PWL216 889 #1 Posted November 27 (edited) Hey guys, I’m looking to add a leaf vacuum housing to a new Kohler engine. The blower housing on the original Briggs sits right against the engine but I thank on the Kohler (or Predator) it will hit the muffler, just barely. Is it safe to add a spacer plate that would attach to the four bolt pattern to provide the clearance? Do they make these commercially or would I need to make one? Again, I’m mostly concerned with safety and reliability. Thx! Edited November 27 by PWL216 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,171 #2 Posted November 27 (edited) Taryl did a video on installing a Predator on a Trac vac replacing a Briggs. He modified the muffler to get it to work. Edited November 27 by squonk 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,172 #3 Posted November 27 I wouldn’t extend anything out further than as close to block as you can get. Better to mod the muffler. An impeller like that puts huge stress on the crank and bearings. The further out it is, the higher the load. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TonyToro Jr. 1,473 #4 Posted November 27 (edited) 9 hours ago, squonk said: Taryl did a video on installing a Predator on a Trac vac replacing a Briggs. He modified the muffler to get it to work. I remember when he did that. I think he just made a whole bunch of mufflers into one? Edited November 27 by TonyToro Jr. Added link 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,385 #5 Posted November 27 Taryl.... Mr. Good Enough is Goodnuff. Most likely related to "Red Green", but with almost no branches in the Family Tree.... I used to work with a Machinist that could produce a workable part for you in record time (and at the same time a load of scrap!). You had to decide if you wanted it right or right now..... they were NOT the same. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,634 #6 Posted November 27 (edited) 4 hours ago, ri702bill said: You had to decide if you wanted it right or right now..... they were NOT the same. Sound like me. My work is GOOD, FAST, & CHEAP. You are only allowed to pick 2 of the 3 choices though. Warning: Fast & Cheap tends to leave out Good. Edited November 27 by Achto 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 7,034 #7 Posted November 27 . I had to explain the good, fast, cheap concept to more than one manager during my carreer. Seems like they always wanted all three. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,614 #8 Posted November 27 30 minutes ago, Achto said: Sound like me. My work is GOOD, FAST, & CHEAP. You are only allowed to pick 2 of the 3 choices though. Warning: Fast & Cheap tends to leave out Good. Hhhmmm... Mrs. Sylvan always says I'm all three... Good for chores, Fast at things i don't want to do, and Cheap You mean she only gets to pick two...? 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,634 #9 Posted November 27 34 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said: You mean she only gets to pick two...? Ya gotta draw the line some where. 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,277 #10 Posted Sunday at 09:28 PM (edited) Many pressure washers use a four-bolt spacer to allow room for the coupler. That said, I concur with @kpinnc that the large impeller could easily put overwhelming lateral load on the shaft and bearing (and be sure there IS a bearing). Pressure washers put a much more balanced and rotational load the engine. Edited Sunday at 09:29 PM by Handy Don 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,172 #11 Posted Sunday at 10:26 PM (edited) 57 minutes ago, Handy Don said: (and be sure there IS a bearing). This is a very good point. Highly unlikely that today’s smaller engines have ball bearings as standard. For the kind of loads an impeller gives, it would be greatly beneficial to have something more than a bronze bushing supporting that crankshaft. Some engines do in fact have them. If yours doesn’t, you might be better off placing the blower on a bearing supported shaft and belt driving it from the engine. Edited Sunday at 10:26 PM by kpinnc 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wild Bill 633 847 #12 Posted Monday at 01:37 PM What connects to the crankshaft, the fan or a pulley? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PWL216 889 #13 Posted yesterday at 12:30 AM 10 hours ago, Wild Bill 633 said: What connects to the crankshaft, the fan or a pulley? Two aluminum impeller blades. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,277 #14 Posted yesterday at 01:18 AM 46 minutes ago, PWL216 said: Two aluminum impeller blades. Yeah, get a stick or stone wedged between the impeller and the housing and the lateral load on the shaft will be significant if the impeller doesn’t break or deform. If the shaft were bearing-supported on the other side of the impeller, that would make a huge positive difference. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
