Repowering an old 6" chipper. Gas or diesel

[fourwheelinj1]

I recently bought and old gravely 6" tow behind chipper cheap because it is missing the engine. It was originally powered by a 25 hp kohler gas engine. I would really like to make the machine a little stronger and was wondering if a diesel engine of similar horsepower would be a better choice. I know the horse power would be the same but since diesels produce more torque would it be better in this application. I can pick up a used kubota 26hp diesel engine for about $1000 locally and a new kohler will be about $1500. I know the kubota will take some fabrication to make it work but that doesn't bother me. Will the diesel be really any stronger?

 

[RalphVa]

Well, I've only ever stalled my diesel engine once using my PTO chipper/shredder vs. doing it several times with gas engines. I gotta admit though: the gas engines were smaller.

Any way you can convert it to PTO driven?

Ralph

 

[bcp]

A couple of ideas, and one more.

1. 22 hp $699 at 22 HP (67cc) V-Twin Horizontal Shaft Gas Engine EPA

2. Hydraulic tank and motor on the trailer, PTO pump on the tractor

3. Old air-cooled VW engine on the chipper.

Bruce

 

[fourwheelinj1]

Pto would be nice but it the gas engine supplies 3600 rpm and the pto would only be 540 max. So I would need a gear box to increase the speed and I think that will get expensive.

I have looked at the harbor freight engine and that is a good price. I am just worried that 22 hp will be under powered. If I go back with a gas engine I am thinking at least 25-27 hp. I would like more than that but I have heard the factory chipper clutch won't handle more than 27 hp.

 

[4570Man]

The diesel will be stronger and burn less fuel.

 

[buickanddeere]

Maybe glad the smaller engine stalls instead of twisting something apart.

 

[4570Man]

How important is 3600 rpm? The Diesel engine won't run that fast. My diesels redline at 3000 rpm.

 

[fourwheelinj1]

This is a belt driven set up so hopefully the belts would slip before anything catastrophic happened. Also being a belt set up I can change pulley sizes some to change rpm speeds a little.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

How important is 3600 rpm? The Diesel engine won't run that fast. My diesels redline at 3000 rpm.

MOST small Kubota diesels are rated to 3,600 rpm's...

I'd go with the diesel without a second thought!

SR

 

[4570Man]

MOST small Kubota diesels are rated to 3,600 rpm's... I'd go with the diesel without a second thought! SR

The diesel in my G5200 will run that fast, but it's the only one I have that will. It's only 16 hp. The larger 25 hp diesel in my F2560 is rated at 2700 rpm.