Engine seized on Carlton 4012

[xander9727]

Two days ago I sent two of my employees to grind stumps. One with experience and the other was relatively new to our company. The experience employee doesn't like to grind stumps so he gave the new guy 5 minutes of instruction and went to cut brush. The new guy ran the machine on a severe incline sideways and the engine lost oil suction and seized. The engine is a Lombardini LD9 625-2 on a Carlton 4012 with 250 hours on it:angry2: . I'm having some trouble getting it rebuilt and am considering repowering with another diesel or one of the large gas v-twins. What do you guys think?

 

[BC WetCoast]

Crappy. I guess there wasn't enough time in the 5 minutes to mention the clinometer on the side.

I'm not really an engine guy, but I would think that a diesel would be easier on fuel and more reliable.

I ran a Vermeer 352 with a Diahatsu (Briggs and Stratton) diesel. Not impressed.

Why can't you get that Lombardini rebuilt?

 

[stumper63]

I'm thinking of re-powering my 03 252 with a larger gas engine, like Plyscamp did. He put on the Briggs 35hp Vanguard with minor engine mounting modifications. I was looking on the web the other day and noticed that the Kohler Command Pro 36hp has 63 ft. lbs. of torque. The Vanguard has 53 ft. lbs.
Anyone know how Kohler can get 10 more lbs of torque with virtually the same hp? I'm not sure about the reliability of their 36hp engine, but my little Command Pro 25 is coming up on 2800 absolutely trouble-free hours, still isn't burning oil, won't seem to die. Not that I really want it to die, but am looking for a justification to upgrade the torque from 39 on the 25hp to 63 on the 36hp. Should make quite a bit of cutting difference. Engine only weighs about 30 lbs more than the 25hp. May have to increase jackshaft size to handle the torque, but will be interesting....

That said, I would probably stay diesel on your 4012. Upgrading to the 33hp Kubota may be cost prohibitive, but I demoed one of those and was seriously impressed.

 

[stumper63]

Oh, I forgot to ask, doesn't the Lombardini have a low oil pressure sensor that will shut down the engine? I know the Kohler Command Pro gas engines do.
As an aside, I think Kohler bought out Lombardini last year and, surprisingly, has come out with a new line of Kohler diesel engines! Wonder if they're just re-branded Lombardini's, or something new.

 

[transporter]

you may find it more cost effective to re power with a new engine than get the lombardini re built, they can wear out the block when they seize which renders them scrap

 

[Mowingman]

FYI: Kohler recently bought out Lombardini, so, it should be easier to find parts and service for them .
Jeff