In reply to the questions about the TS4, here is the lastest info Mark has
just sent me to be published in my newsletter. If you wish to see photos
of the TS4 on the trolley mentioned in the article, please get in touch
via email. Hope you enjoy this. What is interesting is to find sats on
today's diesels of similar capacity. The TS4 is still right up there
beating most of the them hands down. What a shame it never went into
production. Where would we be now - 6cyl / 8 cyl versions?
Prototype Rootes TS4 (Stage I design)
Engine number TS OE 65 (spare engine)
Model Number 4D-287
Number of cylinders 4
Displacement 287 cu in
Performance 200 hp @ 2,600 rpm
Torque 465 ft lb.'s @ 1,800 rpm
Manufacturer Tillings Stevens Ltd, Maidstone, Kent, UK.
Year of manufacture 1966
Total TS4 prototypes built 14
Introduction:
written by Mr Donald Kitchen (last surviving member of the TS3/4 design
team)
The build of the Rootes TS4 prototypes and subsequent development was
undertaken by Rootes Group Diesel Engineering Division (part of Central
Design, Coventry) which was located with the Rootes Group Manufacturing
Plant, Tillings Stevens at Maidstone Kent.
The Rootes TS4 prototypes have the same bore and stroke as the Rootes
3DB-215 model TS3 (with an additional cylinder added) and use the same
liners, pistons, conrods and rockers as the TS3.
It was however in the program to introduce improved material in production
engines for the liners and fire rings and nitriding of crankshaft journals
and rocker pins to extend the working life of the engine to a projected
250,000 miles .
Although the TS3 and TS4 are of the same basic design, the TS4 included
many improvements - the most significant being the introduction of twin
through bolts at either end of the rocker shafts (replacing studs that
were used in the TS3). This modification ensured the crankcase was always
uniformly in compression.
The improvements also included the installation of a Holset harmonic
damper to the front of the TS4 crankshaft (internally), which permitted
maximum revs to increase to 2,600rpm.
The scavenge blower, water and oil pumps and oil filter were also upgraded
to cover the increased capacity....
The History of TS OE 65 (Two-Stroke, Oil Engine, #65) now owned by
Mark Erskinse Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand
TS OE 65 was made at Tillings Stevens, Maidstone in 1966 and is one of 4
surviving prototype Rootes TS4, opposed piston, 2-stroke, scavenge blown,
twin rocker beam, direct injection, water cooled diesel engines in the
world today.
It is the only Rootes TS4 prototype in the world in private ownership,
with the other three prototypes being in the care of significant British
Museums.
The Diesel Engineering Division designated OE 65 as a "spare engine",
which meant it received only initial test bed running-in during the entire
prototype program that saw the five other test bed engines set a target of
20,000 hrs running apiece and the eight Experimental Road Test Vehicles
set a target of 300,000 miles apiece to complete.
The Rootes TS4 prototypes represent the pinnacle of achievement in
high-speed diesel engine design from the mid to late 1960's and even
today, 200 hp and 465 ft lb.'s of torque from a 287 cubic inch diesel
engine together with exceptional reliability, fuel efficiency and
longevity is a remarkable achievement.
Had the TS4 made it to production, they were intended to replace the
legendary Rootes TS3 opposed piston diesel engine in Commer trucks from
the early 1970's onwards, however Rootes Group's deteriorating financial
position in the 1960's saw American automotive giant, Chrysler taking full
control of the group in 1967, and this take-over brought about the demise
of the Rootes TS4 project.
In addition to the Rootes take-over, Chrysler had also invested millions
of pounds in a UK joint venture with Cummins to produce new diesel engines
(the disastrous Cummins VALE V6 and V
and had lucrative supplier
agreements in place with Perkins for the supply of their 6.354 inline six
cylinder and new 185 hp 510 cubic inch V8 diesel engines.
When Chrysler's Management became aware of the prototype Rootes TS4's
extraordinary:
Horsepower
Torque
Power to weight ratio
Reliability
Fuel efficiency
Low manufacturing cost
….they realised there was nothing they (or other engine manufacturers)
could offer that came remotely close to matching the Rootes TS4's
thoroughbred qualities.
Chrysler knew they would not sell Dodge / Commer heavy trucks with their
new Cummins VALE V6 or V8 (or Perkins V
engines fitted if the TS4 became
a production option, so Chrysler's management of the day decided to
terminate the TS4 project to safeguard their investment with Cummins and
Perkins.
As a result, all Rootes TS4 prototype engines, parts, dies, patterns,
plans, drawings, test records, photo's and fuel injection equipment were
ordered to be scrapped under strict supervision by Chryslers management.
The actions of Chrysler’s management were profoundly unacceptable to
Diesel Engineering Division personnel and key managers thankfully managed
to save four prototype TS4 engines from destruction.
Three engines were eventually gifted to significant UK museums and the
fourth engine (OE 65) was located by Chryslers Engine Development
Department at Coventry.
Because the special pre-production C.A.V rotary/DPA pumps for the TS4
prototypes's had already been scrapped, C.A.V (now Delphi) provided a
pre-production TS4 spec inline F.I pump to Chrysler that was also modified
to Diesel Engineering Division's military specifications as a multi-fuel
pump (enabling the engine to run on diesel, petrol, kerosene / jet fuel).
The inline pump was untidily adapted to the engine by Chrysler and the
engine was run up on an engine dynamometer to insure correct horsepower
and torque outputs were being achieved. To add insult to injury, OE 65 was
then adapted to a generator to provide stand-by power in the Coventry
factory in the event of winter power cuts!
With the generator requirement completed (and with less than 1,000 hours
running completed), Chrysler once again consigned OE 65 to be scrapped.
Remarkably, OE 65 was rescued once again (by a former Diesel Engineering
Division manager) and the engine was coated internally and externally with
a paraffin based wax sealer to prevent corrosion and it went into storage.
It was then acquired by an engine design and development company in 1982
where it sat unused in their warehouse on its mobile engine trolley for
over 20 years.
Even OE 65's engine trolley is significant. It was originally built by
Diesel Engineering Division at Maidstone, to wheel Rootes TS3 prototypes
around their test-bed bay at Maidstone during the 1950's and 1960's.
This particular trolley was lengthened in the middle by Diesel Engineering
Division in the mid 1960's to accommodate the longer TS4 prototypes and is
the only TS3/4 engine trolley known to have survived.
Although OE 65 is in "as-new" condition, it will be stripped to be
extensively cleaned, checked and rebuilt with new oil seals and gaskets
fitted prior to running up on a local engine dynamometer.
Once initial testing is completed, TS OE 65 will be installed into a fully
restored Commer truck to receive regular use as originally intended by
the Management and staff at Diesel Engineering Division. It will also be
presented at truck shows as a working display.
Acknowledgement:
The current owners of TS OE 65 are most grateful for the ongoing and
invaluable assistance provided by former Diesel Engineering Division,
Design Manager, Mr Donald Kitchen.
During the last two years, Mr Kitchen has kindly provided the current New
Zealand owners of TS OE 65 with a wide range of completely unique
technical and historical items and information on the Rootes TS4
prototypes and in particular, information specifically about the history
of TS OE 65 (as described above).
Recently, Mr Kitchen also discovered several sets of extraordinarily rare,
genuine, pre-production TS4 gaskets and has gifted them to the engines
owners for use in TS OE 65's imminent refurbishment.
At 80 years old, Mr Kitchen remains very active in his retirement,
enjoying a wide variety of interests and maintains regular contact with a
number of his former colleagues from Diesel Engineering Division.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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