Hi GeekBoy,
I usually end up being a little bit like a target in many circles. I'd
like to set up the bull's-eye
on me for my reply to your very good and honest question.
One of the things people here seem to have forgotten is that the word
Diesel is used in two
different ways around here.
First way the word Diesel is used -and obviously the default default way
around here- the word diesel identifies
a method of ignition that uses the
heat of compressing a gas (not gasoline, but something
in it's gaseous state) to ignite a fuel.
This is how diesel engines work. When the compression stroke
compresses the gases in the
combustion chamber they increase in temperature. If you
have high enough compression and
the cycle can be done faster than the heat is wicked
away; you can use this heat to ignite a
fuel that you inject into it.
Second way the word Diesel is used -not obviously thought of often
around here- it is also a fuel that was designed to
be burned in engines that use the Diesel Ignition System
to ignite it.
Some irony exists here. This is the newsgroup that speaks of bio-diesel
and running vegetable oils in their diesel engines.
This would make vegetable oil a Diesel Fuel for them. Hopefully they
don;t fry their chickens in Exxon Diesel Fuel !!
You can run gasoline in a diesel engine. It won't sound good or last long,
but it can be done. If you ran a diesel on
methanol, it would still be running -though not for long. The diesel
ignition temperatures will ignite a wide range of fuels.
Unfortunately most fuels are not acceptable for using in a diesel long term.
They either don't have the lubricating properties,
octane (hexane) ratings, as well as a lot of other issues. You will note
that on a really cold day, some people spray a little
bit of starting fluid into the intake of a diesel to start it. When this
happens; it is running on ether. That doesn't make it an ether
engine -or conversely- it doesn't make ether a diesel fuel (even though it
will run a diesel ignited engine). Ask a firefighter that
is worth his salt about driving his engine, and he will tell you of the
hazards of driving a diesel into thick smoke or other fuel rich
atmospheres.... the engine will run away from you because it is getting
plenty of fuel without having any injected. Some stories
of the past; speak of driving dump trucks down a hill. When the driver lets
off of the accelerator peddle, the engine (old and worn
out, barely enough compression to run) sucks up engine oil from the crank
case and runs away with it. Imagine getting out
of the Rockies and when you wanted to stop, it accelerates on you..
aaarrrgghhh.
Your question was "anyone know of a kit or way to convert these over to
diesel?"
If you mean to convert them over to run on the diesel ignition
system -it is not practical because they are deigned with too little
compression. You would need to re-design and rebuild it to meet
this objective. With all of the parts in a BS designed for
running on gasoline pressures you won;t find any part worth
re-using in your new engine anyway. You will end up in-front
of a lathe with a big new hunk of metal. Since starting from
scratch just to get the diesel ignition system to work is ridiculous,
don;t bother. (my suggestion, though someone COULD do it -I'm sure)
BUT if you meant "can I run my Briggs & Stratton on the fuel designed
for diesel engines.... THAT is another issue.
Some of the problems on using diesel fuel in a B&S sound funny; for
they require you to lower your compression in the
engine to get it to run correctly. Quite a few years ago I
researched this issue as well. B&S had, themselves, issued a
paper on running one of their engines on diesel fuel.
As I remember it, you need to:
Double up on your head gasket (this was to lower the compression
and lessen the detonation damage from the fuel)
Expect about a 50% decreased horsepower (from the rating) from
your engine.
Expect to re-adjust carburation settings.
Expect plugs to foul more often (especially if you are stopping
it and starting it often)
It runs best in a warm engine. If you can start on another -more
volatile- fuel, then switch over, you may save on some
severe rope pulling.
Try the hottest plug you can get for it.
Don;t expect simplicity, or perfection, but PLEASE DO try it.
Everyone in this group would love to know how it turned out. Not
that they would ever use one, but you never know when
the flood will come-in, and you would love to do SOMETHING to
pump yourself out. Gas might not always be around,
but a resourceful survivor like you might just have a tank of
diesel fuel... or home heating oil around. But if you end up down
to these levels ... just convert your B&S into a Stirling
Cycle Engine and burn ANY crap to run it. :=>
LET THE ARROWS FLY !!!!
