[Hops_Farmer]

I just scored a Kohler 16HP OHC engine set up to run on propane. Problem is I can't find any info on it. I can't tell if Kohler ever made an engine to run on propane, or if it has an aftermarket conversion on it. It has an electric start, throttle control, low oil light, and choke all on the engine. I think it might have been on a generator or a welder. Just wondering if anyone had heard of these motors before. I am thinking of adding it to a mal-powered Craftsman I have, and might just keep it propane. Just a thought.

I'll get some pics in the AM.

 

[robynrj]

Model will help. The generator side of Kohler did have propane and natural gas engines. Ind eng side let aftermarket do conv. You say ohc....not ohv. Are you sure? Bob M

 

[InTroubleAlltheTime]

Interesting. That would certainly get you away from the issues with the quality of today's gasoline. I was just ready to post and was going to say I hope BobM sees the post, he's the Kohler man in my book and...... :222: :446: Best Regards, Rich

 

[Hydriv]

I think that the first thing i would do is to measure the total height of that engine and compare it to the engine in the Craftsman.

 

[Hops_Farmer]

I know that a 18HP Kohler twin is what came with this origionaly. So I am pretty sure this one should be a good fit. I'm not sure if the stock pullies are all there as the prior owner converted it from a horizontal shaft drive to a vertical shaft.

I'm going to need the exaust pipes, but I think i still have the stock muffler on the tractor.

I know the thing turns over and fires. The guy I bought it from poured some gas into the carb and fired it up. It SCREAMED to life quite nicely. I image the muffler will tame it quite a bit.

One odd thing about the engine is there seem to be metal flakes all over it. I don't know if it was near some sort of milling machine or what. I can't see were they are coming from, or if they are even from the engine at all.

Here are the pics.

 

[mikebramel]

Thats a triad engine. They only made it for a couple years. Something wrong with the timing belts I HEARD

 

[robynrj]

Group
problem w/timing belts/pulley was an issue but not a major one.....was a early issue with liner of cyl slipping into crank but was resolved early. The end of this came when supplier needed to supply more blocks to auto industry which was his main business and quality supplier was not found. Bob M

 

[robynrj]

Hops
I would replace timing belt etc unless former owner had done recently. Any auth Kohler dealer can order kit. Change oil/filter and air cleaner and go. Bob M

 

[Hops_Farmer]

That sound fairly simple to do. Will I have to reset the timing after I replace the belt?

I was going to put this into my craftsman, but someone wants to buy that now. If I were to do the maintenance on it and put a muffler on, what kind of money could I expect to get for it? Am I better off converting it back to gasoline and selling the propane parts separate, or could I get more as is.

I might just keep it and wait to find a nice case or Ingersoll to convert to propane!

Thanks for the help!

 

[Hydriv]

That sound fairly simple to do. Will I have to reset the timing after I replace the belt?

I was going to put this into my craftsman, but someone wants to buy that now. If I were to do the maintenance on it and put a muffler on, what kind of money could I expect to get for it? Am I better off converting it back to gasoline and selling the propane parts separate, or could I get more as is.

I might just keep it and wait to find a nice case or Ingersoll to convert to propane!

Thanks for the help!

First off ...... I will say this..... I love propane as a fuel.

Now... I will ask you this. Where will you find room in any LT, YT or GT for a propane cylinder?

 

[Hops_Farmer]

Think I could tow a 100 gallon tank behind me on a trailer?

 

[Hydriv]

Think I could tow a 100 gallon tank behind me on a trailer?

I absolutely think so.

But how do you tow the tank and plow the garden at the same time?

Or mow the lawn

Or grade your driveway

Or blow your snow?

 

[Hops_Farmer]

Maybe I could adapt it to take one pound Coleman tanks. I wonder how long they would last. I've seen adapters to put on 20 lb tanks to refill them. Doesn't seem safe to me, but who knows. I think if I put it in a tractor i'll convert it to gas just for ease of use.

