power 2 weight???

[srg121]

take for example this 25 horse kohler @125 lb 25hp Kohler Engine ES 1-7/16 Command Oil Filter CH730-_ - eBay (item 140207233555 end time Feb-18-08 13:25:23 PST) compared too this 31 horse briggs @ 170lb. 31hp Briggs-Stratton Engine ES 1-1/8 Vanguard Oil Filt_ - eBay (item 140207231260 end time Feb-18-08 13:20:26 PST) how much horsepower does it take too overcome the 45lb weight difference?? also have to take into consideration the added ground pressure to possibly only a 2-3 horsepower gain after deducting the power too weight loss?? a tweaked small block may ultimately be more effective than a big block....after all weight is our enemy!!!what do you guys think????????

[George]

Hey SRG. I just put together a few numbers. I assumed each engine in a 600lb machine, then divided the HP into the weights of each machine (600) plus the engine weights either (125lb or 170lb). I run Attex which is about 600lb. They are much lighter than either the Max 2 or the Argo. Anyway, the 25hp engine would be moving 29lbs of machine for every horse, the the 31 hp machine would be 24.5lbs for every horse. That's about 15% hp/weight gain with the heavier engine.

Any tweaking you can do to a small block you can do to a big block.

I've always been told by gear heads that there is no replacement for displacement when it comes to hp gains. Aside from boring out the cylinders which you can only do so far) the only way to increase displacement is to increase the engine size.

If you want to take advantage of lower hp/weight ratios, you need to make the machine lighter...as light as an Attex.

Of course, our lighter machines are more prone to nuisances like bent axles and brittle ABS bodies.

[Meinfield]

I think that 170 lb weight is packaged shipping weight. My 31hp briggs does not have an air cleaner or muffler, and I can lift it into the machine. It is a fairly light engine, (much lighter than the single cylinder cast iron kohler engine that was originally in the hustler) and I will try and weight it and post some info. I think Briggs lists the dry weight without muffler at 125 lbs.
In my application I am more interested in torque than total Hp (and weight while a concern, is not critical). Torque is a better indication of the ability to do work, especially in our machines that are typically not high speed and operate at lower rpms. Peak HP is usually made at relatively high rpms while peak torque is made much lower in the rpm range. Our machines need that stump-pulling low end, and the big block briggs power curve matches that nicely. The big kohlers like the 40hp are even better.
But all that being said, I am a big fan of the small blocks! They are small, lite and relatively inexpensive to build. I have a Kohler 44ci(25hp) block I plan to build for my next hustler project.
Hope this helps!

[Matt O.]

Hi Everyone,
I am running the new Kohler 40 HP with over 60 foot pounds of torque. This engine only weighs 130 pouinds. The 40 Kohler will also rev up to 4,000 RPM'S without any damage. This engine brings the six and eight wheelers alive!!!
Matt

[mudbug3]

Matt ,

The video you said that you will be posting soon , is this a new video , other than the short video clip , from the Hasin acreas ride , that John Swab took ?

[srg121]

Hi Everyone,
I am running the new Kohler 40 HP with over 60 foot pounds of torque. This engine only weighs 130 pouinds. The 40 Kohler will also rev up to 4,000 RPM'S without any damage. This engine brings the six and eight wheelers alive!!!
Matt

how much was the 40h.did it come with exhaust,what is alternator rating and where did you find best deal???thanks for the input everyone.....lookin like a big blocks the way to go for me!!!!!!!!!!