Vertical Shaft to Horizontal Engine Conversion | 140cc Briggs and Stratton

This is a quick tutorial on how to convert your vertical shaft mower engine into a horizontal shaft engine. This model is a briggs and Stratton 550ex 140cc lawn mower engine.
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[@robertbodell7221]

You remind me of when I was 12. I hit every trash pile in the neighborhood on pickup day before the the trash man got there. I gave the trash man a list of stufff I was loking for like parts outboard motors, lawn mowers etc. The trash man did deliveries at my house LOL.

[@tylerfrankel5374]

The engine is probably running rough because these lawn mower engines have lightweight flywheels since the blade acts as part of the weight normally and without the blade they run not as well.

[@DirtGearTv]

Tyler Frankel That would explain the recent setback i’ve had 😂 You’ll see what i’m talking about in the next vid on this

[@geneticepistomology]

My Briggs came from a self-propelled the front wheels have metal gear in them so they are heavy I plan on using it as a harmonic balancer.

[@Hayden6-3]

Just finished making this, I am 14 years old and I have crappy tools and an old shed, took me about a month but still gotta get gas in it and rev it up

[@scootergem]

First visit. Good info mostly, but one does not wait until almost the end to announce, "first time doing this, I don't know--it could blow up!" No, try it, then if it seems good report it on KZbin. That's why people gather 'round. K? Friends?

[@DirtGearTv]

Haha, point taken. I've actually been doing this for many decades 😜

[@Demo12345]

The engine isn't running great because you need to add a flywheel. When it was on the push mower it was using the blade as a sort of flywheel to help keep momentum. If you've ever tried running a regular push mower without the blade you'll notice that either it doesn't run worth beans or it runs way too fast because there's nothing to help give it momentum. The flywheels that you find on the vertical shaft engines are only really there for spark and to have a fan for cooling, that's it.

[@jeffyboye9739]

I’m trying to do this with a gcv 160 pressure washer engine for a go kart

[@DirtGearTv]

K3lvin Tran Nice!

[@Unknown-kd3ri]

Just found one, did you do it?

[@Ribalfire]

Did ya ever do this?

[@CheeseMan121]

I’ve watch 50 seconds of this and i will nominate this for an Oscar and a very based award

[@mirsalisawood4762]

He really knows what he is doing. Great job

[@daineckaz]

Valves do not get enought lubrication, it will not last long.

[@agbuilds7429]

Think I could do this with a 17hp Kohler out of a John Deere LT?

[@DirtGearTv]

I don't see why not... Good luck!

[@dansw0rkshop]

Isn't the oil porting for crank and camshaft on the flywheel side of the engine any concern?

[@rob7439]

I literally bought two running honda push mowers for this exact reason. Only difference is I haven't dug into anything yet. Figured I'd try to get some insight as to what in the world Im doing.

[@stonelitho9616]

PLEASE! LOSE THE SMALL TALK, PUNS AND CORNEY JOKES. Just focus on the topic. This was very difficult to watch even though I am interested in learning about the subject.

[@amend5269]

I welded a 2 lb weight to a blade hub which added the necessary weight to the crank

[@paulg444]

Not really worth it for 140cc... But the principles hold and could be of value for 300+cc and up

[@anonymousanonymous5798]

What! Michael J. Fox back from the feature working on engines 😂

[@ruwyev181]

I converted a lawnmower engine to horizontal and I notice oil coming out of he crankcase ventilation tube when it runs. Is my breather broken? or it is because it fliped it horizontally?

[@samazd4015]

Yeah that is probably the case

[@morrisjohnsonakamj6346]

thats clearly because you flipped it over with oil in it, reroute the oil and plug the oil hole, like the video stated, come on bud

[@baseddoggie]

This works on the flathead engines but not the OHVs. The valves don't get enough oil.

