Re: Dead hauling diesels

[Stephen Molloy <c501@diesel.net.au>]

Aus loco discussion mailing list

>Dead hauling a diesel electric is bad for the traction motors. Even if
>you're double heading but don't need
>all the horsepower, it's wise to have the second loco idling and offline.
>The blowers keep the traction motors cool and dry, and you can easily switch
>the second loco in if the first one fails.


Sounds like a load of rubbish.  Diesels are regualrly hauled dead without
any problems, it wouldn't be done otherwise.  The loco doesn't need to be
be running to supply cooling air when it is in motion, the heat is
generated only when powering or dynamic braking.  A traction motor when not
being used is only two gears in mesh, and a car gear box doesn't need
cooling air so why should a traction motor.  On General Motors locos when
using dynaimc brake the engine revs increase to the equivelant of notch 4
when the handle is moved out of the "Set Up" position, the increase in
engine revs is to increase cooling air to the motors,  but this isn't even
needed initially.  On MK rebuilds ie. ALF, CLF, CLP, and also NR's,the
dynamic brake lever can be advanced to full Dynamic without an increase in
engine revs for cooling, a temp sensor within the traction motor tells the
engine when it should increase the revs at a pre determined temp.  So why
would it neeed cooling when not even doing anything ??

Stephen Molloy


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