Briggs Vanguard 14/16HP & 18/20HP Engine Upgrades and Identification

[liflod]

If you run it out the back, you need to remove the air cleaner to adjust it. I'm not sure how a bolt would work, but it may be worth a try.

[Regulator]

I posted a 20hp carb and intake in the for sale section if anyone one wants some quick power!

[Norbert77]

OK everyone, I'm going to try and help anyone out that might be wondering about upgrading or identifying the 14HP/16HP or 18/20HP Briggs Vanguard they have. This has been discussed before, but I'm going to lay out all the details for everyone.

First off, if you have a 14HP Briggs Vanguard in your Max or Argo and want 2HP more, inexpensively and easily, this is for you. This is also a good way to tell if you have a 14HP or 16HP Vanguard (I know, it usually says the HP on the air cleaner decal or you can trace it by the engine ID tag). The 14HP and 16HP are both 480cc engines and are pretty much the same with 2 minor differences. First, the 16HP has a slightly larger carburetor venturi. Pick up a 16HP carburetor (off ebay or Craigslist) for your 14HP Vanguard and bolt it right on. Next, remove the exhaust manifold and look in the exhaust ports. If you see one of these little power robbing b@stards in each of the ports, then you have a 14HP engine. All you have to do is simply remove these pieces of junk with some pliers and you're set. Now with the new carb and no restriction in the exhaust, you have a 16HP engine.

The same goes for the 18HP and 20HP Vanguards. They share the same displacement as each other, 570cc. The 18HP Vanguards have those darn exhaust restrictors in the exhaust ports of the heads and a smaller single barrel carb. The 20HP Vanguards don't have the restrictor rings and they have a 2 barrel carb, but you'll have to get the carb, intake manifold, carb spacer, and tin air cleaner bottom if you want to upgrade your 18HP to a 20HP engine.

Here's a picture of one of those power robbing restrictor rings found on the 14HP and 18HP Vanguards. After you remove them you'll want to turn the plastic tab on the carb for the fuel mixture to richen it up so you compensate for the freer flowing exhaust you now have.

I was looking at this little ring - tube thingie, to me it looks like a locating pin to keep the exhaust in place while it's being bolted up. The head seems larger where it goes, so it wouldn't add restriction. Are there pics of the exhaust ports compared?

[wjs0311]

I assume the answer is yes but we all know what happens when you assume... Will 14 hp heads fit on a 18 and will they give better compression than stock?

[jpswift1]

I assume the answer is yes but we all know what happens when you assume... Will 14 hp heads fit on a 18 and will they give better compression than stock?

Good question, I don't think they will but I can't say for sure. I think Performance V-Twins - Monroe, NC sells a copper head gasket kit to give you a slight bump in compression.

[Nubs]

I assume the answer is yes but we all know what happens when you assume... Will 14 hp heads fit on a 18 and will they give better compression than stock?

Yes and Yes

[Nubs]

Briggs 805653S steel head gasket is about 0.20 thinner than the copper

[wjs0311]

Thanks, I'll be throwing the 14 heads on the 18 and picking up a 23hp cam and rev kit. Waiting to get the go ahead from the boss on a intake/carb setup.

Also I'm fabing up a adjustable motor mount plate for the hustler.

[wjs0311]

Is there a need to re-jet the carb after putting 16hp heads on a 18hp? Engine won't run unless it is choked. I soaked the carb overnight and blew it out and it still doesn't want to run without the choke.

[Nubs]

Same jet, them carbs can be tricky to clean. gotta run small wire in the holes, had a few that never cleaned up right and swapped out a different one and it was fine

no vacuum leaks?

[wjs0311]

Same jet, them carbs can be tricky to clean. gotta run small wire in the holes, had a few that never cleaned up right and swapped out a different one and it was fine

no vacuum leaks?

I'll check for a leak tonight and if no leak then I'll take it off and run it through the sonic cleaner at work. It worked fine on the other engine but it had been sitting for a few weeks.

Maybe I'll tell my wife that I NEED a new carb so I can get the double barrel!

[DOZER09]

Hi would the carb# to convert a vanguard 14 hp to a 16 hp be # 845906 ?
Thank you in advance for the help

[ryanvv355]

Can anyone provide a part number of those small chamber cylinder heads? I've been watching eBay for awhile now and never see those. If it wasn't for the picture, I wouldn't believe they existed. Thanks.

[ARGOJIM]

Nubs,
Is this what derates the 16hp down to a 14hp, can the restrictor be removed without issues? I've pulled the exhaust restrictors. 303447-0326/9?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Briggs-Stratton-OHV-14HP-Vanguard-294447-Carburetor-Insulator-Spacer-690691/322167543031?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41375%26meid%3D17b6587642084f3eb80aaa4cf447dfc8%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D131229912003

[Nubs]

Yes, i like to just open them up and not remove them otherwise the linkage can operate funny sometimes.


I think the head on the left is what he's talkin' about, Briggs only made them for few yrs as far as i know and are hard to find. they use the old style rockers also, the head in the middle is common for the 14/16 both old and new new rocker mounting