Re-Power 70,100 or any narrow frame from Kohler to Briggs V Twin
 

Hi everyone.

First time post, hopefully I'm doing this right.

I have an 18 HP Briggs and Stratton Vanguard I just finished rebuilding and I was thinking it would be nice to put in a 100 I have or possibly a 124 I'm looking at.

Do I need any special adapter to hook up the drive line?

I know I'll have to notch the frame for clearance but was curious if anyone has done a similar swap to see what I'm getting into.

Thank you

First, welcome to OCC.......... :Welcome2:

I think you can take that to the bank. :ThumbsUp:

Thanks for the warm welcome.

So is there any adapter needed for this swap? or does the adapter off of the Kohler bolt on? :bigthink:

It will have to be custom fabricated as well as most of your retrofit.

You can check with Sponsor and Machinist "Parts by Jeff" for your fabrication needs.

Will definitely have to notch the frame, probably custom mounts for the engine, and custom adapter. In theory that should be all. The IH Cub Cadet 147 was frame notched for the 14hp Kohler.

IMHO a wide frame Cub would be best for this sort of mod because the frame is already a lot wider, though it would still be interesting to see if this works in a Narrow Frame.

My Grandfather actually had a 147 I used to mow with so I'm very familiar with that frame modification.

I have my eye on a 124 that I may do this to then put the 12 HP into the 100 as I always thought that the 10 HP was under-powered as I had to run full throttle just to mow grass.


:American Flag 1:

Welcome...good luck with your projects... This forum has been the best source for advice and help I have ever experienced.

In my opinion the 10hp engine is plenty of power to mow grass, you should be mowing at wide open throttle anyway because it's a splash-lubricated air-cooled engine. Faster it spins, the better oiled and the better cooled it is. IIRC the cooling issue is more prominent on the opposed-twin Onan engines than the Kohler K series but can still be an issue.

My 106's 10hp engine has no trouble with power at all. The only limiting factor is traction :biggrin2:

Sorry, but why? What's wrong with the OG Kohler engine? The K series were great motors. I guess I just don't get the fascination for repowers. Whatever you want to do is up to you obviously.

You are supposed to run WOT to mow grass!

I am not familiar with the B&S Vanguard in a dimensional way, that meaning physical sizes and what not.
But if it were me thinking about it, my first concern would be, is the crankshaft going to line up in a direct line with the drive shaft?
If not, you are going to have to consider how to re-mount the engine or come up with some type of flex coupling to the clutch.
If you get that far, are you going to need a PTO and will it align with the Cub mule pulleys.
An then the wireing will all have to be all redone .
I would take this on more with the attitude of more of a fun project rather than improving the mousetrap.

That's kind of my mindset. I have this BS engine in now perfect condition, just sitting here and I thought it would be fun to swap it into a narrow frame.

Pretty much everything lines up from what I can see so just going to have fun with it.

I know I'll have to re-wire everything but that's not that difficult.

I know a lot of people think I'm nuts for even thinking this, maybe I am but it just would be a fun project for me.

I'm actually thinking I would like to put this an a 126 with a 48" deck which would make it a very good running machine.

I'm a Cub Cadet fan for sure and I appreciate all the comments from the group.

Thanks

:American Flag 1:

Not to try and turn you down or anything, but I'm just going to make a suggestion. Personally I would only go about doing something like this with a hydrostatic machine because if working with a manual, you have to figure out how to mount the clutch to the engine. IMHO it would be easier to just make/buy an adapter for a drive hub for the hydro driveshaft than to try and figure out how to mount a clutch drive plate to it. That being said,

I'm sure it can be done. I'm interested to see how this project turns out :beerchug:

Yes I agree the Kohler is a great engine and I have mowed a lot of grass back when I was a young boy at my Grandfathers place with a 100.

I just picked up this 100 and it feels a little weak compared to what I was used to. I think it needs new rings and I may just rebuild it and leave well enough alone.

An 18 HP would be a bit much given the traction issues but I do have wheel weights. I just have this newly rebuilt 18 HP sitting here and I would like to use it.

I'm thinking if I had a 126 with an 48" deck then this 18 HP would be a very nice swap

I'm looking at the 126 today so we'll see....

Thanks everyone for your input.

:American Flag 1:

Actually this 18 HP engine came out of a hydro 3185 which I re-powered with a 20 HP bs engine.

I did see a 107 hydro for sale and that would be a nice candidate as I know from past experience that a 10 HP in a hydro is way under-powered.

Maybe I'll have a look at that.

You want to screw up a 126?
The 3rd rarest Cub ever produced??
Geesh!!

Something like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhcgbeXIj94

That was painful to watch.

If that 10 hp was way under powered, then something was wrong with it.... Unless you were cutting way overgrown grass.

I'd save that vanguard for the proper tractor.

How the h*ll could you do that to a poor 106???!?!?!?!?! :bigeyes:

As a proud 106 owner I am incredibly disappointed! No need for a larger engine as the 10 horse Kohler is plenty of power already!

If your set on putting a V-twin in a Cub at least use a wide frame so you don't have to cut it up so much! Or just don't do it at all! :bash2: :bash2:

😳
 

I personally feel you have the right to do with your tractor what you want. I don’t go to a car dealership to buy what someone else likes, or needs, I don’t want to watch a tv show that someone else prefers, and so on. So why would I or anyone else do something different than they want to? If a person wanted to, oh say, put a twin in a narrow frame, then do it. Some folks restore tractors to pristine condition and look at it. Some work the devil out of it and tolerate loose steering, leaky tires, and not so shiny paint. Each has a desire to get out of there ownership experience what THEY want, and each in the preceding examples would have differing opinions of the other. So what. I’m sure someone may have thought many decades ago, what a waste of a beautiful block of stone, some idiot chipped it all up and made a stupid statue of some guy named “David”! Create! Some guy decided about 70 years ago to “RUIN” a perfectly good tractor by making it smaller. Thank you to him!

mrjeep81,
Agreed. Couldn't have said it better. The joy of ownership. An important factor that Americans can still enjoy.