What's your strategy for a deep recession/depression?

[Walking Eagle]

I think his empty weight is close to, if not over 80,000.

78,400 with half tanks

[Orangetxguy]

It's a Govt. Hellicopter. Do you do any hauling for big brother? Can't cut it in half. It sounded good for you because you where heading that way anyway.

They meant by breakdown is to take off rotor, etc., or take any pieces off that would apply.

2, that's 33,000lbs not 330,000lbs. It's light.

At 28 foot tall what is it? A Chinook or a Sea Stallion? Huey's, Apaches and most other helos I see regularly on stepdecks, with the rotors tied down in-line with the tail fuselage.

[tracer]

Sorry for misunderstanding. What i meant, is that i upgraded my torque to 1850, w/o doing anything to tranny. Run it about another 400,000 miles, sold the truck at 962,000. As far as i know the guy who i sold it, run another 2-300,000 and sold it wit original tranny, and no problems what so ever...
And yes, it will benefit you. I actually gained about 0.4-.5 mpg.

ok, i'm convinced. now if someone could only tell me how to up-rate my CAT without going to an official dealer with the software access? i'm in guelph, ontario, canada but spend 99% of the time trucking in usa. any leads would be appreciated. i know i can do it thru pittsburg power but their prices aren't cheap. and i don't need 600 hp. all i want is to get my 475 hp 1650 lb/ft engine perform as 475 hp 1850 lb/ft engine.

[Walking Eagle]

My 600 kitty purred at 600 then I put the Pittsburg variable on it. Now it growls and I am scared of it
Don't keep real acurate MPG figures as for what I do but know that running empty (78,400 lbs) on the 3 setting I figure, just from where I need to refuel, I gained 3/4 to 7/8 MPG. Love it when I turn it to 5. And that's running it against a Spicer 5x4 air shifter that was supposed to be for a garbage truck. Dealership said it wouldn't work and would maybe last a month, that was a year ago. Only thing we did was put a HD Soft Touch clutch in it.
Figure it paid for it's self in about 9 months.

[tracer]

My 600 kitty purred at 600 then I put the Pittsburg variable on it. Now it growls and I am scared of it
Don't keep real acurate MPG figures as for what I do but know that running empty (78,400 lbs) on the 3 setting I figure, just from where I need to refuel, I gained 3/4 to 7/8 MPG. Love it when I turn it to 5. And that's running it against a Spicer 5x4 air shifter that was supposed to be for a garbage truck. Dealership said it wouldn't work and would maybe last a month, that was a year ago. Only thing we did was put a HD Soft Touch clutch in it.
Figure it paid for it's self in about 9 months.

What transmission did you have originally and what was/is its torque rating? 1,650? 1,850? 5000

[solo379]

now if someone could only tell me how to up-rate my CAT without going to an official dealer with the software access? .

And what's the problem with "official dealer"?

[tracer]

And what's the problem with "official dealer"?

"Official dealers" like Toromont CAT here in Canada refuse the increase the torque without me modifying the transmission and clutch. The tranny is 16913 and the clutch has a rating of 1700 lb/ft, I think. BTB, solo, when you increased your torque, did you do anything to the clutch? One guy on another forum said the tranny can take the extra 200 lbs of torque, but the clutch might kick the bucket. Any comments?

[Walking Eagle]

What transmission did you have originally and what was/is its torque rating? 1,650? 1,850? 5000

Originally was a 15 speed @ 1,850 the extra 5 gears give me great splits and most of the time it is just like driving an auto with a 4 position air clicker to change gear.

[solo379]

BTB, solo, when you increased your torque, did you do anything to the clutch? One guy on another forum said the tranny can take the extra 200 lbs of torque, but the clutch might kick the bucket. Any comments?

Didn't do nothing. Just an engine. I've done it at the CAT, and they could care less, what's my tranny or clutch ratings. I've called Eaton, and they said NO!
But than I've called the Volvo dealer, their service manager, has been in this business for many years, and spend 17 years in a pit. He said 9 out of 10, it's not gonna be a problem, and the way you drive, i could almost guarantee it.

[tracer]

Didn't do nothing. Just an engine. I've done it at the CAT, and they could care less, what's my tranny or clutch ratings. I've called Eaton, and they said NO!
But than I've called the Volvo dealer, their service manager, has been in this business for many years, and spend 17 years in a pit. He said 9 out of 10, it's not gonna be a problem, and the way you drive, i could almost guarantee it.

I found a private guy near Toronto, ON who used to work for CAT and now has all the sofware for ECM tuning. Still waiting for him to reply to my email. If that doesn't work, will try to do rerate in the US. Toromont INC in Canada is the official (and only) CAT dealer and they don't want to take chances of getting sued.

About the clutch: thanks for the info. I talked to a couple of mechanics in our company shop and they said not to worry. "Change the clutch if and when it goes," was what one guy said. I found a dealer for the famous LIPE clutches which are more durable and cost less than what truck dealers sell. One with 2000 lb rating goes for 800 bucks! Will put it in when the time comes. Thanks again for the info.

Here's what I almost spent in Cnd dollars (US$100=Cnd$120)

$900 - 2000 lbs LIPE heavy-duty clutch
700 - shop labour (take out/put in)
2200 - tranny rebuild (from RTLO-16913 into RTLO-18913)
TOTAL: $3,800 or US$3,166

It really would have been a huge waste of money for the meager 200 lbs of torque increase. Thanks to everybody for comments and input.