Just picked up a Scrambler project.

[eddieb1965]

A bigger engine wont make it any faster,4 cycles should be governed to 3600-3800.I myself have mine set at 4150 RPM.The bigger engine will only make it get there faster and will make it turn easier.The only ways to increase overall speed is to increase engine RPM,or sprocket change,which would also put more load on a small engine.

[flippy]

I do believe a bigger engine will be faster,I know my scrambler became a tank once I put the flat twin briggs 16hp in it.Much faster but also heavier.I had to change to a full suspension tractor seat after going to a bigger engine because the scrambler was beating the crap out of me with the extra speed and th 6 new at101 tires,even with no air in the tires it still did not have the give of the old balloon tires.

[fmints]

I do believe a bigger engine will be faster,I know my scrambler became a tank once I put the flat twin briggs 16hp in it.Much faster but also heavier.I had to change to a full suspension tractor seat after going to a bigger engine because the scrambler was beating the crap out of me with the extra speed and th 6 new at101 tires,even with no air in the tires it still did not have the give of the old balloon tires.

I do agree, a bigger engine with more horses will make it faster while also making it heavy. The most noticeable thing that you will notice will be the torque and how much easier it will be to maneuver.

[eddieb1965]

It should only be faster to the set RPM.It wont be any faster overall unless other modifications are done,such as gearing,changing the engine RPM's,or a larger tire.Set Rpm's are set Rpm's that will control the overall speed.

[Flying Bone]

as im not looking for speed a 12 hp should work great then. i just want to have enough power to turn the tires in mud. it boggs with the 7 h.. i don't think i want to go fast in this tub. just almost anywhere. i have a 87 quadzilla for going fast.

[98XJSport]

As I never drove it with the factory engine, I'm not sure how much faster it is with a 16hp. I do know that the cost difference between a 12 and a 16 was small, so when in doubt go bigger is what I figured.

[98XJSport]

OK so I floated it today, I'll get video up when I can. Went well takes a little to get used to. But unfortunately as I was traveling towards shore, the belt shredded. How on earth do you get a belt on this thing?

[thebuggyman1]

Alot of older clutch based machines were like that.....the entire shaft must be removed. It was common to put 2 belts on it when the shaft was out, then wire one up out of the way for future use.

[98XJSport]

Yup, and it's still got the spare. I can't get the belt between the steering cylinder and the secondary, we started to try to take the secondary off but ran out of daylight. And for unknown reasons it's raining out, not supposed to be. Is there any trick to at least moving the secondary a bit so I can try the spare belt?

[98XJSport]

With daylight on my side we got things squared away by removing the steering cylinder block. Got it running again and then noticed that the front tire was ready to fall off. Turns out that turning is bending all the flanges that the lug adapter plates are bolted to. Got them all removed and. Will be machining them so they can be welded.

[flippy]

Cool-Eventually you will get all the problems ironed out and have one tough machine.-Made my lug adapters out of 1/4" diamond plate steel then welded them to the original hubs.I break a shear pin or bolt on the axle every now and then but thats about it.

[98XJSport]

Got the tires back on and took it for its first trail ride today. Interesting to drive that's for sure. Took a trail upriver and swam back. Other than tightening some chains things seem to be going well.

[flippy]

Cool!-I like my scrambler-Once you get the bugs ironed out they are fun machines.

[98XJSport]

Got this thing into a garage last week for cleanup. Messed around with it a bit this fall but could never really "trust" it due to needing a new belt. So this winter I'm going to get the chains straightened out, rebuild the motor mount, new throttle and choke cable brackets. Re-route all the wiring, and wire in a bilge pump, fuel pump, and headlights all into one switch panel. Then building flanges with a removable spacer so belt changes are no longer virtually impossible on the trail. Also installing a rear "hitch" mostly for just hauling a sled for ice fishing etc. If all that goes well, its on to building a rack for the back, and looking into getting the fiberglass fully repaired. One question though, has anyone ever mounted an atv winch on one of these? Will a large backing plate be strong enough to pull this thing out if I get it stuck, or is it just going to damage everything?

[flippy]

I had a atv winch mounted to my scrambler-I had it mounted to the steel body band I had made.It was in front and I yanked that scrambler over 20 times in one dark night!-I would turn into unknown territory only to end up climbing small trees because of no reverse I usually ended up winching straight up and over anything in my way-Never had a problem with the winch or the scrambler body.