Ts-14's someone asked about the 466 international engine it was used in the TS-14D series 2 Ts-14F and the early G's. It was an international 466 engine with Detroit electronics and called a 40 series Detroit, something went wrong and now they are using Cummins 5.9 engines the last couple years. I thought the 466 was better, at least a bigger engine. Harts in Indiana retrofits the old B's with John Deere tractor engines, you could do the same with the bare 466 international engine. The TS-14 C had the turboed 4-71 along with the Ts-14D, but they went to the funk transmission in the D and later to the 4 cycle engine in the series 2. I think the F model was where they scrapped the cable apron system, for sure in the G which has the side mounted apron cylinders like the Ts-24's. They came out with ride control on the D's and it improved thru the G's. It is just an nitrogen accumulator that lets the bowl cylinders take some of the jolt out. Sort of like Cats cushion hitch, simpler but maybe not as good. Not sure if it can be put on the older B's and A's with no power down bowl, those single acting cylinders, who knows it might work. Think they put two or a bigger one on the G's. Ran one once and it rode pretty good, the seat could have been better. Some guys put air bags on the cab mounts, not sure how that works. The cummins have the same power and torque as the 466, they are just 100 cubes smaller. The G's run about like the old B's with a 6-71 in the front, just alot quieter and alot more complicated to work on. Something like 5 or 6 computers now. I always wondered what the Brazilian made Ts-14B would be like with the 6v-53 in both ends. Looked at a pair in Georgia once, they sounded like top fuel dragsters at 2800 rpm, but don't know how they perform compared to the american 4-71. The 24's from England always had cummins engines KT 19 front, 855 rear versus the american 12v-71 and 6v-71 turboed detroits. The TS-24C with Detroits was running at 825 hp, you seldom see any for sale. Russ Shelton from Arizona had a pair once. Not sure if the Ts-24D with the 60 series detroits really even exists. Have never seen one for sale. People must like them if they have them, they sure don't sell them very often. Now we have all these farm tractors to deal with, too many options, does'nt seem like earthmoving anymore to me. Back in the sixties the Russian made a pretty cool looking scraper, but I could never find out much about it. Think the just have a few brands of Dozers now. Terex had an experimental TSH-15 mining scraper a few years back, all hydrostatic drive with one 550hp series 60 in the back and cuttercrowd technology, like a 623 sliding floor in reverse, it would move forward while loading. They decided production costs were too high and scrapped the project. They used the same hydrostat system from Czechlosovkia that is used in the russian T-90 main battle tank. They built two prototypes and parts for eight. They were offered to me at 100k apiece brand new and I was told they would really dig. not sure who ended up buying them, they were at the old johnson scraper factory in Texas. Cat and Terex both had a falling out with this factory that had built the hind end of Cat's elevator line for years. Saw a 623 all rigged up for duty in iraq as a mine sweeper once. Maybe tanks and pull scrapers would be the way to go, blow the trees out of your way and just haul dirt. Just a joke!
