Small Engine - Repower - Replacement Engine
Repowering Questions and Answers

	V-Twin, Overhead Valve
	Better Fuel Economy
	Easy to Repower
	Runs smoother
	Uses an oil pump so the engine won't run dry on hills
	Lightweight-Feels like you have power steering
	Newer engines produce less emission
	We also repower with  the Briggs and Stratton Vanguard Engines in Bobcats Skid-Steer loaders, Power Washers, Gators, and Compact tractors.

Would you like help deciding?  Give Jim a call: 1-800-618-8738 or e-mail jim@jimsrepairjimstractors.com  Jim has overhauled, repaired, and repowered Briggs, Kohler, Onan, Tecumseh, Kawasaki, Wisconsin, Yanmar, Craftsman, and Honda engines.

Torque spec charts

New! Case Garden Tractor Repower/Engine Swap kits!

These engines are perfect for you "Do it Yourself" people.  If you have good equipment but the engine is  tired or has quit, you will love how it performs after a repower with one of these Briggs and Stratton Vanguards. Jim has done hundreds of transplants and specifically loves the Briggs and Stratton Vanguard engines.  They have worked great for repowers for  regular small engine applications, for Mods, garden tractor pullers, and Hotrods (Mini Rods).  He will put together a custom repower kit for your particular application.  You'll have something to brag about when you're done.  These engines have proven themselves for years.

Jim "Knows his stuff" when if comes to installing any kind of small engine in any type of equipment.  He asked someone from Montana why he called us, he said "They told me you're the  one who knows."  We have shipped these engines as far away as Alaska and Hawaii.



This John Deere 400 had a 20 HP Kohler engine and we repowered it with the 23 HP overhead valve, VTwin engine.



Great Dane Commercial lawn mower-repowered with an 18 Horse Power Vanguard engine.


 

If you would like to read even more about small engines and repowering them go to
our web log and visit the Small Engine Repower category

A:  Yes, a 140 John Deere garden tractor well earns it's way to get a nice engine transplant. The engine we use is the V Twin, overhead valve, Vanguard engines. It fits in the 140 real nice. I would recommend the 18 horse power. My own John Deere 140 garden tractor has the 14 horse power in it. We use it all the time and have for 32 years.  These engines are very good winter time starters, nice smooth, quiet running, and they sound like a baby Harley Davidson.

Q:  I would like to know if you ever tried to stuff the Vanguard 23 hp engine in a Cub Cadet 1250-1650 series lawn tractor. If not, what would be the largest engine then? Also, what kind of problems might be incurred, like cutting into the frame, any other modifications, etc.?

A:  We have put in the 16 and 18 HP Vanguard engines in the 1250 Cub chassis. I have not put in the 23 HP as no one has asked me to yet. The main difference on the 23 HP Vanguard engines is they have an oil cooler on the side and I am almost sure that will not fit. The 16-18 HP engines just fit in the frame rails. It is well worth the effort to put in these Vanguards.

Q:  I Have a 1993 TORO 616Z with a 16 HP ONAN twin engine. I was given a near new 14 HP Vanguard twin. Both engines are Vertical shaft.  If the Onan ever blew up, or needed replacement, I wonder if the Vanguard engine could be a "drop in replacement"?

A:  The mounting holes wouldn't line up, so you would have to drill mounting holes. You probably would have to "make over" the exhaust system. You would have to do some wiring to convert from an automotive type of ignition system to a magneto type of ignition system. So no, not drop in, but doable.

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Q:  Would you have a replacement engine that would fit a 682 Cub Cadet lawn tractor with a KT17 Kohler Engine?

A:  Yes, we put in the V Twin, overhead valve, Vanguard engines that are a much better quality engine than the KT17 Kohler could think of being. They fit in nice and neat. All the panels go back on and look like a factory job. When you get it done the Vanguard 18 HP has all the power that the KT engine had. We also have an 18 HP available that puts out a short 20 HP.

Q:  I have a 1983 Snapper 1855, great unit, but the old Onan getting tired. the engine model is bg-ms-3272a. Are you familiar with Snapper lawn tractors? Do you have a replacement engine kit? It is a horizontal twin with pulleys front and rear.

A:  Yes, I can help you out with a 18 HP Vanguard engine for this repower.

Q:  I have a John Deere 111 lawn tractor with the original 11 HP Briggs and Stratton engine in it. I would like to repower it with something in the 16 to 18 HP range. Either a single or twin cylinder engine.  Have you ever repowered one of these John Deere 111's ? What would you suggest I use ? Do you have an engine repowr kit available to fit my needs ? I considered the V twin engine but was not sure it would fit. Will it fit without much modification to the tractor? It appears to me the hood would have to be modified ( cut away) for clearance. Is this correct? The other main concern I had was fitting the exhaust in the tractor. What is your experience with these issues as well as any others you encountered.  What is included in the engine installation kit?  Will I be able to use the existing engine mounting holes?

A:  Yes we have repowered the John Deere 111 lawn tractor before. We use the V Twin, overhead valve, Vanguard engines. The John Deere 111 is a fairly easy job to do. The exhaust system I have will clear the hood. You should not have to do any cutting. The kit has an exhaust manifold, muffler, muffler bracket, hardware, choke cable, and throttle cable.  Sometimes you can use 2 of the existing holes and have to drill two holes. Sometimes none of them line up and you would have to drill all four of them.

Q: I am interested in constructing a log splitter that would mount to the front of my John Deere 318 garden tractor. I plan to power the hydro pump off of the PTO clutch. I know that John Deere offers an attachment log splitter which is only 10 ton. I am concerned that the two stage pump will need more power than the electric PTO can transmit. Is this a logical concern and is it conceivable that one belt will be able to supply enough power to the pump without slipping or will more belts be required? I also have a poorly running John Deere 300 garden tractor and would like to know if you have repowered one of these?

A: You do not have to worry about the electric clutch. If you hit some heavy going with the mower deck it will kill the engine which means the clutch did not slip and the belt did not slip. It does not take that much power to run a 2 stage hydraulic pump, one belt handles it fine.

The 300 John Deere garden tractors are really fun to repower. You get rid of the stump dancing Kohler that shakes from left to right and back to the left. Another thing is that the new transplant weighs 40 to 50 lbs. less which results in it feeling almost as though it has power steering.

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Q:  Do you do repower an Alles Chalmers 917 Hydro lawn tractor?

A:  Yes, we have done the repowering on these tractor tractors before. It works out real nice. The tractor also steers easier when it is done.

Q:  Do you know the firing order for a VH4D Wisconsin engine?

A:  I looked up the firing order and what I found said 1-3-4-2.

Looking for more Q&A's? 
Repowering Garden Tractors and other equipment
Parts and Service
Garden Tractor Attachments
Hydrostatic Transmission Rebuilding
Tractor Cabs
Garden Tractors in general
Repowering Case Garden Tractors
Repairs and Troubleshooting (on our blog)

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