Briggs 190cc heavy flywheel.

[Fordiesel69]

Ended up getting a log splitter and want a spare engine to keep on the shelf should the existing one fail it can be quickly swapped. I located a free rodent infested rotted out lawnmower with same engine. Problem is when I remove the blade it is almost impossible to start like the flywheel is not heavy enough. Was there a special flywheel for power washers and splitter?

Also the one on the mower is 4.5hp and the log splitter is 6.5hp even though it's the same 190cc. I assume I would need to retain the existing carb to make it 6.5?

 

[hemitom]

Any small engine I ever encountered without any rotating mass or connected to a coupler IE. splitter or pump when pull starting if you hit it in the right spot on compression it will snap the rope right out of your hand .
For the carb I don't recall any difference in making more or less H.P

 

[Fordiesel69]

I don't think the tiny pump coupler or the pump would provide enough mass. Honda used a cast iron flywheel on engines with blade clutch, and a light aluminum on the ones without. Was wonder if Briggs was the same?

 

[mk378]

Yes Briggs had heavy flywheel versions as well. The blade on a mower with no blade clutch has a substantial flywheel effect. Presumably you could swap the flywheel off of the old engine if it dies.

 

[Rand]

Also the one on the mower is 4.5hp and the log splitter is 6.5hp even though it's the same 190cc. I assume I would need to retain the existing carb to make it 6.5?

Possibly has to do with the rpm its governed at.
as there are blade speed limitations on residential mowers.

 

[jeepman3071]

The mower engines had aluminum flywheels. You can get a flywheel off a non-mower engine and it should be easier to start. The carbs may be different for the 6.5hp, it has been awhile since I messed with one of those engines.

 

[meep]

Agreed, for both vibration and personal safety issues you wanted the weighted flywheel.

 

[mk378]

A light flywheel is actually good for a simple mower since it makes the whole machine lighter and there is less stored energy to cause damage should the blade hit something solid.

 

[wag123]

Yes, B&S engines have a heavier flywheel on the non-lawnmower engines. If your 190cc engines are both old L-head Quantum models, the flywheels will interchange. Make sure you torque the flywheel nut to 60 ft/lbs (no more, no less).
The only difference between the 4.5 hp to 6.5 hp 190cc Quantums were the carburetor part numbers, so yes, you can put the 6.5 hp carburetor on the replacement engine to obtain the higher hp.