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

Hi

I was wondering how or where I could look up the correct engine speed for the governer on a Tecumseh 10 hp snow blower engine.  It is an older Lawnboy ST1032 model (1980's).  I bought it second hand  a number of years ago and it has always had a tendency to rev higher than other snowblower engines that I see.  It really screams like a devil when opened out (but it is still in one piece after over 15 years with me). 

Thanks

Brian

Hi Ben,

Marshall wrote:

I agree with the first part of your statement as that is exactly what I said.

QUOTE "That is why when you look at charts of horsepower curves and torque curves you see almost all the torque power dives at higher rpm's  and most HP curves keep climbing." 

                                                                                                                                                         

        

         

But I disagree with this part of your statement when you are using a machine such as a snowblower that can encounter a heavy load

".We definately benefit from more torque but to believe that torque is what it's all about, is not really correct."

Because if you load the machine down and you hit the point where it drops the RPM's

To a  lower range, you will need the torque to keep it running.  That's when it become a situation when it is all about torque   Look at the chart you posted  . Drop the rpm you went from 10 horsepower to 6  ,  then compare the torque curve  it isn't really much of a curve it is more of a PLATEAU.  real steady and strong from 2000 RPM  all the way up to 2800  RPM..  this is a snowblower we are talking about. ...It is accumulating and compacting weight bearing snow at the auger then has to handle the same weight load  twice when it hits the impeller and it throws it like 50 feet.  Very different requirements on this machine rather than something like a lawnmower. 

Ben07 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because if you load the machine down and you hit the point where it drops the RPM's

To a  lower range, you will need the torque to keep it running.  That's when it become a situation when it is all about torque   Look at the chart you posted  . Drop the rpm you went from 10 horsepower to 6  ,  then compare the torque curve  it isn't really much of a curve it is more of a PLATEAU.  real steady and strong from 2000 RPM  all the way up to 2800  RPM..  this is a snowblower we are talking about. ...It is accumulating and compacting weight bearing snow at the auger then has to handle the same weight load  twice when it hits the impeller and it throws it like 50 feet.  Very different requirements on this machine rather than something like a lawnmower. 

Ben07 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richie  that's really OK and better that your peak torque is lower than your operating rpm..  (It's better than being there at a higher rpm that you can never get at with a machine with a governor set-up.   It will be there when you need it,  when you are pushing it to the limit  and you put the machines rpm down  it will hold itself up to the task,  an don forget when you do that the governor senses the rpm drop and starts  flooring the accelerator so you are really leaning into the job.   and sometime people can't tell that the governor assist is opening the carb  till they get done with the say 20 car driveway  and their gas tank is empty.  and on lesser snows they found that they used half a tank.  That's when IT IS ALL ABOUT TORQUE.   A rev type engine will just have to slow down in that situation, yous  although under load will still  maintain throwing the snow at a much faster ground speed.    (and in that situation IIMOO that you will do the same overall job of a comparable engine that is built more as a horsepower engine that can sacrafice torque ,faster use less gas and creat significantly lower emissions)

Ben07

Ben,

That's why recently I've been concerning myself less with the horse power, rather with engine torque.  The engine is never run to achieve the rated HP anyway, and that's a fact.  At least when it comes to Briggs or Tecumseh engines, the HP/torque curve charts prove that.  I also feel you are exactly correct about fuel consumption.  Since I purchased this Toro, I've been blow snow in 1st gear, even when we only had 3" of the white stuff.  However, when New York had that recent dumping of snow, the engine used much more fuel.  It wasn't that it covered more ground, it had to remove more tons of snow.  No question about the governor doing its job. 

I should have studied harder in Physics class, I would have understood these engine grievances much easier.  Then again, if the engine specifications were more readily available, it would have answered many questions before they needed to be asked.  Thanks

Richie wrote:

Good way to summarize it all.  In OPE it is more about torque.  

Ben07 

 Richie,

   Go to :"Small Engine Warehouse" site

You can get an 11 to  13 Briggs OHV for between $350.00 and $450.00.

Much better selection on Snow Engines this fall though.

With a 13 Hp OHV, even with EPA controls,

it  ought to produce at least 10 old fashioned HP!

Sure would make you blower a hot rod!!

                                                               Fred     

Hi Fred,

Ben ben ben, it's not all about torque, regardless how you word it or how many times you type it.

First of all, it can't be. Without HP in these engines, you get no torque.

Second, every OPE small engine that I know of has a higher amount of torque on larger HP engines.

Third, saying it is all about torque, means exactly that......screw HP, torque is all we need. Not true.

Forth, I am fully aware of what an engine does when it drops RPM's under heavy load, snow is not the only thing that causes that to happen on small engines.

Fifth, I said torque was very important, it's just not all of the equation by any stretch of the imagination.

And, here's an exaggerated example to show what I mean.......Let's say you had a 25 HP V-twin OHV engine on your blower with a relatively low amount of torque, the chances of it bogging down while blowing your driveway are slim to none.

On the reverse side of this.......if you have a 4 HP engine with a relatively high amount of torque you're going to be into that torque all the time and very well may stall out because you don't have enough HP. You need a higher HP engine!

 Yes, I agree torque is very important but it's just not all about torque, it both! 

Marshall wrote:

actually the opposite is true
Horse power is the result of torque.  

Torque is a force

Horsepower is a measurtment of torque doing work over an amount of time.

The opposite is true of your quote.  

Without torque you cannot develope horsepower.

Simple example lets take internal combustion engines out of this.

Lets use an electric motor, why  because an electric motor can produce force without a running start.

Lets say you got a 100 pound object you also have an electric motor that produces and can be measured at 75 pounds of force.   It cannot lift the weight.  It has force but cannot produce any horsepower cause it cannot move it.

"It is torque that moves your car but  it is horsepower that sells it."

"It is TORQUE that makes the world go round."

Ben   

I'm not sure I'm smart enough to know what all that means but I know this guy would give his right one for another 1000 of those horsepower things.