Vanguard Engine

Does anyone have any experience with the vanguard 29 and 35 hp engines? I was thinking about putting one on a haybaler in place of a worn wisconsin engine,do they have as much torque as the wisconsin and do you think it will run a high capacity baler? Are they expensive to overhaul and very hard to overhaul? Thanks

Think engines are good. Saw one with 1200 hr in a Zero turn mower. But will need to gear down. about 1/2. Old Wisconsin ran 1800 rpm. New one 3600rpm. Engine pulley would be 1/2 as big.

I think I would overhaul the old Wisconsin engine and reuse it. But then you didn't say how big the Wisconsin engine is!

I would repower with Wisconsin, or a water cooled engine of the same or a bit more power. A Vanguard is not really a max power full time engine (opinion) and HP is not measured the same way today. Jim

The Vanguard is a pretty decent engine. This engine was designed in conjunction with Dihatsui of Japan and I think the early ones were built by Dihatsui. They will not have the torque you need for a baler probably unless it can be geared to run full throttle all the time. It's power band is pretty narrow between 3,200 and 3,750 rpms. It will not last as long as the old cast iron Wisconsin you have now, but it will give good service while it lasts. They are easily overheated and seize if you do not keep the cooing fins and shrouds clean and free from trash buildup. We ran a bunch of them at the golf course where I worked for 8 1/2 years. They are not nearly as tolerant of abuse and lack of service as the old Kohler and Wisconsin engines are, but for what they were intended for they do well. You have to faithfully change oil and filter at the 50 hr.interval if you want it to last. The valves have to be adjusted regularly at about every 100 hrs. also. The push rods will jump out of the rocker arm and bend if it gets much looser than the recommend .004 thousandths clearence. They are not very tolerant of abuse and neglect.

As others said not made for that torque and rpm issues if 2 cyl wis why not fix it. Place in Penn state has most parts also they have gone by so you can find used ones cheap.

Maybe check out the harbor freight ones.

The one on Dad's old Oliver was a V4, I assume this one is too.

It is a V4HD engine but I guess I had better take yalls advice and rebuild the ole wisconsin,thanks guys