kevinro
Bronze Member
<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>
3. Marketing reasons. As with many other products--eg, car engines, computers--the manufacturer sometimes "detunes" some functional widget in the product (ie, makes it run less powerfully than it can), just so the manufacturer can charge more for the widget when it is incorporated into a higher priced model. That's how product differentiation is sometimes created. For example, I believe one of Deere's loaders has a higher lift capacity on one tractor than another.
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This should probably be expanded on a little since it could lead to tragedy if not thought through. It is true that you can find cases where the same engine is used across a series of trucks or tractors and is detuned or intentionally restricted. However, it isn't quite as easy as claiming it to be strictly a marketing issue. Often times there will be lesser grade components attached to the engine. For example, you might find the same engine in a two trucks. Truck F350 is rated at 280hp while truck F250 is rated at 230hp. Same engine, different programming. However, the transmissions are likely to be different, as might the drive shaft, torque converter, rear end. Changing the programming might generate more power at the expense of wearing the transmission or breaking a drive shaft.
You should take care with the tractor parts as well. Yes, it might be the case that for economy during manufacture, they share some of the same parts. Don't mistake that, however, for sharing capabilities. The engineers who designed the rest of the tractor may be depending on the maximum rated loads of the detuned part.
As a general rule of thumb, if something is less expensive than another, then the manufacturer has done something to reduce the cost. Something is missing, lighter, smaller, thinner, or less reliable. You should take care whenever you reverse an engineers decisions. They knew more about the design than you did.
Kevin
3. Marketing reasons. As with many other products--eg, car engines, computers--the manufacturer sometimes "detunes" some functional widget in the product (ie, makes it run less powerfully than it can), just so the manufacturer can charge more for the widget when it is incorporated into a higher priced model. That's how product differentiation is sometimes created. For example, I believe one of Deere's loaders has a higher lift capacity on one tractor than another.
<hr></blockquote>
This should probably be expanded on a little since it could lead to tragedy if not thought through. It is true that you can find cases where the same engine is used across a series of trucks or tractors and is detuned or intentionally restricted. However, it isn't quite as easy as claiming it to be strictly a marketing issue. Often times there will be lesser grade components attached to the engine. For example, you might find the same engine in a two trucks. Truck F350 is rated at 280hp while truck F250 is rated at 230hp. Same engine, different programming. However, the transmissions are likely to be different, as might the drive shaft, torque converter, rear end. Changing the programming might generate more power at the expense of wearing the transmission or breaking a drive shaft.
You should take care with the tractor parts as well. Yes, it might be the case that for economy during manufacture, they share some of the same parts. Don't mistake that, however, for sharing capabilities. The engineers who designed the rest of the tractor may be depending on the maximum rated loads of the detuned part.
As a general rule of thumb, if something is less expensive than another, then the manufacturer has done something to reduce the cost. Something is missing, lighter, smaller, thinner, or less reliable. You should take care whenever you reverse an engineers decisions. They knew more about the design than you did.
Kevin