American Diesel Engines....or lack of.

GeaugaDeere · Apr 19, 2006

I'm sure this topic has been touched on in the past, but when did the AG Giants like Deere, Massey Ferguson, IH, New Holland, etc., stop manufacturing gasoline engines and start using foreign made diesel engines. I'm going on the assumption that all those listed above used to make their own engines in The US or Canada, but I don't know any brand that makes their diesel engines in the states...****, most don't even make any part of the tractor here period! I just think it's a shame that these once great manufacturing companies rely on someone else to build one of the most important items for the tractors they sell. I guess it's no different than the Big 3 who buy all of their diesel engines on the outside too. I'd love to see the details on where everyone's equipment is built, just out of curiosity. I'm sure the word globalization will be on someone's tongue, but how do you explain all the "foreign" companies that now manufacture in the US? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

beenthere · Apr 19, 2006

Deere has a huge engine plant in Cedar Falls, IA and it started production in the 60's. They began making diesel 2-cyl engines for the Model R in 1949 (began development in 1936). Then when the 2cyl engines were to be phased out for the incoming 4 and 6 cyl diesels in the early 60's, the big plant came on board.
The CUT's have had a Yanmar 3cyl diesel and some of the larger CUT's like the 4x20 series have Deere-made engines.
Gas engines were made as well in the 4 and 6 cyl, I believe, but think they have all been phased out now. All diesel.
Not sure where you are getting your numbers or facts, but maybe just shooting in the dark? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Birdhunter1 · Apr 19, 2006

Massey Ferguson gas engines were Continental engines, either English or German manufactured.

As for the tractor companies, if you look at their line of small compacts yes many of them are simply rebaged foreign made Shibaura's, Iseki's or Yanmars but look at the big tractors.....
Deere, Case IH, and some Massey's use Cummis engines, Cummins is headquartered in Indiana.

Not sure where CaseIH or Deere make their engines.

GeaugaDeere · Apr 19, 2006

Not so much shooting in the dark, but more thinking out loud based on what I've seen. My neighbor has a nice little New Holland TCD18 something or other and it has a Shiabura Diesel, and a friend up the road has a Yanmar in his Deere. The 3320 I'm looking at has a Yanmar too. These are great engines, but the money for those engines is leaving the country. I'm kind of dismayed with "our" manufacturing base. Why is it the domestics have to use foreign made engines in their Sub-Cut or CUT's? Did "we" just decide to give up to the, mostly, Japanese manufacturers in this segment? You have to spend some major money to get a machine with that Cummins Engine or that Deere made engine. I am glad to hear that Deere still makes Diesels in this country as I was under the impression that even the Deere Diesels were made out of country...that's why I asked, I didn't know.... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I know that many people really don't care where their tractors are made, but I try to buy as much American Made Product as I can, and I DO care where things are made and into whose pockets the money flows.

Is the Cat Diesel in the Cub Cadet 6284's US Made? There doesn't seem to be much chatter on this sight about that unit, even though it looks like a real nice set up.

Thanks.

HGM · Apr 20, 2006

Its a real shame... Unfortunatly its the only viable option for alot of companies.. The labor costs in the US are prohibitive to making cheaper products.. That has been talked about and really, I dont think anyone has an answer of how to fix it.. If a company wants to remain in bussiness, they have to keep the costs down..If they can buy an engine for 1/3 the cost to produce it.. Well, what would you do?

EddieWalker · Apr 20, 2006

(
Not sure where CaseIH or Deere make their engines. )

The big Case machines all have Cummins engines in them allong with allot of other yellow iron tractor brands.

One of the reasons I shied away from buying a JD CUT was I didn't want the Yanmar engine. Of course, now I know a little more about Yanmar and realize it's a fine engine. Just didn't realize it at the time.

Eddie

Farmwithjunk · Apr 20, 2006

( Massey Ferguson gas engines were Continental engines, either English or German manufactured.)

Massey also used plenty of Perkins Gas engines at one stage of the game. They were re-fitted diesel blocks in all the cases I know of. Built like a stump, and cheap to work on, they were good engines.

1948berg · Apr 20, 2006

I am not sure, but I think a lot of Cummins engines are made in Italy by IVECO (Fiat)

1948berg · Apr 20, 2006

The labor costs in the US are prohibitive to making cheaper products.. 
Not all true. According to a friend of mine that works at a factory where they buy parts from different suppliers it is all the dealers between production of a part and the factory that that makes the finished product that makes things expensive. Then, after the product is ready there is a wholesaler and a distributer, everybody makes a good living.

HGM · Apr 20, 2006

( The labor costs in the US are prohibitive to making cheaper products.. 
Not all true. According to a friend of mine that works at a factory where they buy parts from different suppliers it is all the dealers between production of a part and the factory that that makes the finished product that makes things expensive. Then, after the product is ready there is a wholesaler and a distributer, everybody makes a good living. )

Agreed, I see more people taking a peice of the pie as being a labor cost.. So, I think we said the same thing, you were more detailed though.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif