what are some...

[sayre315]

simple, easy and cheap ways that i can make my engine have more power and more speed?

 

[gocartkid]

There are many ways depending on engine, but here are some basics.

Header (just some pipe)
Shaved head (sandpaper+flat surface)
Bigger cam (can get them cheap used)
Bigger carb (or at least a prepped one)
A "hot" magneto (more spark power)
Smaller flywheel (Briggs engines, used=cheap)
Different gear ratio (some gears are cheap)
Porting (your grinder is your best friend)

 

[oscaryu1]

There are many ways depending on engine, but here are some basics.

Header (just some pipe)
Shaved head (sandpaper+flat surface)
Bigger cam (can get them cheap used)
Bigger carb (or at least a prepped one)
A "hot" magneto (more spark power)
Smaller flywheel (Briggs engines, used=cheap)
Different gear ratio (some gears are cheap)
Porting (your grinder is your best friend)

Header - Don't use it if you're on a 2 stroke
Shaved head - Sandpaper? Good luck. Go to a milling shop.
Bigger cam - Cheap ones give you .0000001 more lift. Get a good one. Tecumsehs don't have performance cams.
Bigger carburetor - Big difference. Get more modifications before you get a bigger carburetor.
Hot magneto - Briggs eh? Just bolt on 3HP coil or a Raptor Coil
Smaller Flywheel - As long as you're not going over 5000RPM. You'd also need a adaptor bracket.
Different gear ratio - Smaller = burns up clutch faster.
Porting - Or dremel.

 

[gocartkid]

Header - Don't use it if you're on a 2 stroke
Shaved head - Sandpaper? Good luck. Go to a milling shop.
Bigger cam - Cheap ones give you .0000001 more lift. Get a good one. Tecumsehs don't have performance cams.
Bigger carburetor - Big difference. Get more modifications before you get a bigger carburetor.
Hot magneto - Briggs eh? Just bolt on 3HP coil or a Raptor Coil
Smaller Flywheel - As long as you're not going over 5000RPM. You'd also need a adaptor bracket.
Different gear ratio - Smaller = burns up clutch faster.
Porting - Or dremel.

Thanks for the additions Oscar. An engine builder told me if you take a piece of glass and put sandpaper on it (somehow), that you will get a decent surface. However I have a machine shop do it, but if you were on a TIGHT budget... And by cam I meant a used racing cam from ebay. Most go for around $20 (that I've seen), so they aren't that bad. And one more thing: adjust your govenor or take it off completley. You will gain rpm's which (if the engine can breathe) will give you more power. Just don't hold it in the high rpm range for extended periods of time (unless you need a set of paper weights for your desk).

 

[oscaryu1]

No, don't hold it in the high RPM range if you don't want a piece of flywheel in your back.

At higher speeds, the PLASTIC gear will most likely rip off. I prefer lower rpms to metal shavings.

Used racing cam? Those are... Just get a good one. Anything under $40 is most likely crap. COMPcams and Dyno cams are great.

Piece of glass? He probably means a good flat surface. Tape the sandpaper on. You'd need like 2000 grit or so. I can imagine the compression using 80 grit.

 

[gocartkid]

I passed up a comp racing cam for $20 censored, so they are out there; you just have to look.

He did mean glass, maybe that's just an old school way because like I said I have a shop do it. And make sure that you MEASURE and DON'T TAKE OFF TOO MUCH. If you do the valves will hit (not good).

 

[oscaryu1]

There are 3 types of COMP cams if I'm correct. Non Symmetrical, Symmetrical, and the racing ones.

($50, $50, and $150+)

 

[sayre315]

There are many ways depending on engine, but here are some basics.

Header (just some pipe)
Shaved head (sandpaper+flat surface)
Bigger cam (can get them cheap used)
Bigger carb (or at least a prepped one)
A "hot" magneto (more spark power)
Smaller flywheel (Briggs engines, used=cheap)
Different gear ratio (some gears are cheap)
Porting (your grinder is your best friend)

ok, im kinda new to all this engine stuff so
1st what is a header and what do i do with the pipe
2nd no questian
3rd nope
4th no
5th is that a spark plug?
6th nope
7th i dont think i want to get that serious about my engine
8th what do i grind?

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

ok, im kinda new to all this engine stuff so
1st what is a header and what do i do with the pipe Go to the hardware store and ask for a "12" long, 3/4" steel pipe nipple." use this as a muffler. It will sound like a "Harley Deere" and give you about .5hp over the stock muffler, a gutted stock muffler doesnt make that crackly noise and performs just as good.
2nd no questian
3rd nope
4th no
5th is that a spark plug? no thats a coil, probably wont make an oticable difference.
6th nope
7th i dont think i want to get that serious about my engine He means the clutch and axle sprockets.
8th what do i grind? Clean up the casting work in the ports so it flows better, you want to keep the intake rough and polish the exhaust port.

...

 

[oscaryu1]

5th is that a spark plug? no thats a coil, probably wont make an oticable difference

2,500Ohms vs HOT Coil's 4,500-4,600OOhms... Most likely a noticeable difference.

If you have a points coil, just upgrading to a magnetron would improve performance.

 

[ironman]

keep oil change use good oil and motor should hold up fine with govener off never had any thing break yet mine have been off for 6 month on 2 of my b&s motor 5 h.p. and run them hard every day. just my 2 cents.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Yea, on a briggs flatty 4k is about the end of the rope for a stock rod and 4k is conveniently where the intake valve spring starts floating which does the same thing as a governor. Come to think about just about everything on a stock briggs is pretty safe to 4 k.