Bobcat 310 wattage output?

[peter94]

My Fiance's dad has an old bobcat 310, that more or less should have died years ago with what they have put it through. Finally that old Kohler 16Hp blew this summer. I will be repowering this with a new engine. During the down time I will also be rewiring the machine, and was wondering how the charging system works on this... Does it have a seperate belt driven generator/alternator? Or is it a stator on the motor that charges the battery? I am looking to add (4) 55W lights to the top of this thing, and dont want to overdraw the charging system. Also what is a good replacment engine for this? I have heard Honda thrown around, and also the Briggs and Stratton Vanguard. Any and all advice is appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Tazza]

The charging system was off the engine, not a seperate alternator i believe. 4 x 55w lights is a decent load, i understand why you are concerned that the charging system may not be up for that much of a drain.
I don't know what engines are suitable, but the best place to start is working out what the HP of the one that is in it now then work out what the height of the crank is above the base. You will need to fabricate brackets for the new motor, i highly doubt you will find a drop in replacement. It will be a pretty big job, but totally doable.

 

[peter94]

The charging system was off the engine, not a seperate alternator i believe. 4 x 55w lights is a decent load, i understand why you are concerned that the charging system may not be up for that much of a drain.
I don't know what engines are suitable, but the best place to start is working out what the HP of the one that is in it now then work out what the height of the crank is above the base. You will need to fabricate brackets for the new motor, i highly doubt you will find a drop in replacement. It will be a pretty big job, but totally doable.

Hey, Thanks for the response. I will have to investigate the output of the replacement motor then. I am prepared for a big job, I have a full assortment of tools, engine hoist, shop press, welding/cutting, etc. And if things go really bad I can always use my schools machine shop to build something. Thanks again.

 

[Dogsluvtrux]

Hey, Thanks for the response. I will have to investigate the output of the replacement motor then. I am prepared for a big job, I have a full assortment of tools, engine hoist, shop press, welding/cutting, etc. And if things go really bad I can always use my schools machine shop to build something. Thanks again.

Use LED lights, you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[peter94]

Use LED lights, you shouldn't have a problem.

Any place you know of that has LED lights for less than 200 bucks per fixture? I am actually getting 4 55W fixtures including shipping for 50 bucks (also includes relays and switches). I will just have to make sure I can find an engine with a high power stator. Maybe even add an alternator or something.

 

[Tazza]

Any place you know of that has LED lights for less than 200 bucks per fixture? I am actually getting 4 55W fixtures including shipping for 50 bucks (also includes relays and switches). I will just have to make sure I can find an engine with a high power stator. Maybe even add an alternator or something.

The other way of looking at it is, how many hours do you expect to be running the machine at night? i know i never work at night, but there are times on dusk when you're working, so its only for say 30 mins or so. The battery would have enough reserved power to make up the difference from the internal alternator. The next time you run the machine, it would top the battery up.
Just a thought, adding an alternator is an option too, it would give you heaps of power to top off the battery and keep the lights going.
When you do the engiune swap, remember to take pictures! lots of them

 

[Dogsluvtrux]

The other way of looking at it is, how many hours do you expect to be running the machine at night? i know i never work at night, but there are times on dusk when you're working, so its only for say 30 mins or so. The battery would have enough reserved power to make up the difference from the internal alternator. The next time you run the machine, it would top the battery up.
Just a thought, adding an alternator is an option too, it would give you heaps of power to top off the battery and keep the lights going.
When you do the engiune swap, remember to take pictures! lots of them

I'm hesitant to run the battery down on small engines. I've run into the issue on commercial mowers when mowing smaller properties with a 60" cut, the charging system isn't up to the task of recharging the battery in 10-15 mins, so after mowing four or five smaller properties the battery gets pretty weak. Once you get to a larger property, the charging system runs full out for 45 mins to recharge the battery and you fry your voltage regulators (had a customer with this issue...five voltage regulators before we figured it out). Most small air cooled engines under 20hp will have a 13-15amp charging system...check and see if you can swap out the stator and upgrade to a 20-25amp system...that should give you the ability to at least run two lights without issues. Check smallenginewarehouse.com as well...I've used them to swap out small older gas engines for customers, their kits are fairly complete with little modifications needed.

 

[peter94]

I'm hesitant to run the battery down on small engines. I've run into the issue on commercial mowers when mowing smaller properties with a 60" cut, the charging system isn't up to the task of recharging the battery in 10-15 mins, so after mowing four or five smaller properties the battery gets pretty weak. Once you get to a larger property, the charging system runs full out for 45 mins to recharge the battery and you fry your voltage regulators (had a customer with this issue...five voltage regulators before we figured it out). Most small air cooled engines under 20hp will have a 13-15amp charging system...check and see if you can swap out the stator and upgrade to a 20-25amp system...that should give you the ability to at least run two lights without issues. Check smallenginewarehouse.com as well...I've used them to swap out small older gas engines for customers, their kits are fairly complete with little modifications needed.

