Repowering an 87 LT 40

[trickn7474]

My 87 LT 40's Onan 20 hp bit the dust, I'm looking to repower it with a Briggs and Stratton 31 hp. It weighs 170 pounds, is this too heavy? I'm new here, sooooo HELP!

[Bibbyman]

Welcome to the Forum...!  8)

The best advice I can give you is call Wood-Mizer tech support.  They have engine kits available to replace engines on older mills.   

If you plan to find an engine from another source,  they can often help with linkage adpters, etc.

Here is a link to the Wood-Mizer web page that lists the "plug and play" engine upgradeds.

http://www.woodmizer.com/us/support/engines.aspx

[backwoods sawyer]

I got a mill that is a LT-40 chassis that Woodmizer stuck an LT-70 head on with a 42hp Kubota. This is the old single post design that was not beefed up to handle the added weight, and I have had cracking issues with the mast due to the excess weight and leverage of the larger head. However, this is considerably more weight then what you are looking at as a difference between a 20 hp and 31 hp motor. How much dose the old 20 hp weigh?

[trickn7474]

Back woods that  is a good question.

[Magicman]

trickn....Welcome to FF.  The right place to ask the right questions for the right answers......

[trickn7474]

Majicman I'm just below Hattiesburg MS. Backwoods, the onan weighes 146 pounds. I doubt that 24 pounds will make a difference.

[pineywoods]

Probably others just as good, but i can highly recommend the 27 hp liquid cooled kawasaki. Weighs 115 lbs with cooling system. Do a search on kawmizer.

[fishpharmer]

Hey there trickn7474, welcome to the forum.  Glad to see another MS fella on board.

[ladylake]

 
I see that Kohler has a 38 or 40 hp that's around 170 to 180#, that should pull good in big logs.   Steve

[sparks]

The engine we use now for that mill is a 25hp Kohler. It weighs 186 pounds. If you stay around that weight you'll be fine.

[jdtuttle]

I just replaced the motor on my 92 LT40 HD with woodmizers 25hp kohler. It took about 3 hours and they were available for any questions. I thought about going with the kawasaki but was not comfortable with my own mechanical abilities. Been a carpenter my whole life not a mechanic. If your good with mechanics go for the HP. The new kohler cuts alot faster than my old onan did.
jim

[rs1626]

I just bought a new 33hp gth990 generac for $1036.00 shipped direct to me this is supposed to be same engine dixie chopper uses on there mowers it supposed to weigh 120#

[ely]

not to hijack... and maybe on the same lines. wasnt there an upgrade on the output pulley on those mills back then that increased the band speed a little bit.

[trickn7474]

Thanks for the welcome everyone! I've had the mill for about ten years. I've turned it over to my youngest son who has the fever. I am going to buy a swing mill very soon.

[ljmathias]

Welcome trickn: glad to have you aboard.  Just where south of Hattiesburg?  That's where I live and work- between 59 and Purvis on highway 11.  Be glad to offer you a cup of coffee if you want to come visit- if this rain  ever quits, I've got some SYP, white oak, yellow poplar and sweet gum to cut up; actually, I only need the SYP for siding right now, the rest is just for fun and to clear up some downed wood.

Lj

[trickn7474]

ljmathias I live between Camp Shelby and Purvis. Near Brown's Bridge. I would love to pick your brain, I have had mine a long time and cut a lot of wood and made many mistakes.

[LeeB]

would that be the brain or the saw?

[ljmathias]

well, I too often forget to use the one when I'm using the other... interesting lumber results.

trickn- come up Brown's Bridge to Harold Tucker and follow that west over 59 to N. Hill and take a right... half mile then right on Hagford and go straight to the end- our house sits there; easier maybe to mapquest us at 7 mathias hollow- can't believe we're actually on there; too many UPS deliveries I guess.

Let me know when you're coming so I can put the pot on.  Be working tomorrow and Saturday if it doesn't rain...

Lj

[trickn7474]

We are not that far apart, I will come by one day, have company for 3 weeks or more. I'm going to realign everything, clean and paint.

[sdunston]

As much as I USED to like B&S they are not what they used to be, Kohler is my vote for a small gas engine
Sam

[zopi]

yeah..kohler or honda...