I see, so forget power, I'm after what has most torque so it doesn't bog down when mowing through thick grassI'm in the process of buying a new push rotary to scalp thick lawn down to dirt in the shortest possible time and with as little effort. So I'm after a big powerful engine that can cut really low.
I have narrowed it down to a mower that has a AL-KO 196cc engine and cuts to 6mm, I have very little knowledge when it comes to engines so in saying that I was thinking that the more CCs the more powerful it will be until I rang up a shop asking if they sold that particular mower.
When I spoke to them they were saying that the mower they sell has a Kohler 173cc engine on it and is more powerful and durable than the 196cc AL-KO since it has a cast iron sleeve, the AL-KO also has one too.
I asked so the power doesn't relate to the CCs? They said it doesn't, so now I'm confused and don't know what to do.
Guess I should listen to the expert in the shop but thought I'd check to see if there's some people on here that are really clued up on engine sizes and power and can explain to me how to choose the most powerful engine.
I was also going by the torque and the Kohler has 10.5Nm and AL-KO has 12Nm
Normally people will say that there is no replacement for displacement, and in most cases they are correct. It is very possible to have two different size engines and making different torque or horse power ratings. It is very common through timing and fuel jet changes to have different horse power ratings for the same engine block.
The big thing that I think about is were is the torque made. Is the larger 196 engine getting their torque rating at 3200 rpm but the engine on a push mower application only turns 2800. or is the torque rated at the operating rpm for that application. So in other words if both engines are running at 2800 and the Kohler is rated at 3000 rpm and the al-ko is rated at 3600 rpm it is possible that the Kohler could have more torque at the rated operating speed than the al-ko.
That makes sense, just had a look at the specs and the al-ko 196 is rated 12Nm at 2500.
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The 173 Kohler engine doesn't list the rpm
Aweosme response, thank you.HP can increase as the engine RPM goes up. For example, I was built a 1438cc SCCA GP race car that could go faster than its twin, a SCCA FP 1608cc because the shorter stroke 1438cc reved higher - hence more HP overall. But off the hard corners the 1608cc would pull away at first. The 1438cc was also lighter due to regs so it could brake later and go deeper into the corners. But, the larger cc engine will almost always have more torque than the smaller displacement unless the marketing folks fibbed more. Since we are dealing with a set RPM that these small engines run the best and longest at, personally I would go with the larger displacement for your use. The blade tip speed of the mower is what will determine the fastest that the engine should go. The speed of the tip is what the mower manufacturer sets the engine RPM to. Personally I would set the mower to a low height setting and almost scalp the area, then use a couple passes from a dethatcher to knock the rest loose. Hit the area with roundup. Let it die for a week, mow close and dethatch. You'll have mostly dirt left - although right now is late in the season to be doing this. If you can water it for 15 to 20 days and roundup again you'l get rid of many of the weeds but not those that need heat to germinate. Then plant your seed or put down your sod, if that is what you are doing.
That would have been frustrating trying to kill off the kik, surprised you did, it seems like it never dies off completely and always comes back.some places say to dethatch kikuyu, others say to scalp it. Some say both. I don't know what is best for it. I got some here that a bird or something brought in, and it took three tries to kill it all off. I will tell you that you should get basic soil tests from a local soil lab for minerals etc., before doing anything. The right soil chemistry will make all the difference in the world when it comes back. You can be too high in one thing and accidentally add more, or you can have just a couple minerals that are low and a regular fertilizer won't even it out.