Guess I will settle for a 25 HP Kohler to repower my 92 LT40 HD

[RayMO]

Was wanting more horses but found a very nice 1996 25HP Kohler today with just 10 hours on it for $600.00 only an hour from home. With any luck I can be sawing tomorrow evening  8)
It has the larger shaft so will need a different bushing. It has the right size pulley on it but it is part of the centrifical clutch that came with it . Thought about trying it with the clutch but talked my self out of it. I like the way it is set up by Wood-Mizer .

[VictorH]

Personally I would love an auto clutch on my mill.  No more pulling the clutch lever.  Depending on how much sawing you do that repetitive motion can start to cause issue with your rotocuff.  The guy I bought my mill from was only selling because he had rotocuff surgery and did not want to put the strain on it.  Just a thought.

[drobertson]

Might as well, the money is right, plenty of hp, I'd say go for it, what's the worse case scenario?    david

[RayMO]

It is at my shop now ;D. Has anyone run a mill with a centrifugal type clutch ? I like the idea but would loose my brake . Guess I could rig it up somehow. Not sure how long those type of clutches last with constant start and stop use ....

[kderby]

I have the gas 25hp and it does just fine.  I have never wished for more power.  I am about to install an auto-clutch...cheaper than the shoulder surgery.

Now Get  Milling!

[losttheplot]

Has anyone run a mill with a centrifugal type clutch ? I like the idea but would loose my brake . Guess I could rig it up somehow. Not sure how long those type of clutches last with constant start and stop use ....

My Norwood LM2000 has a centrifugal clutch on a 20 hp Honda, it works well.
The band stops moving pretty quick, I've never felt the need for a brake.

They last a long time, works just like a chainsaw.

[sawmillhand]

keep us updated on how the motor does. I have a feeling that i will be changing mine out before to long.

[thecfarm]

I have one on my Thomas. That is another reason why I brought it. I have shouder problems and even though I don't saw alot,I don't have to reach for something else every time.

[pineywoods]

Ramo, I'd stay with the woodmizer clutch setup. Centrifugal clutch has lots of parts that can break. If it ain't there, it won't cause any problems. One thing to look out for. If the crank pulley sits higher or lower from the baseplate than the old engine, it's a problem. The belt guards won't fit properly. The guards are more than just a safety cover, they hold the drive belt in an oval shape when de-clutched. without them fitting properly, you will wear out drive belts in a hurry. I replace my original with a kawasaki, the shaft was an inch lower. I just put the original guards back in place, went through 2 drive belts before i figured out what was happening.

[grweldon]

I have a 25HP Kohler (Command Pro) on my mill with an electic clutch.  I just recently started pushing my mill (TK 1400) to it's limits on SYP and while it does a great job, I could see where more power would be better.  For $600 I'd say you got a good deal and it will do a good job for you.

[RayMO]

Waiting on the proper size browning pulley bushing so i can finish install. Decided to remove centrifugal clutch and stay with the Wood-Mizer system. I am 48 and have no shoulder problems at present or might have changed it over.

[rimshot]

I have not heard any complaints yet about the Kohler .  I was surprized to learn the newer ones are made in Mainland China.

rim

[ladylake]

Some Kohler's are made in China,( shame on them) I think the smaller ones.   Steve

[RayMO]

barbwire worth a hoot !  Second log was a 8' x 25" on small end ERC and the mill and new engine was sawing very well until I hit the barbwire . Always amazed at how often a customers logs were cut miles from any fences and still have fence wire in them lol .

I had squared it up at 17" and then took a 5" cant off and turned it up on edge to cut some 12" one by's and hit the wire on first one. About dark by then so will work around the wire tomorrow.

Most important is the fact that the engine is working well and has about the same power as the old Onan but the guvnor seems a bit less snappy than the Onan. A full day sawing and I will know more , Ray.

[haywire woodlot]

I ordered the 29 hp kohler from woodmizer earlier this week. Should be here around the end of October. I'll be sure to do a thread on the onan to kohler swap when it gets here.

[Birchwood Logging]

Just curious how many hours did you get out of the old Onan engine I have a 89 lt 40 super hyd that's going to need a engine before long it has a little over 5000 hours on it and has never been touched it's been a great little engine wish they still made them probably go back with electric but it still runs good just burns a little oil

[RayMO]

Onan only had 1,400 hours but a wrist pin came loose and scored the cylinder wall big time. The 25 Kohler is working great and just sips gas so far.