22 HP Predator in a Hustler

[dirtdobber]

Hey fellow Hustler owners. I have a question. I am considering the 22 horse predator for my Hustler 950. My current engine has some problems....but I'll create another post on that.

My question is this: Will the 22 horse predator fit in the engine bay without having to chop up the engine cover? If someone out there has a machine with a predator, could you take some pics and give me an idea of clearances between the top of the engine and the engine cover hinge support brace?

Thanks in advance.

[fmints]

Hey fellow Hustler owners. I have a question. I am considering the 22 horse predator for my Hustler 950. My current engine has some problems....but I'll create another post on that.

My question is this: Will the 22 horse predator fit in the engine bay without having to chop up the engine cover? If someone out there has a machine with a predator, could you take some pics and give me an idea of clearances between the top of the engine and the engine cover hinge support brace?



Thanks in advance.

Hello Dirtdobber. I have a 980 tall tub with a 23hp Kohler in it, PLENTY of space for a v-twin. I know that a 950 is shorter than 980 tall tub, but I'm sure that someone has put a twin in one before. If I am correct, the 22 hp Predator has the same mount bolt pattern as a Briggs, and it can't be that much taller if any than any Briggs or Kohler V-twin. You can always measure the inside height of your Hustler to the underside of the engine cover, and compare your measurements to the measurements posted of the 22 hp Predator on the Harbor Freight Website. I seriously don't think that you will have any issues, but it is of course worth the research!! Good luck buddy and I hope that it works, cause I've seen that Predator in a few machines on rides, and it is for sure a confident and reliable performer!!

[dirtdobber]

Thanks Fmints. I'm currently running an opposed twin, not a V twin. Even the opposed stands pretty tall such that the air cleaner cover is only about 1/8 of an inch from the engine cover hinge brace. BUT, I have the opposed mounted a little higher to create more tub clearance with the slope of the back of the tub. And, it is probably set back further than a V twin would have to be.

I didn't see any details on the HF website. If all else fails, I'll swing by HF and take some measurements from the display model.

[Noel Woods]

I have a Hustler 950 with a 21HP B&S, I will do some measuring today and get back, however I think it should fit. Meanwhile you may want to research the height of the Predator vs the B&S.

Here is the update on the B&S, it measures: 12.52"L, 16.02" W, 17.68"High, there is about a 1.5" gap from the top of the breather to the bottom of the engine cover. There are several inches to play with in length and width. I couldn't find any size dimensions regarding the Predator 22, so you may have to make a trip to Harbor Freight and take measurements.

I placed a couple of digitals in my gallery for the Hustler 950. I think you will be ok as several folks have fitted these in Max2 machines without much effort. The 950 has a body line in the upper body that could serve to mount a spacer in if you needed a bit more clearance.

[dirtdobber]

Thank you Noel. That is helpful. I will swing by HF

[ARGOJIM]

Thank you Noel. That is helpful. I will swing by HF

Base it off this, HF forgot this in the manual, I got rid of the box.

http://www.tulsaenginewarehouse.com/catalog/honda/hondagraphics/gx670draw.jpg

[dirtdobber]

Base it off this, HF forgot this in the manual, I got rid of the box

Thanks Jim. That's a handy piece of information. That motor is 18 inches tall, which is about 2 inches taller than my opposed. I"m going to stick the opposed back together and run it until it blows! Quite frankly, it will probably run forever.