Cheater Cam

[J-Mech]

What are you trying to do?

If built right, yes, they are better.

[Mike McKown]

Originally Posted by rodderbeck

Are they really worth the extra money?

I've never run out of power cutting grass on any garden tractor I ever owned even without a cheater cam.

[rodderbeck]

I mostly mow with it but I just want to have some fun with it and get a little more power and sound out of it.

[MikeMasheris]

The Kohler 361 cam is what I was referring to I put one in a 16 hp 341 and was always hard to start valves blowing off compression.

[drglinski]

IMO if it's not broke, don't fix it.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by rodderbeck

I mostly mow with it but I just want to have some fun with it and get a little more power and sound out of it.

It's a lawn tractor, not a hot rod truck. Better just leave it alone before you get in over your head.

[Merk]

Interesting comments.....
I have a cheater cam in my restored IH Cub Cadet 100. One of the reason I went to this cam was the engine had a 2 piece camshaft with no compression release. This 100 was hard to start. Another reason was to keep up with the bigger tractors at a plow day. I mainly use this 100 for ground engaging work.

The 100 has a noticeable increase in power since I installed the cheater cam. You notice some increase in power at low speeds and the engine comes to life at upper rpms. The cam was one of David Kirt's designs. Along with the cam I installed wide base lifters from a Wisconsin engine and new valve strings. The head I'm using has the sparkplug over the exhaust valve. I don't remember how much was removed from the head. There are a few other mods that have done to that engine.

I was told that Kerber cams make more power. We may have to find out in the future.

To me it was worth the money. The 100 now can go up the trailer ramp at idle in 3rd gear (6 feet long-2 feet ramp height). The 100 has noticeable bark when it is working. Again the main reason I change the cam was the lack of compression release. I have ran out of power on 100 with a 42 inch mower deck.....grass was 1-2 tall when it was mowed. Normal grass the stock 100 handles the 42 with no problem.

[mickb72]

Originally Posted by rodderbeck

I mostly mow with it but I just want to have some fun with it and get a little more power and sound out of it.

I agree with Merc about the power and the bark. I put a Kirk one in a 16hp puller i had. I would rather mow with a beefed 12hp than a 16. I don't think i could afford the gas for a 16, Those things are thirsty. Mike

[cadzag72]

I imagine one would be very useful for a snow machine as well.

[dvogtvpe]

looks like I missed most of this topic but I'll throw in a dimes worth of info. allot of the reground cams are copies of the K361 cam. some are a bit better. I know that the Kerber #1 & 2 grinds you can use in a every day type of worker. the #3 requires more than most people can do or have the knowledge to get full potential.
I think most people think they gain big hp because they wait till they do an overhaul before putting one in. a worn out motor it is usually a weaker motor vs a fresh overhaul. there are gains with a cam. mostly in the torque. it may very well still be a 12 hp or 10 hp engine but lets say you gain 2 ft lbs of torque at 2800 rpm. that's a huge gain for a flat head single. you will probably just widen the torque. a calculation of torque and rpm is where horsepower comes from. torque is what does the work. compression and ignition timing advancement also help build torque. getting more air in the cylinder with a good valve job helps empty and fill the cylinder more efficiently. more air = higher compression . so where does this come from with a cam? you play with the opening of the intake and closing of the exhaust. maybe that's a couple bucks worth of nickels and dimes .
all that said when you change things the one thing people really forget about is AFR, there is a point where the Kohler carb needs work to accommodate the increase of air flow