even new,now if you've never driven a truck and start out with a Detroit you'll do just fine, but if you like me and started out with a old mack, then went on to Cummings and cat, that will mess you up a Detroit is driven way different than the other 2 and is way down on power comparatively, that being said if your going to just haul your tractor around you should have no problem at all, that will be a relatively light load for it, as mentioned parts for the 6-71 are getting very hard to find now ,you might be better off finding a truck with a cat or Cummings
 
Round this part of the world the goverment Emmission tests road vehicles....the old "two stroke jokes" will pass the test more often than the four stroke counterparts. As already mentioned the transmission and rear end ratios are big factors.
By the way Burton CUMMINGS is a muscian, CUMMINS builds engines :)
 
Well my boy not to many years ago they hauled wood with tri axle 671 15 speed (some dual transmision ones too). We crossed the scale with 77000 gross many times. About every 50 rpm lower engine speed you wanted to find a lower gear. Oh in the mountains you still see the newer trucks in the slow lane today!!!!!! If she is geared up right tractors would be no problem!!! I don"t know if i would want to go back to those days though.
 
6-71 is 218 or 238 HP and 600 ft/ lb of torque. Lots of them used to go down the highway in an 80,000 pound semi. Not too fast up hills at that weight, but they worked. That great Detroit 2 cycle exhaust sound you will not get from any other engine. Keep them in the 1700-2100 rpm range and they will pull good.
 
for all the ones that love to talk trash about a detroit,funny thing is they were used in just about every application imaginable, one of the largest causes of the demise of gas burners in commercial applications, most of the oil leaking problem mentioned was not oil it was unburnt fuel from the scavenge tubes in the ends of the blower galley it wasn't as bad as most made it to be,one thing about them even when worn out and taking a snoot full of ether to get it going you could still run them unlike some of the other temperamental brands,worked on a lot of different brands and don't remember crawling from under one any less blacker than the other,also took a lot less high dollar special tools and to work on them not to mention the difference in the cost of parts,but that has probably changed due to them not being used as much anymore
 
Thanks for the replies, sounds like it would have plenty of power for what I would use it for. Part of the reason I want the Detroit in a truck is we have an Oliver with a 3-71 and its lots of fun to play with.
 
Forget it, they're always going to talk trash. Facts don't matter. My favorite myth is the one that Detriots don't have any bottom end. I've got a ' 75 Ford LN-800, and after the 3rd 391, we went to a 6V-53. In about a week's time we blew that 285 Clark 5-speed. Changed that to a 5W-43 Fuller. After that, there was only the occasional twisted off axle. My 6V-53s are pretty dry, I attach fuel hose to the airbox drains and run them just past the cab.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
2003 f250 transmission heat up
Replies
6
Views
276
T in NE
T in NE
Ellis Kinney
Truck clutch
Replies
7
Views
521
mechanicfred
M
T
Pulling with your 9,2 or 8N
Replies
6
Views
346
showcrop
showcrop
B
71 ford 4000 steering ram bending
Replies
5
Views
271
Ban617
B
E
Wider Rims/Tires for Ford 2000
Replies
19
Views
673
sotxbill
S
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top