Topic: Vanguard 20HP V-Twin Questions

[Tom Fox]

Do these engines have comp. releases?

[George Herrin]

Yes and they have compression releases. You simply go 1/4 inch past top dead center to be past the release. You do this adjusting valves or anything. And rock like I said ealrier yes its best to have the engine warm to do the compression test. BUT what about the engine that won't run and you want to get an idea of its condition. It still works and if there is a real problem it won't matter if its hot or cold it will show up. And 120 is fine just do not turn it on wide open at once. Slowly to make sure nothing is gonna move like the crowbar/vice grip opping off and possibly knocking your teeth out. I have a strap and handle from Briggs made specifically to hold the flywheel.

[Tom Fox]

Yep Down in the garage right now and tried a leakdown right at TDC....Blowing right out the exhaust! Played around a little and ended up taking the rockers off! Now I can be right at TDC. I got about 4% on the right side and 3% on the left side. This checked at TDC and BDC of each cylinder and numbers were the same.

The motor is getting torn down anyway...but just wanted to see what I have to work with from the get-go!

[Tom Fox]

Are the intake pushrods interchangeable with the exhaust ones? The exhaust ones are aluminum and seem to be the same size as the intake ones. Can I just order up some new intakes ones and use them on the exhaust?

George, you stated that the steel version of rockers were once out there on production engines and are much better than the aluminum ones I have....are they still avail thru briggs?

[speeddemon0308]

Are the intake pushrods interchangeable with the exhaust ones? The exhaust ones are aluminum and seem to be the same size as the intake ones. Can I just order up some new intakes ones and use them on the exhaust?

George, you stated that the steel version of rockers were once out there on production engines and are much better than the aluminum ones I have....are they still avail thru briggs?

YES they are interchangable... i did that with mine and i just had to set valve lash differnt for my motor... the exhaust was probably about an 1/8th" longer then the intake.... not even... i did it for strentgh and reliablility so i dont bend an aluminum one or wear it out!!

[Tom Fox]

YES they are interchangable... i did that with mine and i just had to set valve lash differnt for my motor... the exhaust was probably about an 1/8th" longer then the intake.... not even... i did it for strentgh and reliablility so i dont bend an aluminum one or wear it out!!

Thanks! You don't happen to know the part# do you?

[speeddemon0308]

i have no clue.. went to a buddys hosue to get one from a junk motor he had!!!

ask super george.

hey how come Don and Squidd dont have a super hero name ???

[Squidd]

We are in Stealth mode.....

[speeddemon0308]

hahaha nice one!!

[Tom Fox]

Hey guys.....Just was talking to one of the members in my local USLMRA chapter about how modified their 20hp Vanguard V-twins are. All seem to have just done some minimal modifications and everyone runs about even. So here's a question..........With STOCK connecting rods, How high can this engine spin (RPM) before they gernade?

I'm planning on a complete valvetrain revamping with a new cam, flywheel and carb work.

Thanks!

[George Herrin]

If you doing all that its cheap insurance to do rods. If a cam is put in then rods should go at the same time. Better safe than sorry.