One of this winters projects was to convert a non runner Homelite XL to electric power. Looking at my hobby supplies, I found I had everything I needed for the conversion, the bulk of it coming from the stock of RC airplane parts.
The motor is a 1500 watt brushless outrunner, the batteries 2x3 lipo 4AH packs wired in series, with a working voltage of around 24. The speed controller is programmable to enable a brake function, which I am using.
The stock engine block is sawed in half to get a flat surface and the correct depth to mount the motor. A cap to replace the top bearing cap surface was machined out of aluminum stock to provide the other half of the motor mount suface.
A shaft extension was turned on a unimat and a cut down spur drum was press fit. The metal on the drum was hard! A carbide lathe bit was required to even out the circumference.
A primer bulb is used as a manual oiler, and works very well. It falls directly under your thumb where it is mounted.
Fully charged batteries show a free rpm of 15000. Chain acceleration is instant, as is the brake function.
I probably have 20 hours of work into it, but nobody really counts the time when they work on saws for themselves. I'm guessing it is equal to or more powerful than the gas engine it replaces, and now I have one more very light (6 lbs 6 oz w/batteries, 12" bar and chain) and very reliable saw to climb up a tree or do pruning with.
The motor is a 1500 watt brushless outrunner, the batteries 2x3 lipo 4AH packs wired in series, with a working voltage of around 24. The speed controller is programmable to enable a brake function, which I am using.
The stock engine block is sawed in half to get a flat surface and the correct depth to mount the motor. A cap to replace the top bearing cap surface was machined out of aluminum stock to provide the other half of the motor mount suface.
A shaft extension was turned on a unimat and a cut down spur drum was press fit. The metal on the drum was hard! A carbide lathe bit was required to even out the circumference.
A primer bulb is used as a manual oiler, and works very well. It falls directly under your thumb where it is mounted.
Fully charged batteries show a free rpm of 15000. Chain acceleration is instant, as is the brake function.
I probably have 20 hours of work into it, but nobody really counts the time when they work on saws for themselves. I'm guessing it is equal to or more powerful than the gas engine it replaces, and now I have one more very light (6 lbs 6 oz w/batteries, 12" bar and chain) and very reliable saw to climb up a tree or do pruning with.
