You are correct. Diesel-electric. He strapped big generators on the flywheel of the motors and generated electricity which drove motors in the hub of the wheel. The electric wheel was likely his greatest invention.
From someone that's run single and double end scrapers, THIS is impressive. Fact is, I was just telling Skadill that using scrapers to build logging roads worked very well in days gone by for us "Old Gummers".(;>)!
Sorry there is no sound. These were transferred from old 16mm film that had no sound and are from the archive of RG LeTourneau at LeTourneau University. The L-90 scrapers were powered by four Detroit Diesel 12V-71N engines rated at 1,900 gross horsepower and capable of 24 mph top speed. Each scraper bowl carried 30 tons (90 tons total) making the total payload around 70 cubic yards.
I worked on the rear guard gate of the plant when these L90's AND the L-360 built the section of I-20 crossing Longview. They finished 6 months ahead of time. Amazing machines.
The electric wheel drive is what RG was most famous for inventing. Seems ironic that even cars are going back to electric drives now. He was way ahead of his time.
Absolutely brilliant video of the L-90 in action!! I have a book that covers the history of R.G. Letourneau Diesel Electric-Drive equipment from 1953-1971 and all I could rely on were pictures of these old beasts. Now I feel like I've hit the jackpot of Letourneau machines with videos as well!! I fell like I'm going back in time to see these old scrapers as they worked in perfect condition back then.
Man those scrapers could really take one hell of a bite out of the ground. I have never seen a scraper that can just rip off a strip of ground like that. It was as if it where loose sand instead of hard earth/clay.
My father ran an L-90 in Providence, Rhode Island in 1966. It was the scraper used doing the grading for the Providence Airport. Any idea where this film was made?
Amazing, no words for that video, could someone tell me how many cubic carried each box that, congratulations for this finding, if put to more appreciation from fans scrapers
Fort Myers construction, which performed all the dirt work for the Gulf American Land Corporation, which developed the city of Cape Coral Florida, had 6 of these beasts from the late 60's to the 70's. They were slightly different as they had an additional V12 Detroit diesel and a DC generator mounted on the rear pan. The Letourneau repair gang operated out of a complex off Pine Island road and it was affectionately named "The Funny Farm" I was part of that gang and helped keep them running. They all had their own personalities and although they were set up the same as far as excitation voltages were concerned they all pulled differently.
@tournadude No apologies needed, best damn construction video on here. I operated wabco stuff before long ago, in Michigan. One hell of a machine. Did he get his teeth knocked out by a lift cable?
