LINER 4I4247 - Caterpillar

The problems in this chart are problems that do come about and are normally called "low power." These problems are not necessarily more common than engine problems, but they are possible problems which you need to read and check before an engine is disassembled.Read all of the items but make sure the first four are checked completely before making any engine test. Recommended Procedure1. Tachometer Error To check, connect a tachometer of known accuracy to the engine. Run the engine and make a comparison of the readings of the vehicle and test tachometers. If vehicle tachometer is bad, make repairs as necessary or install a new tachometer.2. Engine Operated at High Altitude Less oxygen at higher altitudes causes the engine horsepower to go down approximately three percent for each 1000 ft. above sea level. See the RACK SETTING INFORMATION for the correct rack setting for the higher altitude operation.3. Brakes Do Not Completely Release Check the brakes by feeling all the brake drums. If the brakes of a wheel do not completely release, the brake drum for that wheel will be hotter than the brake drums for the other wheels. With the truck lifted with a jack the wheels must have free rotation when turned by hand.4. Vehicle Operated in Too High a Gear If the operator does not shift the truck correctly or operates the truck in a "lug" condition (using the truck in too high a gear for engine rpm to go up as accelerator pedal is pushed farther down, or using the truck in a gear where engine rpm goes down with accelerator pedal at maximum travel), poor vehicle performance is the result. For best engine performance do not lug the engine more than 600 rpm below its full load speed.5. Extra Engine Driven Equipment Air compressors, hydraulic pumps, generators, and other engine driven equipment that has damage, or that was not installed correctly, or that is not in correct adjustment, can take more horsepower to drive than expected. If necessary, disconnect the equipment and test the engine.6. Speedometer Error A bad speedometer does not give the correct speed or the correct indication of fuel consumption. An indication of low speed can cause the operator to feel that he has a power problem.7. Speeds Too High The need for more horsepower is easy to see as the speed of the vehicle is increased. This is especially true if the front of the vehicle has a large surface area. Application personnel can give you the horsepower needs for a vehicle, and the horsepower necessary for different vehicle designs at different speeds.8. Overload on Vehicle See the 1100 SERIES APPLICATION SLIDE RULE (LEO-21446) for the correct load for the engine you have.9. High Moving Resistance Soft ground conditions cause a need for more horsepower. To see if the problem is the engine, test the vehicle on a surface known to be good, or test on a chassis dynamometer.10. High Wind Resistance The horsepower needs for a