Price Check S&S 2-71 Detroit 20 KW Genset

[jenkinsph]

ebay is full of DD manuals.
iirc those 2-71's ran at 1200rpm to power 277/480V three phase reefers on train cars? At those rpms a 2-71 with C70 injectors could make approx 45HP and operate up to a 30Kw generator just fine.
A set of N series sleeves and pistons along 42MT, 50MT or 44MT starter with a group 31 battery would cold weather start just fine.
I would take one in a minute if I could find a 1200rpm 30kw 120/240V alternator.

As I recall the 2 71 20kw were 1800 rpm and the 3 71 20kw were 1200 rpm

 

[jenkinsph]

ebay is full of DD manuals.
iirc those 2-71's ran at 1200rpm to power 277/480V three phase reefers on train cars? At those rpms a 2-71 with C70 injectors could make approx 45HP and operate up to a 30Kw generator just fine.
A set of N series sleeves and pistons along 42MT, 50MT or 44MT starter with a group 31 battery would cold weather start just fine.
I would take one in a minute if I could find a 1200rpm 30kw 120/240V alternator.

As I recall the 2 71 20kw were 1800 rpm and the 3 71 20kw were 1200 rpm

 

[buickanddeere]

Seems like a lot of extra engine with a 3-71 when a 2-71 at 1200rpm will drive a 30Kw generator?

 

[jenkinsph]

Seems like a lot of extra engine with a 3-71 when a 2-71 at 1200rpm will drive a 30Kw generator?

The 20 kw 3 71 would run for 24 hours on and off for 24 hours, we swapped the gensets each day having two on each boat. In most cases these were rebuilt every four years after about 16,000 hours of use. Longevity was the reason these were set up this way. Some of the larger boats had much larger gensets but they were not as low maintenance as the 3 71 1200 rpm gensets.

My favorite old engine was the 6 110 300 hp and was in a small model tug which was my grandfathers first work boats. Worked for Chevron for almost 50 years. Lost count of how many hours were on that motor.

 

[buickanddeere]

The 1200rpm 3-71 were operating lightly loaded.the fuel effiency would be lousy but life would be extended. Although capable of making 70HP , they at most were loaded to 30HP.

 

[jenkinsph]

The 1200rpm 3-71 were operating lightly loaded.the fuel effiency would be lousy but life would be extended. Although capable of making 70HP , they at most were loaded to 30HP.

Fuel and engine oil were provided by Chevron for the boats. Would you go for longevity or economy in that case?