I need a "real world" answer to a question!
I have a cub 1250 hydro - 12hp, and a 1650 hydro "project" 16hp. My understanding is that they are basically the same machine (except for the ported hydro pump and hydro lift on the 1650, and 10" vs 8.5" wide rear tires - easily fixable...)... Trying to figure out how to power the 1650, whose original engine is not in the tractor at the moment...
How much MORE power does the 16hp have compared to the 12? Yeah,,,, I know, 4 hp. But real world on this platform, what does that give me?
This is a flatland tractor that will mostly cut grass (44" deck on 1/2 acre max, usually more just a suburban lawn), and till a garden or two a couple times a year. Will I notice a difference?!?!? Will the 16hp cut grass a foot taller than the 12hp?!? Will I need the extra 4 hp to use the tiller in Florida sand/dirt? Would I notice the power difference if I lived in a hilly area (Tennessee, Kentucky, etc)?
I've been told that the 16 is more of a shaker than the 12hp, but that it smooth's out at full throttle (that's how my Ford LGT was before the repower), but that the 16 will still vibrate more than the 12... Also guessing the 16 uses more fuel?
I guess if the 12 does everything that I need (I haven't used it with the tiller, so I don't know about that...), I would be tempted to drop the k301 into the 1650 if it was more efficient and smoother running. I have a spare cub k301 in the shop... Or if the 12 is not "enough", I could even trade one of them for a 321 14hp for the 1650.
Course the other side of that is you can never have enough power!!! If the 16 hp 341 really isn't harder on the body, and the fuel is about the same, MORE POWER wins!
What do you guys think!
