Ok it is time to assemble my MAX 18V eng. help please

[superherojohn]

Ok so i bought a MAX II with a blown Rockwell 440. (The Rockwell 440 is for sale if anyone wants a parts engine {model 2F 440 7}. Pick up is preferred zip is 21015).

OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW.

I bought an B&S 18 HP Vanguard it was orginally on a water pump.
Model 350447
Type 1080 A1
Code 95011911

Now I need to mate all the pieces together.
1) So the clutch needs to swapped from the rockwell to the B&S
Will it fit? the shaft doesn't look tapered? The shaft doesn't have a key way. Do I need a wheel puller or will removing the bolt on the end of the shaft on the comet centrifigal clutch allow it to be taken it off?

Ideas?

[rdr]

super you will need a 4 stroke cluch and 4 stroke motor mounts the 2 strokes cluch will rev the briggs to hard and i don't thank it is the same shaft anyway . great chorce on the 18 briggssssssssss love them robbie

[superherojohn]

What is the right Comet Duster Clutch for an 18hp Vanguard?

So what Clutch do I need?

[rdr]

super i am no expert on the 2 to 4 conversion but i know the 2 cluthch will not work on a 4 max ruleshas done several of these and can help with advice robbie

[eddieb1965]

Super,I think a pump engine will have a threaded shaft for an impeller to thread on.Is your crankshaft threaded on the pto side? If it is then you need to find a straight keyed shaft motor. Eddie

[superherojohn]

Can I just change out the crank shaft?

I have the engine already. So I need a plan "B"
I'm planning to call Comet and talk to a tech Rep. tomorrow to see if they have a bolt on solution for the clutch. If I have to alter the shaft what are my options? milling in a 1/4" key is no big deal. Switching out the crank shaft with a keyed shaft might also work. Ideas?

[Roger S]

A crank is $150 or less.

A Model 350447 shows as a tapered shaft, closer to 4" long(is that right?), opposed to what max and argo use at 3"- keyed. I can get you a crankshaft # if you go that way.

[superherojohn]

Do you think I could turn down the crank and sleeve it?

I am the king of stupid ideas and I invite you kick holes in this idea. What if I pull the crank and turn it down to 3/4" and sleeve it with a keyed shaft? This wouldn't be much more work than replacing the crank and the $150.00 would pay for turning the crank.

[eddieb1965]

How are you going to keep the sleeve tight? I think it would work itself loose and eventually cause problems.Before all this effort,I would find the correct crankshaft.Might as well build it up the correct way because later on down the line,you would have specialized parts to refab.Eddie Same issue on the clutch,buy one that you could use on your next engine.

[superherojohn]

Life is good when you know a good machine shop!!!

I went to my friendly neighborhood machine shop and talked out the problem.
The shaft is not tapered it just looks that way because of a step in the shaft where it enters the caseing. Without removing the shaft from the engine, Rick my machinist, can drill and tap the shaft and cut a 1/4" x 1/8" keyway. The engine will have to be mounted a little differently so the belts line up because the stepped shaft causes the shaft length to be too long. The Salisbury 780 Clutch will still work.

My brother's company does a lot of business with the shop so I called in a favior and this looks like a $50 fix. Things can still go wrong but I have breathed a sigh of relief having solved my first problem.

I have learned long ago all of the cool metal stuff that we take for granted day after day was once worked on by some dude with some really cool machines and with the proper application of money you can pay to get it changed to what you need.

Thanks to all for advice.