Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Does anyone know what Tecumseh changes to yield 11HP from the same block as the 9HP Snow King?  I would guess it's either the carb., induction system, valves or maybe all of the above?

A flywheel is the mechanical equivalent of a capacitor, it stores power for a little while. A heavy flywheel will cause an engine to take longer to come up to speed but does not change the overall power output. Once the engine is up to speed the flywheel will smooth out the power output and cause the engine to take longer to slow down once it is turned off.

Flywheels are particularly important in low cyclinder count engines ( singles for instance) since there are fewer power storkes per RPM. It stores some of the energy created in the power stroke and uses it to keep the engine turning over until the next power stroke occurs.

There is also a gyroscopic effect which can be kind of weird if you ever pick up a generator and try to turn it.

Several years ago I started a thread(http://www.abbysguide.com/ope/discussions/7869-A-1.html)that grew to over 154 posts regarding this very subject. While it was with regard to a Briggs engine Tecumseh does(did) the same thing. It appears that the change to torque ratings rather than horsepower which is now being used is an attempt to further obfiscate the truth and reveals the shady way in which engine manufacturers rate their products.Try and make it through the entire thread-It makes for interesting reading!!

Marc