An open latter to Navistar International: (flame on!)

That sounds like an Eaton autoshift transmission. JUNK. Not to worry, an answer will be available in Sept 2012 from Allison Transmission with the brand new TC10-TS fully automatic 10-speed twin countershaft transmission. No more clutch, instead this 10-speed uses a torque convertor. It's basically a 10-speed manual gearbox with torque convertor that shifts so smooth and fast that it'll make your head spin.

Since Eaton Transmission Corp literally put ZF Meritor Transmission group out of business, we have to wait until Allison releases this brand new transmission. Another transmission worthy of note is made by Caterpillar called the CX-29 and CX-31 which are the same as the Allison model but with only 8-forward gears and 2-reverse gears. It too is smooth as silk however it is not yet available for after market retro-fit or OEM installation except for specific engines. Caterpillar promises to someday allow their 8-speed torque convertor transmission to mate to any engine but have not done so yet. I have not received word from Allison yet but I am assuming the brand new TC10-TS will be used in OEM installation as well as retro-fit to any engine using the same bellhousings that the HD 4000 series automatics used but again, I've not been able to confirm this.

Eaton Transmission used to be a great company but now their quality sank to basement levels. Eaton forced ZF Meritor out of business because ZF Meritor was building quality products that performed they way they should and as a result their market share soared to the point that Eaton was about to go out of business. So Eaton started a smear campaign to prevent OEM's from installing ZF Meritor transmissions in new trucks and this forced a great transmisison builder out of the truck transmission market and eventually out of business. With ZF Meritor out of business, Volvo group North America started building their own transmissions called "i-shift" which can only be installed in their trucks. This is why Allison transmission decided to build a new tranny because Eaton cannot put Allison out of business they way they did ZF Meritor.

Once OEM's begin installing Allisons brand new TC10-TS in new truck installs in fall of 2012, the truck owners and drivers will fall in love with them instantly and then slowly start moving away from Eaton transmisions. The only three transmissions that Eaton builds that will survive are the 10, 13 and 18 speed manual gearboxes but I have a feeling their automated transmission divisions will start slowing down as the new Allison transmission will become the new King of the truck transmission market. So be patient as a new tranny is getting ready to hit the market later this year that will permanently knock Eaton Corp out of the automated/automatic truck transmission market because all Eaton builds is JUNK.

 

Oh and BTW - I wouldn't be so hard on the new International Maxx-Force engines. The 11L and 13L Maxx-Force engines are new designs. The brand new Maxx-Force 15L soon to hit the market is a very familiar engine. What I mean by that is the brand new Maxx-Force engines are actually CAT engines with International's fuel system upgrades. It's the same block that CAT has used for many years but remade with IHC's little touches to make the old engine meet EPA requirements.

As for Maxx-Force engines being weak, I don't believe that to be the case at all. They are different that's for sure because they no longer sound like diesels rather they sound like gasoline engines but with lot's of torque and horsepower and they do not use DEF. So I wouldn't condemn the Maxx-Force engine so quickly but rather the badly operating Eaton automated transmission is causing the engine to operate in derated mode.

 

Where is it you are getting your info jab8283?
ZF are still going strong and separate of Meritor.
The Volvo I-Shift came straight from Europe where it has been in use for a number of years and is used in Mack as well.
The Maxforce 13 is based on a MAN motor from Germany not CAT.

 

ZF Meritor company was a joint venture in the U.S. but Eaton Corp put them out of business. The I-Shift tranny in a Mack truck is not surprising since they are the same company. The Maxforce 13 is not the CAT block, that is the Maxforce 15 which is due to release very soon here in the U.S. That is the one engine that all eyes will be on once it is released. I haven't heard any talk as to whether this Maxforce 15 will be available for other class 8 truck chassis such as Kenworth, Peterbilt, or other OEM"s.

 

The 15 ltr has been released a couple months ago. The maxxforce line is to be offered in navistar products, the cat truck line and other specialty vocation OEM's.

 

I just saw my first 2013 Lonestar with Maxxforce 13, that's right, a 13 liter. I gotta say, messy! I'll try to seek out some pictures.

 

lol ya it is. I saw when they were running field tests with the 15 ltr in the lonestar it looked like a nightmare. Now them in a Paystar is way nicer

 

Looks like none of those Maxforce ewngines will be around for long due to not meeting APA compliance. Actaully Navistar is in financial trouble and could either go under or be bought by VW.

Bruce

 

I'm actually surprised that my Maxx-force engine has awaken. I swear the more it breaks in the more power comes out of it and also I'm enjoying the engine getting louder, sounds more and more like a Diesel now instead of a gasser.