14 hp vs 16 hp Vanguard

[Mike McKown]

No, not another thread discussing the differences in the engines if any.

Just a little info. This past winter/spring, I picked up two 1440's that weren't worth fixing up to use and a 1864 minus an engine but with a 54" deck. Throw in an 1863 I had that came with a 48" mower deck.

That's the pile of parts I started with. I've always wanted a 1641 with power steering and a 48" deck so this is what I built out of these parts.

Used the 1864 chassis, the 1440 wiring harness, the 48" deck and the 14 hp Vanguard out of one of the scrappers. You can decide how powerful it is.

I got it tuned in this weekend and used it to cut some of my grass. I'd like to report that 14 turns that 48" deck just like the 16 hp Vanguard does on a 1641 I have. It doesn't bog it down, you can turn the deck on at slow engine speed and it doesn't kill the engine getting the deck spinning. Everything seems just right.

I can tell you, this is a sweet handling little tractor, even better than the heavier front end Command 18.

PS. I didn't do anything with this throttle limiter screw I've heard about. Just adjusted the idle air mixture on the carb to keep it from hunting.

PSS. Just wanted to add that the 14 hp Cyclops came only with a 42" and 44" deck. No 46' or 48" like the 16 hp.

[Tankman]

My 1641, 1st Cub, is a delight. Grandsons love the hydro (short legs).

Some days the 16 hp Briggs hunts a bit, little by little getting better. This poor little Cub lived outdoors, unused for a year. How could anyone treat a little Cub so awful?

48" SD deck running great but, difficult to know where left to right level is. I'm adjusting the hangers a little at a time and tried using magnetic levels. After each mowing, I check the lawns and level this way or that.

Part of my problem, living on the downslope of a hill. Difficult to park level.

Retired, plenty of "play" time.