Vertical Shaft Engine on Horizontal Shaft Mower

How hard would it be to convert a circa 1988 Craftsman II with the horizontal opposed engine over to using a vertical shaft engine? This old Briggs is seeing its last days and my only available replacement is a vertical off of a Toro (or one of those other brands, I can't ever remember the name).

I'm guessing this a Craftsman GT with either an AYP 6-speed or a hydro. If so it is indeed possible and from what I understand it is fairly straight forward. @Mightyraze converted his Craftsman II (Sasquatch) from a horizontal shaft engine setup to a vertical, he might have some pictures that would help you out.

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2 ways you can do that...

1, Source a GT6000 a few years newer with a vertical and grab it's parts.

Or...

You can attempt to do it yourself. One thing I will give you a heads up on. Should you go big on the engine pulley, the belt will be more prone to fall off. 6.5 seemed to be fine. I never threw a belt when I had that size pulley. I still throw it time to time with the 9 inch I have on mine right now.

Here is an undershot that may help you with some Ideas.

Vertical Shaft Engine on Horizontal Shaft Mower Img_2130

Vertical Shaft Engine on Horizontal Shaft Mower 13503110

You will loose mower capability as the front steering is in the way. I added an idler off one of the engine bolts as you can see to line up the belt. This setup never failed on me. Also note the belt keeper on the engine, and one between the engine pulley and the idler. Those allow clutching to work fine. I used 2 1/4 inch plates to mount the engine to.

I will probably go back to this setup next year. Should a good horizontal fall in my lap I may go back to that.

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Is there some way I could use a horizontal shaft engine thats not intended for a lawn mower, like a gx340 or one of those honda clones? I see that the engine pulley on this opposed twin is on the flywheel side.

I have a Troy-Bilt that i can do a pulley flip and pulley swap on but the frame and transaxle aren't nearly as strong as the craftsman.

Craftsmonster wrote:: Is there some way I could use a horizontal shaft engine thats not intended for a lawn mower, like a gx340 or one of those honda clones? I see that the engine pulley on this opposed twin is on the flywheel side.

Absolutely Man! People have been clone motors on garden tractors for years!

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» Putting a horizontal shaft engine in my mower
» Vari drive with 5 speed transaxle
» Oppose Briggs Vertical to horizontal
» Can you could put a centrifical clutch on a vertical shaft mower
» Vertical to horizontal conversion