Which would you choose?

My v-twin finally croaked...Time for a good replacement...Maybe a recoil start from my past with engine starting problems, but lower HP, or a high HP, and electirc?
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200354783_200354783
Or,
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200514316_200514316


I wish I could choose, but you guys should help me...I can giveyou more of the pros and cons for me later on...It's late..sorta..

Intek engines are nice, thats what I would go with.

But I would see if you cant get one out of another mower first. Theres lots of gold to be found for less than the price of a $5xx engine.

The twin threw a rod on the left side, ripped the wall to shreds.

I would go with the oldest piece of cast iron I could find.

Horsepower isn't everything.

I've got a 10 horse kohler that will run a ring around a v-twin when it comes to torque. Its 39 years old.

Its got a coil and points, and an alternator, and I can tune it and fix it and adjust it.

Its not one of these new fangled doo dadits style motors where everything is set and locked so you can't play with it. Not without spending time and money.

Although I do like the newer style OHV engines for the adjustable valvetrains. I just can't stand the new carbs.


I just prefer engines made out of real material.

Chopperhed wrote:

I would go with the oldest piece of cast iron I could find.

Horsepower isn't everything.

I've got a 10 horse kohler that will run a ring around a v-twin when it comes to torque. Its 39 years old.

Its got a coil and points, and an alternator, and I can tune it and fix it and adjust it.

Its not one of these new fangled doo dadits style motors where everything is set and locked so you can't play with it. Not without spending time and money.

Although I do like the newer style OHV engines for the adjustable valvetrains. I just can't stand the new carbs.


I just prefer engines made out of real material.

Lots of plastic in newer stuff too.

Cast is some pretty heavy shizz, might not be to good for me to be able to lift by hand, especially alone....also, this is going into a Murray that I used for forest running, pulling downed trees, pushing trees down etc....which is why I would opt for the 21hp, but I kinda line the idea of the 17.5 having the recoil, meaning I could resell a brand new starter, and not have to use a battery that weights about 10lbs....this thing sounds like a racer...

Polymer parts? One of those 2 have a question about it, and northern said yes to it...so that was expected...but I'm sure I could find some company online that has stolen the blueprint and made a metal version of the part.

Murray modder wrote:

Cast is some pretty heavy shizz, might not be to good for me to be able to lift by hand, especially alone....also, this is going into a Murray that I used for forest running, pulling downed trees, pushing trees down etc....which is why I would opt for the 21hp, but I kinda line the idea of the 17.5 having the recoil, meaning I could resell a brand new starter, and not have to use a battery that weights about 10lbs....this thing sounds like a racer...

Be pretty heavy to turn over with a recoil, just saying. A dual option would be nicer.

Yeah, this has electric with recoil, but I like the idea of recoil over electric... To many components to fail...

Murray modder wrote:

Yeah, this has electric with recoil, but I like the idea of recoil over electric... To many components to fail...

Recoil can fail too dont forget. Teeth can get worn, your rope can snap, the spring can sieze or become unwound, all sorts of things. Its less common though, but still, how long or how much will you be willing to pull that big V over? Especially on a cold day when it wont want to purr?

You got it wrong my vtwin died, it threw a rod, there is a link to northern tool in the first post, it's a 17.5 hp electric start and recoil backup or a 21 hp engine....the twin is the motor I'm replacing.

I knew the one was a single cylinder but I thought the Intek was a V, my bad.

Still a lot of weight to be turning over.

The intek is electric only.

You can upgrade the motor parts in a new motor to get rid of the plastic - it wont be cheep tho. Racers use 21 hp v twins, bored out with all new internals to 90HP - now thats some horse power.

Reason why Briggs has done that is to be more enviromentally and sound freindly - to lower emissions and noise. Carbs have been changed also to send less fuel into the motors - too restricitng. All new motors will be restricted for emissons.

Most older flatheads will run circles around newer v twins, because they arent resticted.

Personally, id search for an old flathead twin/single off a used tractor - yes theyre a lil bit heavy, not as heavy as cast iron.

Longevity- well i have a 18HP opposed horizontal shaft on my 86GTII - was full to the brim with rusty water for years, i cleaned it up , and it fired right up - its still running good after 3 years .

I would get the 17.5 hp motor becaues it has 2 starting opinons.
Judt in case the eletronic start quits working.

@dangerous Ive bored a few carb jets, made a few custom bowls as well, so the carb is not an issue to me.