27HP Kaw Max vs. Hot Roded 18HP Vanguard

[fulleraviation]

Hey Guys,

I finally have another MaxIV to ride with in Tallahassee. A friend bought a nice MaxIV with the 27HP Kawasaki and Super Terra Tires. As most might be aware, I have an 18 HP vanguard MaxIV with the long rod, shaved piston, and torque cam. Also the red spring, and high speed clutch. Not to mention the Vampire ASX tires.

Sided by side comparison: the 27Kaw runds about 22mph, my 18Van hits 32.5mph.

Steep climbs: I was able to outclimb the 27Kaw no problem. Some places the 27 Kaw couldn't even make it up.

Mud: With everything I could find, even clay, both machines performed well, neither of us got stuck. Both machines were able to navigate the nasty clay muck at about the same speed.

Deep Water test: the Super Terra's seemed to jump out of the water and as my past posts suggested outperformed the ASX 2:1. If memory serves, 1.5mph for the ASX and 3.2mph for the Supers.

Shallow (just barely floating) Water test: Once again the Super Terra's ran away from me. Rush the ASX's through shallow water and I loose all directional control.

Ride Comfort: The ASX's provide a much softer ride.

Additional observations:
The 27Hp Kaw does not have a pull starter
My pull starter even with the mods works well
My 18 is loud!! and the 27 is peaceful (might work on a better muffler)

In the end, I will gladly keep the ASX tires on my machine. Both engine packages seem to do well. Next time I am going to check my buddies belt width. He should really not have torque problems climbing anything, but who knows.

Later and Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays,
Rutledge

[Bud]

What do you think is driving the difference in performance between the Kaw and your tweaked Briggs? Is engine weight and its effects on the machine a factor?

[fulleraviation]

Probably not the weight due to the extra heavy ASX tires. There is a huge difference in the weight of the ASX tires vs. the Goodyears. MightymaxIV has a post somewhere on the weights of the tires I believe. So I believe we probably come in close to the same weight, plus I have a roll cage and winch and he does not.

I walk a delicate balance between torque and speed. Some of the others on here (the engine Guys) can probably say that I am making a good 25HP with my mods. I am not really sure.

I would recommend mods to an 18 Vanguard before I spent cash on a whole new engine.

Lter,
Rut

[Roger S]

The kawasaki max prolly needs some tweaking.. engine, clutches. I've talked to a guy who races air cooled kaws in mowers, and he says the water cooled kaws are very good engines, run forever. There are some parts for them, if I had the time I'd like to build a conquest fd620. Whipper's godzilla will show us what a water coooled kaw can do.

Your little vanguard.. it's just ridiculous how easy it is to make power with one.. to quote George Herrin, "Anyone can bolt in goodies and have 32-34 HP, no head work." That would be your engine with a 2 bbl and the timing advanced.