 

[Hydriv]

Let me expand a bit further.

I have given this idea a lot of thought for some time and have not solved the tank problem to my satisfaction. I'm no expert but I do have experience with propane power. My service business used GM vans with 350 small block engines running on 100 percent propane from day one until they went to the scrap yard.

A 20 pound cylinder holds about 5 US gallons of liquid. If you could find a 10 pound cylinder, you could likely have enough mowing time to cut the average lawn. The problem with small portable cylinders is that there is always a fee to refill them that is over and above the normal per gallon charge for refilling a motor vehicle such as a car or truck.

There is around 300 psi needed in a tank to keep the gas in a liquid state. As the pressure is bled off in a gaseous state, more of the liquid converts to a gas as the pressure drops.

 

[InTroubleAlltheTime]

Tom/Hops/Group: I am thinking forklift. The Steve Guider Case forklift had a 20 lb.( I believe the same as a BBQ tank, is that correct) propane tank in the front as shown in LAGM before restoration. I get a pretty good amount of use out of one 20lb. with my giant SS BBQ. I am thinking mounted in the rear of the tractor with a hose to the front. Fabrication or 3 point utility box to put it in? What about the long skinny propane tanks they strap on forklifts? There must be some deal/exchange with those for fill up. Might they be 30 lb.? Who knows forklifts on the site? :222: :446: Best regards, Rich

 

[Hydriv]

Rich,
It's all about available real estate on garden tractors, is it not? Fork trucks have large counterweights on the rear plus that's where the engine resides. Therefore, fork trucks have no problem in having a 40 pound cylinder mounted behind the operator. How does one do that with a GT if you want to have a three point hitch or sleeve hitch?

That's the dilemma. And if someone has a solution for this fuel problem related to propane power, then I'd be happy to hear of it.

 

[Bill.H]

That's the dilemma. And if someone has a solution for this fuel problem related to propane power, then I'd be happy to hear of it.

Could you manifold a pair of these where the gas tank currently is? Then again, if you can put the seat up that much, you could probably fit a 20lb horizontal there.

Maybe with a higher steering wheel?

 

[Hydriv]

My thoughts are similar to yours Bill but those thoughts do not come cheap.

As I see it, there are two choices for a tank.

1. Custom made - portable

2. Custom made- permanent


If you go with Option 1, then you need two tanks realistically. One to run on and one that is a standby and filled. When you run out of fuel, you swap tanks and continue on with mowing. Get the empty refilled while you are out on another errand.

Option 2 requires you to have something like a 100 pound to 300 pound cylinder stored outside along with a transfer pump to refill the tank in the GT.

Obviously, neither option is very practical from an economics perspective. The cheapest solution is to use some sort of commonly available and easily refillable tank but that puts us right back to using a 20 pounder mounted on a bracket in front of the grille and then dedicate the tractor for mid-mount and rear-mount duties.

 

[Hops_Farmer]

I agree with Bill that you could fit it under the seat area, but you would have to cut some of the sheet metal out of the way I think. I'm not sure I have the balls to hack into a classic like that. Hydriv seems like he's got the most logical/simple answer to making it run. I actually just sold the tractor I was going to put it in. Some one made me an offer $100 more than I paid for it, so I let it go. Now SWMBO said I can get a Case 400 series! Just gotta find one with a blown engine and make this dream a reality.

 

[chllngr528]

I know you said you sold it so this now hypothetical but what if you built bracket off the back of the tractor using angle iron and gusset it to bracket
attached to the hitch mounting points. Then mount a propane tank from a small forklift to it. I made a bracket on the back of my 224 that holds about 120 lbs of weight. I dont see why my idea for my wieghts couldn't be adapted to mount a propane tank on the back.

Two problems with this though.

1. You would no longer be able to hook implements to the back

2. The fuel line could possible be exposed enough so you run the risk of catching it on somthing.

If I could figure out how post pics on here I would put up a pic of the weight set up but I seem to be having some technical difficulties.