1983 Hustler 950 V-twin transplant

[Stonewall]

I've made a good amount of progress in the last few days, it's almost ready to go. Most of the wiring is finished, but I'm still waiting on some switches to finish the dash. The upper and lower bodies are sealed and bolted together with the body band. The rear grill is mostly complete, but I still have to attach the hinge for the rear seat. I was all excited about starting the engine for the first time this afternoon, but for some reason I don't seem to be getting any fire. Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the Vanguard? I'm not sure if I wired everything up properly. The fuel solenoid wire puzzled me a little bit, so I'm not sure if I have everything right.

List of things to finish:

Upper body wiring and dash
Windshield
Front floor
Put sending unit in gas tank
Run fuel line
Build rear grill/seat hinge
Add light brackets to body band
Paint body band
Build fan shroud
Put oil in engine
Bolt it all together
Stand back and admire
Test Drive!!!!

[Stonewall]

Oh yeah, its got 6 tires now

[swamp donkey]

Looks like it's all coming together.

[renegade83]

[Stonewall]

I really need some advice from those of you who run Vanguards. I am trying to get mine started for the first time, but for some reason I'm not getting any fire. I don't understand why. The engine is properly grounded, and I'm pretty sure I have everything wired up properly, but still nothing.

[Mike]

On Brigg's site, they have an alternator replacement guide that has most of their different wiring schematics in it starting around page 20 or so: Alternator Replacement Guide & Wiring Diagram. You should be able to find the one that is applicable to yours somewhere. Also, if you enter the serial number of your engine on their site here: Small Engine Manuals | Lawn Mower Manuals | Briggs & Stratton I believe it will give you a manual that may include the wiring diagram as well.

On a simpler note, make sure your master kill switch isn't wired in backwards.

[Stonewall]

On Brigg's site, they have an alternator replacement guide that has most of their different wiring schematics in it starting around page 20 or so: Alternator Replacement Guide & Wiring Diagram. You should be able to find the one that is applicable to yours somewhere. Also, if you enter the serial number of your engine on their site here: Small Engine Manuals | Lawn Mower Manuals | Briggs & Stratton I believe it will give you a manual that may include the wiring diagram as well.

On a simpler note, make sure your master kill switch isn't wired in backwards.

Thanks Mike, I actully managed to figure out the problem shortly after I posted the question.... And you posted exactly what I did wrong.

When I wired everything up behind the dash, I wired it up like every other ignition system I've ever worked on; positive to the coils off the ignition switch. After trying to get the thing to start without success yesterday afternoon, I went in search of the wiring diagram. That's when I found out that I had it backwards. This ignition setup is completely foreign to me, never seen such an animal! I changed the "ignition" switch over to a grounding switch, thinking that would fix my problem. It didn't. I spent most of the day trying to figure out how the coils were being grounded. I discovered that when the "kill wire" was removed from one of the coils, I got tons of spark, but when they were hooked up, nothing. (I also discovered that this engine runs very well on only one cylinder, while shocking me with the plug I'm holding while trying frantically to shut it off.....) That was about the time I posted the question. After posting I tried Google one more time, and came across something that said that there are diodes in the kill wire to keep the coils isolated from each other... So I pull the wire, and found the two diodes that I fried with the backwards wiring. I called the "local" lawnmower guy, and he dug around and found one of the wires. 60 miles round trip and $15 later, IT LIVES!!!!!!!! I will post a short video a little later.

[Stonewall]

Here is the video I promised. After all the time I've put into this thing, it's sooooo nice to finaly get some gratification! I even took it for a short ride!

I need to adjust the idle speed, it's idling at about 1600~1700 RPM, which is about the engagement speed of the clutch. Those of you who run tachometers, what is your idle RPM set at? I'm also thinking of removing the governor linkage for better control, and just setting a stop at about 4500 RPM no load. What are y'all using for throttle levers and cables? I had a Max IV cable and lever, but the plastic lever just crumbled yesterday. I have it set up with an old 3 wheeler brake lever right now, but it doesn't have enough pull, so I only get about half throttle. Any tips or advice are much appreciated! Enjoy the video!

[jpswift1]

Stonewall, that sounds great! You won't believe the power of that engine once you take it out for a ride. I thought the 18HP Vanguard in my Max II was a torque monster, but then when I put the 627cc Briggs Vanguard in my Hustler BIGFOOT I was blown away by the fact that it could easily spin all 6 Vampire ASX tires, or climb huge hills with 4 people in the machine.

Your best bet for a throttle cable and handle is to upgrade to a new aluminum Max handle with a Max IV cable. They made some changes and upgraded them and now I use them on every machine I own. They're very durable and will last a long time.

[Stonewall]

Your best bet for a throttle cable and handle is to upgrade to a new aluminum Max handle with a Max IV cable. They made some changes and upgraded them and now I use them on every machine I own. They're very durable and will last a long time.

I think that's what I had! I know I have a Max IV cable, and the handle has an aluminum base with a black plastic lever, but the lever just fell apart yesterday! I went to pull it and it crumbled in my hand! I was going to just use some sort of ATV brake lever, but it seems that they don't have enough throw. With what I have now I only get about 2500 RPM pulling the lever all the way back to the grip. Also, do you have any thoughts on removing the governor linkage? How is your linkage set up on the engine?

[jpswift1]

I think that's what I had! I know I have a Max IV cable, and the handle has an aluminum base with a black plastic lever, but the lever just fell apart yesterday! I went to pull it and it crumbled in my hand! I was going to just use some sort of ATV brake lever, but it seems that they don't have enough throw. With what I have now I only get about 2500 RPM pulling the lever all the way back to the grip. Also, do you have any thoughts on removing the governor linkage? How is your linkage set up on the engine?

OK, so you just need the plastic handle. I might have one laying around. If so, it's yours, just pay shipping. You need to do one imporant thing with that Vanguard before you run it........call Recreatives up and get the correct govenor spring for it. They'll know just what you're talking about when you mention it. I did that on mine and it works great and revs like it should.

[Stonewall]

OK, so you just need the plastic handle. I might have one laying around. If so, it's yours, just pay shipping. You need to do one imporant thing with that Vanguard before you run it........call Recreatives up and get the correct govenor spring for it. They'll know just what you're talking about when you mention it. I did that on mine and it works great and revs like it should.

Thanks JP! If you don't find one, that's OK, I may just try to make a brake lever work. It's actully a little more comfortable in my hand anyway. I'll call R.I. this afternoon, I need a couple other small things from them.

[renegade83]

man that thing is a beast! can't wait to see some action videos of it, nice work

[Stonewall]

man that thing is a beast! can't wait to see some action videos of it, nice work

Thanks! I can't wait to make some action videos! Maybe this weekend I'll get something up.

[highrollinmopars]

Looing great Stonewall!!!!

If youll need some more wiring diagrams these where helpful when I was wiring up my vangaurd.
Briggs Vanguard Wiring