Hey, Thanks for the info. I was doing some research and the Kohler Command Pro 18HP comes standard with a 20 amp chargin system. 4 lights x 55w per light = 220 total watts. 220watts/12volts =18.3 amps. So it will be pretty close to max load. However the chance of all 4 lights being operated at the same time is pretty slim like previously mentioned. Of course this may be used for some light plowing work around the farm, and now it is dark by the time you get home from work. I do think the battery will absorb alot of the load, and worst case I think I can change the bulbs in the fixture to 35 watts, or only have 1 forward facing fixture, and 1 rearward facing fixture. I'll be sure to take pictures. Thanks

 

[frogfarmer]

Hey, Thanks for the info. I was doing some research and the Kohler Command Pro 18HP comes standard with a 20 amp chargin system. 4 lights x 55w per light = 220 total watts. 220watts/12volts =18.3 amps. So it will be pretty close to max load. However the chance of all 4 lights being operated at the same time is pretty slim like previously mentioned. Of course this may be used for some light plowing work around the farm, and now it is dark by the time you get home from work. I do think the battery will absorb alot of the load, and worst case I think I can change the bulbs in the fixture to 35 watts, or only have 1 forward facing fixture, and 1 rearward facing fixture. I'll be sure to take pictures. Thanks

All the above info is correct but if you try to run your charging system at full capacity it will fail quickly. The charge systems operate well at half their rated capacity. They operate at full capacity for short periods of time to charge the start drain. As stated above commercial mowing crews often have regulator and some stator failures due to heavily taxed charging systems. After years of servicing comercial lawn equipment I would not reccomend the Honda or the Vanguard engines. Kohler and Kawasaki have considerably fewer claims in the comercial market. The standard Briggs engines actually have fewer problems than the vanguards but they wont hold together for 1000hrs. I would install a Kohler because product support is better.

 

[peter94]

All the above info is correct but if you try to run your charging system at full capacity it will fail quickly. The charge systems operate well at half their rated capacity. They operate at full capacity for short periods of time to charge the start drain. As stated above commercial mowing crews often have regulator and some stator failures due to heavily taxed charging systems. After years of servicing comercial lawn equipment I would not reccomend the Honda or the Vanguard engines. Kohler and Kawasaki have considerably fewer claims in the comercial market. The standard Briggs engines actually have fewer problems than the vanguards but they wont hold together for 1000hrs. I would install a Kohler because product support is better.

Thanks for the info on Kohler! We want a good engine in this thing, so it can last for years to come. I think what I will do is run 2 lights in the front, and 1 rearward facing light. That will equate to 9 amps (less than 50% duty cycle) when the front ones are on, and 13.75 amps when all 3 are on, which probably wont happen alot. I do also have to leave room for the eletronic clutch too, which I cant imagine drawing too much current, but I have to allow for it anyway.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Thanks for the info on Kohler! We want a good engine in this thing, so it can last for years to come. I think what I will do is run 2 lights in the front, and 1 rearward facing light. That will equate to 9 amps (less than 50% duty cycle) when the front ones are on, and 13.75 amps when all 3 are on, which probably wont happen alot. I do also have to leave room for the eletronic clutch too, which I cant imagine drawing too much current, but I have to allow for it anyway.

That is really over kill for lighting, Get youself some lower wattage light for the the rear. Remeber you not doing 50 mph. 30 watt lights forward, halogen if possible should be sufficient. To the rear even less.
Ken

 

[peter94]

That is really over kill for lighting, Get youself some lower wattage light for the the rear. Remeber you not doing 50 mph. 30 watt lights forward, halogen if possible should be sufficient. To the rear even less.
Ken

Skidsteer.ca, You are probably correct. However my Father-In-Law to be likes alot of light (and so do I for that matter). The main reason I'm going with 55w is because I was able to get a good deal on them. I can get 2 Lights/bulbs, switches, and relays for $20. I can probably put 35W bulbs in them anyway. But they are nice commercial fixtures too.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Skidsteer.ca, You are probably correct. However my Father-In-Law to be likes alot of light (and so do I for that matter). The main reason I'm going with 55w is because I was able to get a good deal on them. I can get 2 Lights/bulbs, switches, and relays for $20. I can probably put 35W bulbs in them anyway. But they are nice commercial fixtures too.

I hear you on both counts and agree, but you have to have the watts to use them or you will have dim lights running at a low voltage. A external belt drive alternator would be a better bet but there is more hassels installing of course.
Ken