Dave, I just can't go to my local repair shop here. [:@] Most power tools are electric, so the few that exist are property of its respective brand; i.e. you have a stihl repair shop. In some small towns you can be lucky and find one, but their engines are overused and expensive (I tried once and will never again). The price and availability totally defeats any benefit of a conversion.
ORIGINAL: Rcpilet
The 725R is the long shaft.
The 700 is the short shaft.
The ones from Harbor Freight can be had for around $50. They state "factory reconditioned", but my engine looked perfectly new to me. Cost me all of $58 shipped to my front door. I bought the 725R engine in an MTD/Yard Machines weedie. It is a twin ring with NO compression relief slots. Carb is a little small, but anyone who tinkers with conversions is gonna have 5 or 200 carbs lying around.
You can get parts from Peter Faith at
www.wackerengines.com I heard he got hit by a hurricane, so his website might be down. Don't have any idea what type of business he's doing after the storm. He's a good guy and will talk your ear off. Full of knowledge.
www.carrprecision.com is another place to get conversion info.
That's a nice idea!
- but it's more than likely that Harbor freight won't ship to me. It's this item, isn't it?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=55008
A bigger carb and misc. conversion parts (mount, hub, etc.) could probably be ordered from those sites (I think wackerengines is working). I have a lathe, so I could machine the flywheel myself.
ORIGINAL: Rcpilet
Go to ebay and buy "parts" chainsaws. As long as the cylinder and piston ain't scored--you can pretty much make an airplane engine out of any of them. Try and stay away from the ones with needles on the crank bearings--McCulloch in the smaller sizes. They can be made to tturn a prop--but it's a bit more work. Easy if you have a milling machine and a lathe--not so easy if you ain't got those tools.
Chainsaws are kinda doggy on power untill you get up over 35cc. Get yourself a 40cc or 60cc chainsaw engine and you'll be pooping your shorts when you start it for the first time with a big hunk of lumber bolted to the business end. It's a kick in the pants!!
Buying a big sized chainsaw and salvage the engine was another option in my "to do" list. A 60cc would be just great! I don't know how much power they have exactly, but from what I've seen and read those engines aren't powerhouses unless you heavily mod them (not my case). Is there any engine like that at harbor freight? Or should I search ebay till I find a used one (which scares me, you have no idea of the health of the engine)? Are there any basic guidelines to follow when looking for such things?
I'm sorry to ask so much, but I live in southern Europe and things here work very differently. Almost everything is electric, except for the biggest and meanest power tools, and a few chainsaws (and they cost at least 50% more, so buying one outside with shipping and taxes still is much cheaper).
Regards!