I've been looking a little at new push mowers. It seems all the new MTD brands (Honda engines) are listing engine size in cc -- rather than HP. Why is that? Will this be the norm for all manufacturers? One cannot easily convert cc to HP. Most people would want to know the HP rating of a mower.
Why are new MTD Mowers listing cc rather than HP?
- Thread starter kkreit01
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Just another way to compare mower engines.
It's interesting to note that HP is measured at 3600 RPM for mowers yet their governers are set at 3200 RPM to limit blade speed (safety concerns).
The Honda 160 cc motor develops 5.5 HP at 3600 RPM.
The Honda 190 cc motor develops 6.5 HP at 3600 RPM.
I'm sure the B&S engine power is listed on the B&S website.
Consensus among mower enthusiasts is that deck and blade design play as important a role as HP.
Choose carefully, grasshopper!
It's interesting to note that HP is measured at 3600 RPM for mowers yet their governers are set at 3200 RPM to limit blade speed (safety concerns).
The Honda 160 cc motor develops 5.5 HP at 3600 RPM.
The Honda 190 cc motor develops 6.5 HP at 3600 RPM.
I'm sure the B&S engine power is listed on the B&S website.
Consensus among mower enthusiasts is that deck and blade design play as important a role as HP.
Choose carefully, grasshopper!
Quote:
Just another way to compare mower engines.
It's interesting to note that HP is measured at 3600 RPM for mowers yet their governers are set at 3200 RPM to limit blade speed (safety concerns).......
I think the speed is closer to 3100 for a typical 21" mower.
Maybe the manfs. are getting more honest?? There have been some rumblings from consumers about the Phony HP ratings on small engines.
JTK
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Bill, from what I understand, that's the reason. Manufacturers got into hot water for over-rating the HP specs for the engines installed on their products.
Joel
For years other small engines like in ATV's and dirt bikes are listed by CC rather than HP. I know the advertised cc's (680) of my Rincon but I have no idea the HP (nor do I care).
I notice that on the Lowe's website, they are listing their walk behind mowers' power output in "ft lbs gross torque" instead of horsepower. Their riding mowers still list a horsepower rating.
Kind of a catch-22 for the manufacturers. The engines do actually make the HP as advertised, but not at the RPM the engines are set at. The reason they don't run at that RPM is because the ANSI standard for blade tip speed is 19000 fpm so most 21" mowers run between 3000-3100RPM, max HP is usually around 3600RPM.
Why wouldn't the companies put different cams in them, more grunt at lower rpm ??
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Why wouldn't the companies put different cams in them, more grunt at lower rpm ??
Not sure why you want more grunt at lower RPMs in a lawnmower engine? They don't mow well at low RPMs!
Here's a couple torque charts. The Intek has it's torque peak about where you want it. The Quantum, well.....
5.5 HP Quantum
http://www.tewinc.com/pdf/129800.pdf
6.5 HP Intek
http://www.tewinc.com/pdf/121600.pdf
I noticed that too, and thought it was very odd. It appears that LawnBoy still lists HP.
Mower & engine mfgrs have had a class action suit started against them due to their lack of truth in advertising. I've seen the mowers at Lowes and the word "torque" is in finer print. John Q. Public could easily mistake this for the old HP ratings. I hate to be lied to, even if it's just a little bit.
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