These blowers like the extra weight anyway, was always a issue with them being to light in the front. They even made weight kits for some models. Great job.
What's not to like? Good job! I did the same thing. But my machine is a 1977 snowbird. Everything from the balance, traction and the most obvious is power is huge improvement. Of course the old engine was shot so it was either swap the engine or get a new machine. Stay safe!
It's the model with the trigger activated differential. I guess I'll find out if there's a weak link. Tires don't get too much traction in snow so the differential should not be the weak link. I'm pretty sure it has the same components as the model that comes equipped with the 420cc motor.
I have a 2009 32 inch pro modle with a 342cc engine. It was like 2500 dollars. It looks like this puts out about 25% more torque than mine. Go kart guys put a carb, valve springs and a cam on them and run them all day at 7000 rpm. Nice engine.
I'll try to make another video going into more detail. belt sizes, pulley part number, spring adjustment to correct vibration I had, pulley alignment, engine placement, clearance issue on chute handle, crankshaft cutting, pulley grinding.
@@StephenCunningham1 ever make another video? In the process of putting the 420 on a platinum 30 and need to start drilling holes to mount motor...any tips would be great.
@@adamkozloski6353 measure where the existing engine pulley was. make sure it he new engine lines up the same, you will have to figure out how much you need to cut off the shaft and new sheave. think before you drill and cut since you only get one shot. you need the right pulley and make sure it's aligned.
Excellent retrofit. I have the same snow blower and am going through the same upgrade. I purchased a sho pulley as well and was wondering what belts worked best for this upgrade? Any advice would be appreciated. thanks.
Don't you think an engine that size is overkill, specifically because of its size and weight? Those engine are like 76 pounds vs the old engine at around 46 pounds. Thats an extra 30 pounds you have to push around. Plus the belt covers never seem to go on properly which is a problem, I would fabricate a cover to fit properly. I would also remove that electric starter that requires a battery and get rid of about 8 pounds their. I think using that machine commercially especially the way I do, that would be a problem and wear me down. I think the Predator 301 would be more than ample for this application at 56 pounds. I think it gets to the point where their is simply more powet than you need at the cost of weight and fatigue. Anothet issue I hear a lot is how those engines wear the crap out of the machines because they are simply putting out to much power. I put a Predator 212 on which runs at 4050 rpm and that thing is snapping axle roll pins. By the way it has turned my machines into animals. The 301 which is much more powerful should be plenty more than ample at the 4050 rpm these things run at. I just do not see the need for a 76 pound engine, its counter productive. To heavy and will beat down the user and machine.
I prefer using this over the same model with a factory 12.5hp. This is the size engine Ariens should use and do on their commercial models. The added weight is not noticeable. This is used light-commercially and has had no issues yet. The electric start is nice to hook a L-ion jump pack to, not that it's hard to pull.
@@StephenCunningham1 Yes, they start very smooth with just the rope, thats why I would elimate that starter and get rid of about 8 pounds right their. I do commercial snow removal I'm out about 3 days at a time using blowers like that and at the end of it, I'm exhausted and were talking machines around the same size with Predator 212 engines or engines the same weight as the Predator 212. Loading machines like that up ramps onto a pickup is already a difficult task. One has to be manually turned sideways so they both can fit. The 420cc Predator would make that task impossible. Again just using the Predator 212 vs the old 7hp Tecumseh is already giving me twice the power the old engine did, but is also breaking down the machine and doing it in a hurry. Bearings, bushings, belts, roll pins are all blowing out using the Predator 212 because the machines were not designed for the torque a d rpms these put out. On most of the machines, the 301cc would be the max I would ever need power wise, because as it is my machines are getting thru stuff and launching it further than most other peoples machines already as it is. The best part the engine only weighs 46 pounds. Another 30 would overstrain my body and the amount of torque an engine that size puts out will cause the machine to self destruct. Theirs simply no reason for an engine that large on one of these blowers, especially due to its mass and weight, the 301 would be more than ample with evenly distributed weight. By the way Ariens does use 414 and 420 cc engines on their pro 32 and 36 wide machine's. I could see the need for an engine of that size cc's on a 36 wide machine, but even than, those engines are not as large or heavy as the Predator 420. Prior to Tecumsehs departure from the engine business they had and used a 13hp 358cc OHV engine. They were also very good poweful engines but they were not overly massive or heavy, yet very powerful and are on some of the older Ariens Pro 32 and 36 as well as other large snowblowers. They were the perfect size to power and weight ratio. With good mods a 301 can do what a 420 can without a that extra un-necessary weight. Their is simply no reason for an engine that size on a machine that size. The cost of the added strain and fatigue is not worth it, the 301 makes more sense, plenty of power and torque at a tolerable weight for a person to use a few days straight without killing themselves. Thats just the way I see it. If it were a 45 wide unit the Predator 420 makes sense or something that runs an engine stationary or on a tractor, sure go 420, but something you have to walk behind, 76 pounds and that size juzt doesn't make sense, its overkill at the expense of the users body.