[@dharmakissoon]

so you spin the carb drill new oil galleries or oil journal on the crank and cam shaft relocate the oil fill cap. great vid bro , how bout putting a small car turbo, electronic oil pump ,,oil filter another piston ring and port polish thanks

[@b.c.westiv4460]

Great video! Can I do the same on a 540 cc ohv to make it a paramotor engine? Thanks!

[@quarta9]

Hi, have you uploaded a video of what you did with this engine?

[@astrophelhart3806]

Stop trying to be a comedian. 🙄

[@cmfan6870]

How do I lubricate the rockers and pushrods? How do u get the oil to reach

[@gmcinnis6304]

the oil is in a mist in the engine whirling around... the smoke coming out of the engine? once the thing is running with oil flying around in the engine, the mist of oil goes thru the engine. PREDATOR 212's dont have much of a provision for oil to get to the rockers/pushrods but the oil gets to the rockers...in a mist from the tornado that is the crankcase

[@jgreye1]

Why not using 90 degree transmission gearbox?

[@lincolnbliss4885]

I'd be careful I didn't see any oil making up to the rockers and valve train

[@baseddoggie]

You can kind of get away with this mod with the older flathead motos but because this is a OHV and these have no oil pump, theres no way for the tiny paddle to fling oil all the way up top to the rockers. This would NOT last more than a few hours imo.

[@shelbysgarage5828]

So two years later does this engine still run? What would you do different?

[@DirtGearTv]

Thing runs great still! Only change if make is a different carb. The one I got is pretty touchy and difficult to tune

[@COM70]

4:26 they are called bungs.

[@GarreTTTurncoaT]

This is so overwhelming lol

[@powers7052]

Will this work for making a go kart?

[@DirtGearTv]

power s Absolutely!

[@gmcinnis6304]

when PREDATOR 212 is $150 and has all the hot rod parts in the world for it? and can make 20 HP with .... $300 worth of parts... 15 HP and 15 FT lbs with $250 worth of parts?

[@gearmodex693]

Do you mind if I ask how did you pull of that pully

[@DirtGearTv]

Heat and leverage 😂

[@craigslitzer4857]

You left out a possible reason for doing this conversion: Trying to repurpose a lawn mower engine for use on a different machine. I have access to several different dead lawnmowers. If I can resurrect one of them, I can use it for the new build, but I need a horizontal shaft. I had the bright idea of designing a 90° gear assembly, but if I can do a conversion like this, it would simplify some things.

[@morrisjohnsonakamj6346]

remember the lawnmower blade is used as a flywheel , it will not run near as good without it or some type of weight, and the mounting holes are thinner, compared to a log splitter/gokart engines

[@liquidlinda2708]

This was HILARIOUS and very educational. Your content and editing is second to none! Not to mention excellent music choices!!!👍🏼😁🙏💜👵🏻

[@mrwrightaintwrong238]

Right? That’s what i thought as well. Top shelf material.-DirtyD

[@letskillsumtime7520]

Where does the governor and the welded nut go at 3:36 of your video? What is the Paddle for on the crank shaft to splash oil around?

[@ronaldb6417]

The governor is removed. And tes the paddle is for whipping the oil around to get it anywhere

[@alistairbyrd4284]

Did you use JB weld for the governor and the bolt at 3:36?

[@gmcinnis6304]

i took mine out. the gov shaft is threaded into the block? so i had to unthread it and found a screw the right size, RTV'd it and into the hole it went. no more gov. done .

[@ihahahuhu3159]

now i'm your subscriber. 🙏 please answer my question. ok, how about conversion from horizontal to vertical, roughly what should we do?

[@DirtGearTv]

Ill see if I can make the video, too much to say with type

[@ihahahuhu3159]

@@DirtGearTv Ok, thank's for your answer. may God bless you

[@roycehellion]

At 2:38 he smacks with hammer is high speed. This is bc there is a security bolt (likely break off bolt) I used a diamond cutter on my ang grinder ti nip it off, Watch the sparks. Once the yellow is gone its all aluminum. Wont damage actual gasket area. Shouldnt have skipped that in a vid. he broke the threads it seemed like in slo mo.

