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MACHINERY AND MORE Choosing the best piece of tree care equipment relies on its engine By Br ad Murph y PICK YOUR T ree care equipment is tough stuff. Whether it’s a chipper, stump grinder or log splitter, these pieces are built durable and designed to handle the most demanding conditions. And it only makes sense that the better it’s built,the more reliable it will be. Yet it’s amazing that more customers don’t always pay attention to the most crucial components when choosing equipment — the engine. All tree care professionals ultimately want the best piece of equipment that will last, not just through the end of the day, but for years to come.After all, productivity and equipment return on investment (ROI) are among the most important factors to any contractor. Sure, it’s necessary to look at factors such as a grinder’s teeth, a splitter’s wedge height, or a chipper’s knives when mak- ing the final purchasing decision. But few stop to consider the driving force behind the equipment. Choosing the right engine is crucial when selecting a piece of outdoor power equipment, both for performance and efficiency on the jobsite, as well as the overall bottom line and ROI. These days, most manufacturers offer equipment with multiple engine options, and dealers and rental centers are taking the initia- tive to stock more than one brand of engine.Although options are great, they can also complicate things, leaving customers to decide on the engine choice that best meets their needs. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. Selecting the best engine simply comes down to knowing what features to look for. Factors such as design technology, quality components and added features will all add up to a better engine — and a more reliable, more powerful piece of equipment. Engine design Most engines used in large tree care equipment will offer one of two designs — pushrod overhead valve (OHV) or overhead camshaft (OHC).Both offer benefits and advanced features,but each operates differently and will affect the equipment’s performance. Pushrod OHV engines boast the ability to provide exceptional power and performance in a small package by offering an efficiently configured combustion chamber. The pushrod OHV design has been popular since the mid ‘80s in general-purpose air-cooled 20 Arbor Age / April 2011 MACHINERY AND MORE POWER A cylinder with a cast-iron lining will wear much better than one constructed of a softer material such as aluminum —prolonging engine life. engines, and has proven itself as a successful and durable design. But just like cell phones, computers and automobiles, technology continues to advance. And another design has been picking up popularity in more recent years. Some engine manufacturers have begun to offer OHC tech- nology on smaller engines used for various pieces of outdoor power equipment, including landscape, garden and tree care products. This type of configuration places the camshaft within the cylinder head, above the combustion chamber, allowing the valves to be driven in a more direct manner compared with OHV designs. The placement also eliminates the need for pushrods, the driving force in OHV engines. In a nutshell, the OHC engine is carefully designed to run at an optimal level at all times — meaning the equipment that it is powering will too. OHC engines are easy starting, produce less noise, and offer superior power compared with other similar-class engines.They also lower fuel consumption and reduce emissions — crucial for www.arborage.com