B&S Big Block in a Hustler

[Roger S]

Some guys run the opposed twins.. they are best built for midrange torque, which is good for our stock clutches. No one makes a strong rod, and cam choices are few. They prefer to start with one that is pressure lubed rather than splash oiled. You'd have be careful not to put too much $ in it, when you could have an overhead valve twin with all kinds of parts available and being more bulletproof.

[TURNEROFFROAD]

great thanks, so what is the ultimate engine choice for a bigfoot Hustler, I mean you know what will fit and what they can stand, I wouldn't want to compromise the 4 seats and reliability of it. but more is always better to me....so what should I look for?

[Meinfield]

I guess I'm gonna ask..... Would two more horses make that much differnece or is there more to it than that.... I've been eye-balln all the go-fast lawnmower parts out there.... why couldn't ya get awsome power outta the ole 18 b/s opposed...just asking, I'll never learn if I don't ask....sorry if i'm thread jacking

Ty,
I am a fan of the flat twins, they are good solid engines that will last a long time. If it is running well, just drive it and enjoy it! If you want to install a different engine, go with one of the Briggs Vanguards. Any size will fit in the deep body hustler with the right mods, but I wouldn't go smaller than a 20hp, and there are lots of aftermarket parts available.
Chris

[Meinfield]

Hustler 980

Hey Guys,

I fabricated a new "trail" exhaust for the 980, here are a couple of videos. It is really hard to get it stuck!

[whipper-ag]

Bad to the bone!
That thing sounds awesome.

Whipper

[Roger S]

Been wondering where ya been Chris. You and the machine are quite entertaining. If you run out of mods to try, install the carb spacer that isolates each barrel. Mine has always had the stock spacer on the 2 bbl. I tried a spacer open in the middle, and it ran lousy. Idled like it had a radical cam, and killed it's low and mid range. From about 4000 up it ran similar. Aparently it likes the tuning of seperate runners than the reversion, etc of joining them.

[Mike]

Great videos. That's my kind of riding.

[Sandcassle]

Wow! I really dig the way that exhaust sounds!

[mark m.]

Meinfield. Do you have a picture of your exhaust setup. I am in the midst of getting parts together for mine. It's always nice to see other systems and how they fit in with there particular machine.

[evil8x8]

Thats awesome!!!

[6X6]

T-20

Hi Meinfield:
Looks awesome, sounds even better!

How did you take care of your sprocket issue with the T-20? I will be throwing a bunch of HP at one in my Attex racer, and want to know how you stopped them from stripping off again? (If you didn't spline them, did you get a price on doing so? I would love to be able to change gearing with removal of 2 snap rings and the driven clutch only)
Thanks!!!

[Meinfield]

Been wondering where ya been Chris. You and the machine are quite entertaining. If you run out of mods to try, install the carb spacer that isolates each barrel. Mine has always had the stock spacer on the 2 bbl. I tried a spacer open in the middle, and it ran lousy. Idled like it had a radical cam, and killed it's low and mid range. From about 4000 up it ran similar. Aparently it likes the tuning of seperate runners than the reversion, etc of joining them.

Hey Roger,
I will give that a try, thanks for the tip.
I got a set of vampire ASX "jp swift specials" that i need to mount, they are huge 26x13x12 tires! They ought to hook up pretty well in the mud, and they are good swimmers.

Mark, I will snap some pictures of the exhaust and post them in the next few days.

[Meinfield]

Hi Meinfield:
Looks awesome, sounds even better!

How did you take care of your sprocket issue with the T-20? I will be throwing a bunch of HP at one in my Attex racer, and want to know how you stopped them from stripping off again? (If you didn't spline them, did you get a price on doing so? I would love to be able to change gearing with removal of 2 snap rings and the driven clutch only)
Thanks!!!

I ended up TIG welding the sprocket, the hub was just too mangled to try and have it splined. As far as gearing, if I had it too do all over again I would run small axel sprockets and change out the two drive sprockets to adjust gear ratios. My machine is still geared a little low, but to go higher I would need to change all six axle sprockets. A bit pricey. I think this could easily be a 60 mph hustler with higher gearing..scarey, huh?
Keep us posted on the racer!