[@EMNM22]

1:25 In other words.... He stole it from the neighbors house! 🤔 Yeah, we love your recycling skill! 🤘😁

[@mrwrightaintwrong238]

I’ve never subscribed to another channel that earned it like yours watching this video. Comedy gold along with learning that there’s actually someone in this world that is like myself. You and i would def be friends if we were in the same town. We would be making the neighbors very nervous with all the random strange machines launched from the garage.-DirtyD

[@contraptionsandcrashes]

Airplane

[@Ray_Piste]

I have a gx 160 motor but the bore has seen better days. I was wondering the engine/crank cases from the gc160 would be the same just run on its side. Anyone know if this is the case

[@stefanandersson5604]

Great jobb! If you will Mount the engine in a bordertrac cykel there is no mount places in the bottom of the engine? Fixerupp swed! 👍

[@DirtGearTv]

Great point! You'll see how it gets mounted soon as I upload this project build. Its taking extra time due to parts delays but its a super cool/fun project!

[@simonthemechanic9959]

@@DirtGearTv any update

[@joeblowjohnny2297]

You have to build a 90 degrees plate and mount it to the original mounting hole . Easier than it sound . Good luck

[@ichbineinenassenudel]

Mostly appreciate that the work was done in flipflops! 👍 Thanks for the video.

[@alexescontrias9666]

That part bout being dirtier then longnecks insta had me coughing out my smoke 🍁😂💀💨

[@rubenchristensen596]

My friends and i were fortiunet enough to find a lawn mower engine that runs perfectly on its side with no modifikations😃

[@lh1678]

Why not just buy a verticle shaft to horizonal adapter?

[@papajohndavid]

Awesome, but weird music ruins it. I gave it a thumbs up anyways.

[@skorkmaz]

I have a very stupid question but please go easy with me. Can you modify a 4 stroke single cylinder horizontal engine to vertical BUT crankshaft facing upwards? If I have to mention a specific motor it is a Honda GX50

[@boatfabricationchannel2991]

i would not recommend doing this for a homemade helicopter lol

[@CameronHemeon]

You didn't have to attack me like that with the intro. 😂😂

[@pl7868]

j.b weld wont stick long in a engine so get a welder or dont go on a long ride lol

[@them_roads3031]

Is there an in depth step by step written tutorial on this?

[@itsreamo]

Assuming since it has been 3 months you are also having issues? I did this a few months ago and it ran fine for about 30-40 mins and now I can’t get it to start again. Suck cause I have a lot of mowers I could do this to

[@DirtGearTv]

Interesting. Mine ran perfectly, maybe a little too good because shortly after the conversion I bent the crank by revving it over 5k

[@itsreamo]

DirtGearTv yea idk what happen with mine

[@itsreamo]

DirtGearTv thanks for the reply man! Are you going to do a follow up video?

[@ivanchristophersaldana119]

the first question is exactly why im doing this

[@Havicerxx]

Lol why not make the crank case smaller on the inside

[@Henri_Dubal2009]

why do you need to turn the carburetor 90%?

[@Flyingsgetti]

Can u do horizontal to vertical?

[@gameisgame3000]

Just get a lawnmower engine

[@Flyingsgetti]

@@gameisgame3000 wouldnt fit

[@werelok1]

Just for the hell of it, I'm going to try that an a twin 24 horse Briggs, to temporarily put on an old m600 bobcat. Might work long enough to check out the hydraulics and drive. I bought it for the hyd. Cylinders for a whopping $100.00 bucks and I have the engine sitting around. If it works, fine, if not, I can part it out, and scrap the rest

[@jeffreyculberth1440]

Did you try it? Have an extra v twin Briggs myself I'd like to make horizontal

[@somaodeunier7586]

rubber thing that goes in a boat is called a bung 😉

[@adumbkidwithengines5949]

0:35, very funny🤣, also im putting a 7hp engion on to a small lawn mower because of the pandemic. (Check out my KZbin channel if you want to see it).

