Can you mod a mower with a 16.5hp Briggs to go fast?

can a 16.5 briggs push a mower to around 40 mph and still be able to trail ride with gov attached have a 5 speed transaxle to go with it
i know the safty concerns upgrade brakes steering and etc
i know most peaple lock the front but i have other ideas about a suspension for the front and rear
for my idea for the rear google tomcar and check out the website drove one of these in alaska it was a blast
the front maybe something like the twin i beem on the old ford pickups

might have posted this in wrong area

later redneck carrow

With a 5 speed you could readily do 40 and still trail ride with that size engine. We ran forever on 11-14 hp engines and split time going fast with going through trails.

16.5 hp at 3500 rpm or so should be able to hit 40 or so, but your low gear won't be so low anymore.

My mower in semi-original form would top out at 35mph and still had enough low end for trail riding. That was with a 12hp (Not governed) Briggs and 3 speed Foote transaxle on 18" tires.

You should have no issues getting that speed from that engine/trans... you've got more power and a better transaxle than I had at the time.
Setting up a good, working suspension is a different animal all on its own.

thanks guys thought it might
still working out the suspension in my head but getting close i think try to use things i have laying around the garage
now all i have to do is wait for the weather to warm up (live in maine) to attempt this

yeah dont expect to be able to haul heavy loads around in a low gear but you'll be able to get 40mph with what you have.

Most of the lawn tractor have nylon busting in the front tire, you'd be much better off with barrings.

yeah ill be doing that on mine for sure.

Make sure you get unground bearing, (they have a lip on one side) f you do, keeps them from wobbling in the rim, and they look good as well.

I ran a 14.5 OHV governed briggs on a 6 speed murray 'shift on the go' , 6" pulley on motor and 3" on trans - with all stock wheels, that got me around 20-25 MPH - i wasnt happy with it.

I put a 18.5 twin opposed ( governered) on it with 8" tires all around - it went insanely fast , way too fast for a near stock tractor with no brakes - i was hitting around 30-35mph in 3rd - and that was a handful - never did go over 3rd to see what top end was, had my hands full trying to keep from crashing.

dangeroustoys56 wrote:

I ran a 14.5 OHV governed briggs on a 6 speed murray 'shift on the go' , 6" pulley on motor and 3" on trans - with all stock wheels, that got me around 20-25 MPH - i wasnt happy with it.

I put a 18.5 twin opposed ( governered) on it with 8" tires all around - it went insanely fast , way too fast for a near stock tractor with no brakes - i was hitting around 30-35mph in 3rd - and that was a handful - never did go over 3rd to see what top end was, had my hands full trying to keep from crashing.

sounds dangerous but fun