Repowered Skid Steer Runs "Better Than New"

Repowered Skid Steer Runs "Better Than New" TRACTORS Skid Steer Loaders 31-2-38 A broken timing gear in the motor of his Case IH skid steer turned out to be good luck for James Ruopp. With no parts to be found, he had no choice but to replace the old Tecumseh motor. "I had a lot of trouble with the Tecumseh and had been considering replacing it for several years," says Ruopp. "I chose a Briggs and Stratton Vanguard. It can do at an idle what the other engine struggled to do at full power, and it's only two horsepower bigger." The V-Twin Vanguard engine he went with produces 18 hp to the Tecumseh's 16. Replacing one with the other was fairly simple. In addition to pulling the engine out, Ruopp also eliminated the electric fuel pump and the rectifier that charged the Tecumseh battery, neither of which were needed for the integrated Vanguard. The Vanguard still needed more space to fit the Case skid steer compartment. Ruopp removed the backup rope pull starter to create clearance for the oil cooler at the rear of the engine. Needing still more space, he cut about 1/2 in. off the engine mount. This allowed him to line the engine up with the electric clutch that runs the hydraulics. Bolt holes to secure the engine matched perfectly. "I thought the biggest problem would be matching the Vanguard's 1-in. crankshaft with the electric clutch that was built for the Tecumseh's 1 1/8-in. crankshaft," says Ruopp. "A machinist in town solved the problem easily with some shims." Ruopp also rerouted the throttle cable and plans to reroute the starter switch currently on the engine. "It has not been a problem yet, as I can reach back and start it or adjust the choke," he says. "The Vanguard works great," says Ruopp. "My only regret is not doing it sooner." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, James Ruopp, 2730 160th St., Marshalltown, Iowa 50158 (ph 641 753-7048).

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