[@DirtGearTv]

Cool!

[@davidmorrison5411]

Really nice video. Will the engine last after conversion?

[@big_bubbab4254]

926 licks... I actually did it!

[@almostsapien]

So did it blow up or what?

[@inzpectergadget]

How does the head get oil?

[@PhatBoyiee]

Question? JB weld only handles 500 F temperatures. Engines can get up to 5000 F the JB weld would not hold. Even the extreme heat version only handles 2400. How is it running today? Did the JB weld hold out?

[@DirtGearTv]

Steel melts about 1300f, those high temps might be exhaust temps but deff not engine temps. Engine block should stay about oil temps 200-250f

[@joshmanis9860]

where did you get that engines get up to 5000 f degrees

[@thewicketd7817]

what you put in on?

[@sugargraham6868]

Great video

[@ogre1890]

Any tips on removing the thing that holds the lawn mower blade on the shaft. Mine is rusted on. Pretty sure it’s just pressure fitted. But really struggling to pull it off

[@DirtGearTv]

Blow torch and some firm wacks with a hammer usually does the trick 👍

[@ogre1890]

@@DirtGearTv thanks. I’ll give that a go

[@TNGclips1]

How will it go with the oil lubricating everything since it's in a different orientation? Or do you just fill it with more

[@diychad7268]

The crank will along it where it needs to go and the pump will still send it up to the head

[@baseddoggie]

@@diychad7268 I don't believe the vertical briggs motors have oil pumps. The head/valves are basically at the same level as the sump normally.

[@grassmower790]

Great video !!

[@Unknown-kd3ri]

Can i do this with a pressure washer?

[@Unknown-kd3ri]

It's vertical shaft

[@ryandaniel3956]

Any thoughts on lubrications the upper area with the cam rods, springs, and valves? I was just starting to attempt this myself but realized that unlike the other KZbin videos showing how to do this, the engine I have (and you have as well) is an ohv engine instead of a flathead. Wasn’t sure if that might make the lubrication issue more complicated.

[@DirtGearTv]

Yes, I plan to make a change for this. There is a circular port which faces the bottom (points in the direction of the main crankshaft. That port should be opened up on the "new" bottom so your oil flipper can send oil into the pushrods. Also, you'll see in my next video I have connected the case breather line to the top of my valve cover. Its a slow steady dip of oil that at least with prevent it going dry.

[@cmfan6870]

DirtGearTv did you make another video? I can’t find it. I’m literally doing this exact build and would like to learn from you

[@mrantni1370]

Can it work horizontal without all of that

[@DirtGearTv]

Prob not 🫤

[@mrantni1370]

@@DirtGearTv u ever tried it plz try and tell me

[@VideoNash]

thanks

[@mattbudowski]

Did this ever end up being further used ?

[@DirtGearTv]

I tired to use it in the radio controlled rascal kart but it revved up over 10k and bent the crank 😭

[@mattbudowski]

@@DirtGearTv hahaha now that would’ve been a vid to watch

[@DOCTOR_KIA]

No new bud?

[@cruzitoovertime2522]

where iso part 2

[@DirtGearTv]

Haha a lot of part 2s i’m working on it seems. A few major projects happening atm, then soon to revisit old projects 😜

[@animeguy4762]

Nice video!

[@eyeballll]

It's not worth the trouble to do all this. It's easier to just buy a $99 horizontal shaft engine. Also, you can mount the engine the same as it was in the lawn mower, remove the blade and blade bracket and put a belt pulley on it and twist a belt to an axle or a jackshaft.

[@morrisjohnsonakamj6346]

yup predator motor

[@Hayden6-3]

but it's fun if your on a budget

[@WBTVhd]

I'm doing it the easy way.