Woodmizer/ Diesel?

woodhick · February 05, 2006, 05:59:24 PM

I am thinking about buying a new woodmizer lt40 manual mill. My homemade mill is tied up on a long term job and I have other logs I need to saw. Don't want to build another one. I am considering upgrading to the 34 hp cat diesel. Does anyone here have one and do you think its worth the extra $3200. Probably don't need the extra hp ??? but I am thinking the diesel would last longer and be cheaper on fuel than gas. but with todays prices

who knows.

Minnesota_boy · February 05, 2006, 06:28:46 PM

I'd bet the diesel will last longer than the gas, but just how long are you going to live? Most gas engines will last a long time if properly maintained, and can be rebuilt once or more times.

The diesel will take less fuel in most cases, but will it make up $3200 in your lifetime with the higher price of diesel now? I'm a sceptic. :

farmerdoug · February 05, 2006, 07:01:16 PM

It also depends if you have access to diesel at home. If you have to go the gas station then I would go with gas as most of the other engines are probably gas at your place too.

Farmerdoug

customsawyer · February 06, 2006, 03:59:20 AM

I have the WM with the Kabota diesel and one of the things I love about it is the fact that no matter how hard I work that mill it won't burn more than 9 gallons of fuel in a day and some of the days go for 12 hours or more.

Cedarman · February 06, 2006, 08:00:47 AM

Woodhick, I noticed you said manual rather than hydraulic. What about going gas but with hydraulics if money is the issue? I would think hydraulics would more than pay for itself, but I don't know your sawing situation.

Bibbyman · February 06, 2006, 08:37:55 AM

Oh yea, spend the money on HD first.

Kirk_Allen · February 06, 2006, 09:27:15 AM

Defiantly go with the hydraulics first. I have the 25hp Kohler on my LT40 and like Arkyansawyer told me long ago, it will wear a tailman out so no real need to go bigger.

With that said, I agree but over this past year the size of the logs I have been getting are really making that little motor work. If you regularly getting 30" logs then I would opt for the bigger motor. It will save you time in the cut! The small motor will cut those wide passes but its much slower.

AND, with that being said, what are you cutting? I have been cutting a boat load of Osage Orange, Hickory, DRY spalted Maple, and White Oak. As you can see, very hard wood and even green, the extra HP would be nice, but not a necessity.

ronwood · February 06, 2006, 09:59:57 AM

woodhick,

I would agree with Kirk and Bibbyman on getting the hydraulics before the bigger motor. I hear that the 28hp Kohler works nice. There are times that the larger motor would be nice as Kirk mentioned but the hydraulics make turning the larger logs much quicker and safer.

The debarker is also a good options. Increases the bd ft. on each blade.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

Ron

Brucer · February 07, 2006, 01:33:53 AM

Diesels are great (own 3 of them ;)), but ...

The 28 HP Fuel Injected gas engine on my manual LT40 easily handles everything I throw at it. The only time it starts to bog down is when the blade gets dull (I'd spend extra coin on a debarker before I'd invest in the diesel) or in very wide cuts. I've found when the engine has trouble in a wide cut, the blade is going to start to wander if I push it any harder. In other words, if you're going to look at more cutting power, you also need to think about wider or thicker blades (I use 1-1/4 x 0.045"),

One other thing to keep in mind -- that diesel weighs 200 pounds more than the Kohler gas engine. The manual "clutch" on the LT40's works by lifting the engine and tightening the drive belt. With the diesel you'll be lifting 2-1/2 times as much weight. So you may want to be thinking about an autoclutch if you go diesel.

I've run the 28 HP engine through most of a year now, and it works beautifully in all types of weather -- hot, freezing, rain, snow, high humidity and low. Starts instantly every time. I'm looking at upgrading to a hydraulic mill, and if I do, I'll go for the 28 HP engine again (and a debarker this time around ;D).

Percy · February 07, 2006, 01:48:32 AM

Ill be the the guy who sides with Customsawyer. I have a 25 hp Kohler on my edger and a 42hp Kubota on the mill. The Kohler is nice but when Im goin hard with both machines, the edger cost more to run in fuel costs. I know that seems odd and Im no chemist or anything like that but Ive read somewhere that there is more hormones in a pint of deisel compared to a pint of gasoline. The gas is more volitile but the deisel has the extra poop(I think mebey :D)

MartyParsons · February 07, 2006, 07:21:28 AM

Woodhick, We have a 2005 LT40HDD34 in stock it has 400 hours on it. It is a hydraulic mill and in good condition (New).The customer traded up to a Super RA. I like the 34 hp diesel it is a three cylinder and does vibrate more than a gas engine model. I am not sure on the fuel consumption per hour on the 34 the 51 hp and the 62 are getting about 1 gal per hour. A little more than the Kubota but the added hp makes up the difference. If you do purchase a 34 hp Diesel make sure you get the Auto Clutch option as the weight is quite more than the air cooled engine. The Cat diesels have a 3000 hours warranty and 6 years.
The Kohler 28 hp is fuel injected and works great also, we have had no issues with this engine. You need to make the decision on the extra cost.
Marty
If you want to come up and give it a try give us a call in PA

Chris Burchfield · February 07, 2006, 07:43:56 AM

I just saw the 34 cat on a LT40H at the Little Rock Show this last Saturday. She was cutting cedar, oak and walnut. I never heard her load up beyond what the blade would chew. I've seen people over the years buy small and upgrade to a larger mill. I only wanted to spend money one time and went with the LT40SH. I'm 47 and not getting any younger. I wanted the hydraulics which save major time and the diesel for it's fuel efficiency and length of service. I smoked the belt chewing too fast through a cherry when the blade stopped on a large knot. The engine didn't bog, I kicked the autoclutch/blade out before damage was done. I wanted the Super as I plan to have employees one day. With the 51 HP Cat, I cut for 5 hours Sunday and burned about 3.5 gallons. Hope this helps, Chris.

Brucer · February 09, 2006, 01:38:59 AM

Quote from: Percy on February 07, 2006, 01:48:32 AM
... I know that seems odd and Im no chemist or anything like that but Ive read somewhere that there is more hormones in a pint of deisel compared to a pint of gasoline. :D)

Gasoline produces slightly more heat per kg than diesel, but diesel has a higher density. When you work it all out, diesel will give you a little more heat per litre. What really matters is that a diesel engine (with it's high compression) has a higher thermal efficiency. That means more energy at the crankshaft per litre of fuel, and less heat out the exhaust.