Don't know about you guys, but

Here is a tractor that my son and his boss built a few years ago. I think it is powered by a 525 HP Cummins.

Rod

I spent the best part of my life as a railroad engineer. The General Motors built loco's had most commonly a 16v645 turbo diesel (3000-4000 HP depending on configuration). So, that 16 cylinders at 645 cubic inch EACH....do the math. Now, the beauty of the beast is it operates at really low RPM's. 985 is max. and idle around 200. With all those power impulses they ran rather smoothly when idling. They will idle on about 5 to 7 gallons an hour! That engine at idle would probably make enough torque to rip Roy's axles out if they got hooked properly....let alone when wide open. The next thing is, a diesel locomotive is actually propelled by electric motors on each axle....referred to as a 'traction motor'. No gears...well, okay a gear off the armature and a bull ring on theaxle....but no transmission.....direct drive. As resistence builds due the speeding up of the armature.....which tries to force current back towards the alternator...a series of shunts take place....I forget the order, but something like from series to parallel, then series parallel and then parallel shunt..been too long ago.....do a google. Anyway, this is the manner in how big power is transferred....I think Euc's work on the same principle. So, if they had a Big Roy set up on diesel electric....and say just used a 2000 HP...oh say a 12V567, the work performed versus fuel spent would be quite reasonable.

email me anytime you want! i enjoy good company and will never have enough friends and good neighbors. I don't claim to be an expert at anything but loafing.....I know how to do that just right:)!

Mark Harris
Jumptrap58 at wmconnect dot com

I had no idea that an engine that big could idle down that low. I knew that they ran really slow, but had no idea that they ran THAT slow. JohnDeereGreen