14 hp Briggs, performance parts or replace?

[james8719]

First off, there is nothing wrong with my 14 hp Vanguard, I just want more power. I don't need huge, just something in the 18 to 20 hp range. The question is, would I be money ahead just getting an 18 hp or make modifications to my 14? What will it take to get 18 hp out of my 14 hp? I know the difference between the 14 and 16 is the carburetor, what will it take to get the other 2 hp? All opinions welcome.

jim

[goldhunter_2]

I am not big on the briggs, but have always believed if you think you want or need bigger start with the bigger engine then hop it up. that is my theory anyway. I would image this is true to the briggs as with rotax or yamahas , there are always things that can be done for example bigger and dual carbs, porting, stroking changing rods , pistons , heads, exhaust, dual plug, big boring it or at least max bore for the sleeves you have

all and all you would be easier just starting with a bigger engine in my opinion

[GREASEMONKEY]

X2 on the bigger enginefrom the start!

[pgjeepster]

Go with the bigger engine to get the power you want all too often when you start to modify something the cost can run over quickly. There is also the chance of stressing the smaller motor and running into reliability problems, again go with a bigger motor in the power range you want and keep it stock the way it was designed to be run with confidence.

[Roger S]

Get an 18 -23. Then build it.

[REELLS]

Hey Roger,
Where did you get that tach? What kind is it? I've looked all over but have not been able to find one. Bob E.

[jpswift1]

James, the difference in displacement of the 14-16HP Briggs is 480cc compared tothe 18HP Briggs which is 570cc. Those 90cc's might only be 2 horsepower, but you must also consider the torque. If you will be climbing very long steep hills with two people and a full load on your Max II, you might want the 18HP, but I have seen 16HP and 14HP Max II's do very well in the same conditions, but it isnt something that you would win a race doing. Try it out for a while and see if the engine suites your needs, if not, I would be glad to buy your 14HP for one of my projects.

First off, there is nothing wrong with my 14 hp Vanguard, I just want more power. I don't need huge, just something in the 18 to 20 hp range. The question is, would I be money ahead just getting an 18 hp or make modifications to my 14? What will it take to get 18 hp out of my 14 hp? I know the difference between the 14 and 16 is the carburetor, what will it take to get the other 2 hp? All opinions welcome.

jim

[james8719]

Thanks for the replies! So far the general consensus is go bigger from the get go. The old axiom holds true, there is no replacement for displacement.
jpswift1, I think i'll start with your advise. The max is new to me so I will just use it for a while before I deem it too small.

Jim

[Roger S]

Hi Bob, long time, no see! Loked at your profile.. you don't have to man the boilers any more? Buy some k rims and come play! The tach is Equus brand. Ordered it on line from a kohler pulling site, then found it at local parts store for less . They make a couple styles and sizes, a smaller diameter which maybe I should have got. I'll look up the model.. has to be specific to work on the briggs.

[liflod]

Me, being the cheap bastard that I am, would try some mods on the 14 and see if it does what you want it to do. Dropping several hundred dollars on a different engine and then adding a few more hundred dollars in parts just doesn't make a lot of $ense to me.

I know Brandon P. did some mods to a 14 HP a few years back and he seemed quite pleased with the results.

[Roger S]

If you're mechanically inclined and have more time than $, the vanguard is a fun project. It has so much potential, I was really surprised. A few budget mods would be thin head gaskets and a decent exhaust, richen the mainjets a tad. Set the govenor to 4000. Advance the timing a little. Run 91-93 octane. Could also shave the heads a little. The stock compression is around 8.5. You can also put smaller chamber 14-16 heads on an 18-20 to get the compression up. Beyond that, it's time to liberally start throwing hundred $ bills at it.

[goldhunter_2]

be carefully on the compression we deal with that on the airboats all the time once you go over 8.5 or 9 to 1 they heat up and hard to start until the engine cools off or higher compression you need to run a AV gas . with a little research he could probally also stroke the engine

[Roger S]

If you have hot cranking trouble, it's the stock briggs starter with magnets instead of field coil windings that's the problem, the magnets get heat soaked and lose it.
Briggs makes a real starter and steel ring gear to match. I'm surprised you guys have trouble cranking with a stock cam. Usually replacing the cam and losing the built in compression release is what forces the starter upgrade. I run around 10 to 1 and the guys I know run 11 or higher.

[james8719]

After trying out the stock 14 Briggs, here is what I came up with; the 14 is a good motor and has done what I asked of it. The problem is, when you add more weight( passenger and gear), it just doesn't have enough oomph. I am adding a winch, roll bar, and windshield so I want more HP and torque. I contacted George Herrin and he suggested billet rods, heavier valve springs, stronger spring retainers, a cam and remove the governor. I have the new parts on hand and the engine is getting an upgrade. George said the engine should produce 30 hp.

I couldn't bring myself to spend $1500 on a bigger engine and then drop several hundred more on building it. I will have $500 in the upgrade. I will keep you posted on the results.

[jpswift1]

Hey James, sorry if Im repeating someone's previous post, but you could simply purchase a 16HP Vanguard carb off ebay and get 2 extra ponies for a very low cost on top of it. I bought a very low hours 14HP Vanguard off ebay at a really good price and I upgraded the carb to a 16HP carb right away (since both the 14HP and 16HP are the same 480cc displacement) Im putting it in my green Attex. That machine isnt very heavy so Im hoping it will be powerful enough for what Im looking to do with it. Also, what kind of machine is your 14HP Vanguard in? Let us know how those performance parts work out for you, Im interested to hear about it. You could also try changing the clutch spring in the driven clutch on the T-20 for more usable engine RPM's in the low end. Take a look at that post. Hope this helps.

http://www.6x6world.com/forums/transmissions/313-red-green-clutch-springs.html