By markcooper on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Ok, last year I drove 2200 miles round trip to purchase a Argo Vanguard. I brought it back, stripped it to the frame. Sent the 16 V-twin B&S in a B&S master mechanic, number 8th in the nation, I removed all the chains, reconditioned them, regeased all the axles, reinstalled all chains, repositioned the transmission so that the idling chains distance was within Argo specifications and then reinstalled the blue printed B&S 16hp V-Twin. Even replaced the battery with a Uptimum dry cell. Got it all back together and it is running. I bought it to help me climb my 320 foot hill with several 50-60 degree climbs. Yes, it does it however I would say that some more horse power would get it done with alot less stress on the motor. So, the question is, Honda or Kawasaki, horizontal. The Honda is a 24 horse power, oil cooled motor. The Kawasaki is a 27 horse power but liquid cool. I am not sure if the radiator will fit and so I am thinking to put the tried and true Honda V-Twin with an oil cooler on it. The two motors are within $200 of each other. I found them both at the Small Engine Warehouse website. Going from the 16hp B&S to either 24hp or 27hp will both be a major jump in power. I just wonder since both Honda and Kawasaki make 18hp and 20 hp, I am afraid that the torque may be a consideration. Has anyone every raised an Base Vanguard from 16 hp to 24 or even the 27hp?

By lawpressman on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The honda will work well but i would go for the water cooled motor, if it would fit and at least 20hp. Most argo owners complain about the heat coming from the engine compartment. Even if you put the air cooled motor in try to direct the air flow to the outside.
good luck

By Motown's (Bigwolf) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hello Mark,

I have that 27 HP Kawasaki liquid cooled engine in my 2003 Max IV. That engine has some outstanding power through out the entire performance curve. If you can fit in that machine of yours, it will do the job that you expect from it!

With that engine in my Max, it climbs hills fully loaded with out a problem at all. With the low end power that it has, it hardly takes any throttle at all to climb hills.

By Rogersmith (Rogersmith) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The honda torque curve doesn't go as low as a briggs. You might be happy with a 23hp briggs; for a vanguard with runamuks I'd think it would be plenty of power. It would be the easiest swap.

By markcooper on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hey, thanks guys and one last guestion. I have a F=150 with a snuglid on the bed. I have wanted to figure a way to mount a winch on the front of the lid, some kind of protection the length of the side walls, so I could winch the Argo piggy back unto the lid. that way I keep the storage, I can pull my pop up trailer and bring the Argo all at the same time. Anyone have suggestions?

By rdzone on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I think you would be pushing your luck. The argo is pretty heavy. I am not sure what model you have, but that kind of weight on the fiberglass snug top would surely cause cracks or breakage over time if not immediately. Another problem would be securing your argo to keep it from coming off the truck and through the back window or your pop up trailer. I don't think the risks would be worth it.

Chuck

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Mark- your saying put the ARGO on top of the bed cover you have? I think you would have to definatly have ramps - very long ramps to get the argo up that hi on the truck- One method i have seen is build a support in the bed so that you can keep the argo on the support, and still have the area under the argo and support to store stuff- their was one on e-bay not too long ago so you may do a search there and see if you get a better idea of what im saying

By Greg Lawrence (Greglawrence) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

heh, buy 5x8 or 5x10 trailer then you can pull the argo and have all your storage in your bed!!
you can even add a toolbox onto the tounge of the trailer and have even more storage!!!