Re: [Biofuel] Power Compost!
They used to make electronic ignition kits for 1 cylinder engines - I put one an an old Yamaha. It was years ago but I suppose it is still around. John Mullan wrote: I'm sure not all small engines fall into this category, but I have seen some where the magneto coil was slightly adjustable for timing purposes. Perhaps filing the mounting holes so they are elongated to allow slight adjustment? John -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Zeke Yewdall Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 4:04 PM To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Power Compost! It should be relatively easy to modify the ignition timing on a magneto driven lawnmower type engine. The magnets are usually on the flyweel/blower on top of the engine (or the other end from the drive shaft, for horizontal shaft engines). They trigger the magneto which is fixed to the engine block. I guess it actually sparks during the end of the exhaust stroke too since it's on the crankshaft instead of the cam? If you could adjust the positioning of the trigger magnets on the block, or rotate the flyweel in relation to the crankshaft by modifying the keyway, you could adjust the spark timing. We would always hit stumps with our little lawnmowers, which slowly shears the flywheel key off, and eventually the ignition gets too far out of time for the engine to run any more so you have to take it apart and put a new key in. Adjusting valve timing is harder, since these usually use a 1:2 gear reduction. You could shift it one tooth off, but this is probably about 20 degrees -- too much I think, and you really need to be able to adjust the intake and exhaust valve timing separately. Regrinding the cams could also work, but that's probably way more work than is justified for a little gas engine. Even more work than milling the head. I'd be tempted to run it from biodigester gas. That should only require replacing the carbureator with a relatively simple air/biogas mixer, and probably derating the horsepower a bit based on the heat content of the biogas. Zeke On 11/7/05, robert luis rabello [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: DHAJOGLO wrote: Robert, I'm not sure what type of engine you have, but an option might be to modify it to use ethanol and then delay the timing to get higher compression. I'd like to run ethanol in my truck! Getting higher compression out of a Briggs and Stratton engine would involve milling the cylinder head. For the amount of time the shredder will be used every year, that hardly seems to justify the machine shop expense. I've also seen tiny turbos in my internet meanderings, and while installing one of those would be really cool (Robert's turbo shredder!), I'm probably better off to swap the engine with an electric motor when it dies. You could buy the horse and feed it the cornstalks and compute your milage based on that! Then I wouldn't need the shredder, would I? robert luis rabello The Edge of Justice Adventure for Your Mind http://www.newadventure.ca Ranger Supercharger Project Page http://www.members.shaw.ca/rabello/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Power Compost!
Check this modification out!! http://www.hscsupercharger.com/ fredOn 11/7/05, robert luis rabello [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: DHAJOGLO wrote: Robert, I'm not sure what type of engine you have, but an option might be to modify it to use ethanol and then delay the timing to get higher compression.I'd like to run ethanol in my truck!Getting higher compression out of a Briggs and Stratton engine wouldinvolve milling the cylinder head.For the amount of time the shredder will be used every year, that hardly seems to justify themachine shop expense.I've also seen tiny turbos in my internetmeanderings, and while installing one of those would be really cool(Robert's turbo shredder!), I'm probably better off to swap the engine with an electric motor when it dies. You could buy the horse and feed it the cornstalks and compute your milage based on that!Then I wouldn't need the shredder, would I?robert luis rabello The Edge of JusticeAdventure for Your Mindhttp://www.newadventure.caRanger Supercharger Project Page http://www.members.shaw.ca/rabello/___Biofuel mailing listBiofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.orgBiofuel at Journey to Forever:http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages):http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Power Compost!
Mike Weaver wrote: They used to make electronic ignition kits for 1 cylinder engines - I put one an an old Yamaha. It was years ago but I suppose it is still around. If I really WANTED to do so, I could build a computerized fuel / spark management system for this thing and burn just about any combustible fuel I could get my hands on. However, for a machine that's used for only a few hours once or twice a year this just doesn't seem worthwhile. An electric motor would be simpler, quieter, and up here in BC where electricity comes from hydroelectric generators, far less polluting! robert luis rabello The Edge of Justice Adventure for Your Mind http://www.newadventure.ca Ranger Supercharger Project Page http://www.members.shaw.ca/rabello/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Power Compost!
Robert, I'm not sure what type of engine you have, but an option might be to modify it to use ethanol and then delay the timing to get higher compression. That may result in a more efficient system. You would have to have a supply of ethanol though and you may not be able to delay the timing if its a magneto style engine (can one delay timing on a magneto?) A friend of mine recently donated a shredder for my use. After rebuilding its carburetor (hateful things, carburetors!) and re-lapping stuck valves, changing gaskets and cleaning GUNK out of the fuel tank, it's running fairly well again. (It still needs a replacement throttle return spring, but I'm trying to solve one problem at a time . . .) You could buy the horse and feed it the cornstalks and compute your milage based on that! Of course, the same thing could be said of rototilling. I'm certainly not going to invest in one of those tiny horses I've seen around here to do that job for me. robert luis rabello ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Power Compost!
It should be relatively easy to modify the ignition timing on a magneto driven lawnmower type engine. The magnets are usually on the flyweel/blower on top of the engine (or the other end from the drive shaft, for horizontal shaft engines). They trigger the magneto which is fixed to the engine block. I guess it actually sparks during the end of the exhaust stroke too since it's on the crankshaft instead of the cam? If you could adjust the positioning of the trigger magnets on the block, or rotate the flyweel in relation to the crankshaft by modifying the keyway, you could adjust the spark timing. We would always hit stumps with our little lawnmowers, which slowly shears the flywheel key off, and eventually the ignition gets too far out of time for the engine to run any more so you have to take it apart and put a new key in. Adjusting valve timing is harder, since these usually use a 1:2 gear reduction. You could shift it one tooth off, but this is probably about 20 degrees -- too much I think, and you really need to be able to adjust the intake and exhaust valve timing separately. Regrinding the cams could also work, but that's probably way more work than is justified for a little gas engine. Even more work than milling the head. I'd be tempted to run it from biodigester gas. That should only require replacing the carbureator with a relatively simple air/biogas mixer, and probably derating the horsepower a bit based on the heat content of the biogas. Zeke On 11/7/05, robert luis rabello [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: DHAJOGLO wrote: Robert, I'm not sure what type of engine you have, but an option might be to modify it to use ethanol and then delay the timing to get higher compression. I'd like to run ethanol in my truck! Getting higher compression out of a Briggs and Stratton engine would involve milling the cylinder head. For the amount of time the shredder will be used every year, that hardly seems to justify the machine shop expense. I've also seen tiny turbos in my internet meanderings, and while installing one of those would be really cool (Robert's turbo shredder!), I'm probably better off to swap the engine with an electric motor when it dies. You could buy the horse and feed it the cornstalks and compute your milage based on that! Then I wouldn't need the shredder, would I? robert luis rabello The Edge of Justice Adventure for Your Mind http://www.newadventure.ca Ranger Supercharger Project Page http://www.members.shaw.ca/rabello/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
