Converted Saw Head to Hydrostatic Drive

[Wintergreen Mountain]

    I havn't sawed since July. Had a lot of trouble with the old kohler Magnum engine that came off from an 18hp lawn tractor i had.   :'(  :'(.
    Last month i decided to experiment with the other engine option i wanted to try. I been collecting parts for this engine installation since last January .
    Last week was the first start up and test run. It was well worth the trouble and and patients i endured.
    The engine is a VW rabitt diesel 48hp. I had to modify the bell housing so i could mount a PVB10 Vikers piston pump to it. Installed a Hoof belt driven governor, driven off crank front pulley. Made a hydraulic tank and mounted the radiator,and electric fan on one side. Made a portable fuel tank.
    The saw head has a Parker gear motor drivng the band with a 6 1/4" drive pulley.
    There are two 3/4" two wire hoses 50ft long from the power unit to the saw head that drape and roll along the mill track.
    Sawed about 1200 bf while getting the thing tweaked to inprove it.

    As i said, this thing is working very well. something is going to go wrong. It's Got Too!!!! 8)  8)  8)
    I'll try to post some pictures.

    Very Happy,  Leon

[bill m]

 If your hydraulic tank is not big enough the only problem you might have is the oil getting hot in the summer. You might have to add in an oil cooler. Other than that it sounds like a great set up.

[fishpharmer]

looking forward to the pics.   8)

I am about ready to upgrade my 18 briggs.

[ladylake]

I'd have to ask why hydro drive when a simple pulley and belt works great with out power robbing hydraulics.   Steve

[Tronvik]

That vw engine remote sounds great. I have kubota 18hp diesel that I want to put on my 1984 lt 30. I cannot do remote setup, think the diesel is too much weight for the old style main rail. So i went with a kohler 18 v commander. But would like to have that diesel running wvo, just like my tractors and powerstroke.

[jpgreen]

Definitely peaked my interests on this one.

Please posts pics and more results .... 8) 8) 8)

[jpgreen]

In fact-

I'm wondering if one of my Listeriod 6/1's could utilize it's large flywheel torque and heavy fluid flow to turn enough hydraulics to drive an LT40.  That would open up a whole world of possibilities.

Could even power the whole system with wood gassification.

A Woodmizer that powers itself ... :D

Most likely not but one can dream can't one? ... ;D

[ladylake]

Is that 6hp, no unless your logs are 2' long.. Keep it simple.     Steve

[Wintergreen Mountain]

ladylake,


   The main reason for remote is that the carriage head  could not handle the weight. Engine, pump, hydraulic tank, cooler and frame. Much over an average air cooled, 30hp and over, would be to heavy for the carriage head. The power unit weighs about 480lbs. Also that 48hp saws ash as easy as the old 18hp kohler sawed popul.
Also isolates 2/3rds of the noise with the power unit 30 ft from the work area. If it is cold working i will move the power unit close to me so the cooling air stream flows toward my frozen Butt.

jpgreen,
  I have an oil cooler on the unit and took it off for the coming winter.

    Leon
   

[Ron Wenrich]

We used to run an edger with a hydraulic motor.  I'm not sure of the hp rating, but we ran the hydraulic pump off of a 671 Detroit which also powered our chipper.  2 for 1 type of deal.

But, if you're doing a remote type of power unit, I wonder if its not more beneficial to run a power unit and run with electric vs hydraulic. 

[Wintergreen Mountain]

Ron Wenrich,

    I am sure that electric would be more efficient. I know hydraulics very well and will be automating this mill further as time goes on. Log turner, Hyd log rack, Hyd. feed, hyd. Toe boards, and Backstops. I also have connected it to my 3 point hitch wood spliter to try it and it tripples the speed splitting, and is still at a safe operating speed. Think i'll put a set of wheels under the splitter an tow i from now on.
  Leon.

[Wintergreen Mountain]

Pictures of my hyd. drive conversion. If i figured out how to load them.

[Wintergreen Mountain]

Dind't work. I cannot figure out how to post the pictures. I usually can post things with no trouble, but this system doesn't guide you through it. Can anybody help me?

[Wintergreen Mountain]

I finally got the pictures in My Gallery.

[Wintergreen Mountain]

    Trying to post pictures again.

[Wintergreen Mountain]

    I figured it out.

[beenthere]

Good on ya wintergreen mtn.  8)

DanG thing is just like a computer...so close, yet ya feel so far away.

[Wintergreen Mountain]

    beenthere,

    Ya Gotta be almost as smart as the computer in order to run it. And i ain't very smart.    Leon.  ;D ;D ;D ;D

[fishpharmer]

Wintergreen, that's a dang cool setup.  How gpm flow does you supply provide? 

Also, what kind of hydraulic motor did you put on the sawmill.  I like it.

[Wintergreen Mountain]

      fishpharmer,
   
      It's 10gpm @2000rpm Vickers PVB10 piston pump. I am running 2600rpms. around 13gpm.

     Motor is a parker 1.2cid gear pump with aux drive on the back. I will mount an 8gpm pump on the back of the motor to run mill hydraulics eventually.

    Leon
   




   

[fishpharmer]

Thanks for the info and pics. 8)