@@StephenCunningham1 Did you have a 358cc 12.5hp Tecumseh OHV engine on that machine prior to this Predator, or an LCT? Because if it was the Tecumseh and it was still running good, I would have left that Tecumseh on. Those Tecumseh snowking engines were/are the best winter engines they ever built and could get your hands on. They were powerful and they were not overly large or heavy. The 12.5 was only a 1/2 hp step down from Tecumsehs largest winter engine, the 13hp OHV 358cc, which was their top of the line, biggest most powerful engine, the best in the business. You cant get any better than that. I like the Predator but those larger Tecumsehs are my favorite of all. For me the 10hp 358cc L head they made is about the best one out their and also well suited for a 28 wide snowblower. Cant kill them and they work so well.
@@MrMnwolf No mods, a 301 is more than ample for a machine of that size with considerably less mass and weight. I never said modding it to run as powerful as a 420, a 301 is plenty able for a machine of that size. These engines run stock safely at 4050 rpm, I've been using my 212 that way on my machines 3 years. My 32 wide couldn't hurt from slightly more power but has plenty of power and my 24" is a beast. If you wanted to mod it, billt flywheel and connecting rod, stronger valve springs and you could run one of those into the 6000 rpm range, but that is completely un-necessary and run the blower into the ground fast. The only real necessary mod to these engine for winter is the adjustable main jet for the carb, so you can run it off choke, that's about it, other than that these engines are built ready to rip, thats why a 420 which is huge and heavy as hell is not necessary on a blower.
I swapped out an old Kohler to a Predator on a Troy-Bilt rototiller. Really breathes new life into an old machine for not a lot of money or work.
These blowers like the extra weight anyway, was always a issue with them being to light in the front. They even made weight kits for some models. Great job.
Nice work that machine, is now a beast. Best of luck with it. I had an Ariens Deluxe 28+ with a 414cc engine it was a powerful machine.
Thanks, I was more then pleased with the results. Hopefully I can improve the traction and make a video of it eating the snow.
What's not to like? Good job! I did the same thing. But my machine is a 1977 snowbird. Everything from the balance, traction and the most obvious is power is huge improvement. Of course the old engine was shot so it was either swap the engine or get a new machine. Stay safe!
Do you have the differential drive? One guy reported snapping the roll pin in that axil thanks to the extra power.
It's the model with the trigger activated differential. I guess I'll find out if there's a weak link. Tires don't get too much traction in snow so the differential should not be the weak link. I'm pretty sure it has the same components as the model that comes equipped with the 420cc motor.
Is a sheave not a pulley with groves in it ?
It is
What size drive belt did you end up using
Pretty sure 1/2 x 41 12-5074 and 3/8 x 37 12-7442
Why did you swap engines?
Blown motor. These blowers come with small engines anyway unless you fork out 2k for a commercial with the 420cc
I have a 2009 32 inch pro modle with a 342cc engine. It was like 2500 dollars. It looks like this puts out about 25% more torque than mine. Go kart guys put a carb, valve springs and a cam on them and run them all day at 7000 rpm. Nice engine.
What size belts did you get im doing this also thanks
Pretty sure 1/2 x 41 12-5074 and 3/8 x 37 12-7442
I have the exact same blower and am looking to put the same engine on in the spring. Any other details would be helpful and appreciated.
Cheers...
I'll try to make another video going into more detail. belt sizes, pulley part number, spring adjustment to correct vibration I had, pulley alignment, engine placement, clearance issue on chute handle, crankshaft cutting, pulley grinding.
@@StephenCunningham1 ever make another video? In the process of putting the 420 on a platinum 30 and need to start drilling holes to mount motor...any tips would be great.
@@adamkozloski6353 measure where the existing engine pulley was. make sure it he new engine lines up the same, you will have to figure out how much you need to cut off the shaft and new sheave. think before you drill and cut since you only get one shot. you need the right pulley and make sure it's aligned.
Excellent retrofit. I have the same snow blower and am going through the same upgrade. I purchased a sho pulley as well and was wondering what belts worked best for this upgrade? Any advice would be appreciated. thanks.
@@spolz2231 same type of belt, use a rope to figure out the length. you my want to try the size 1/2 x 41
Don't you think an engine that size is overkill, specifically because of its size and weight? Those engine are like 76 pounds vs the old engine at around 46 pounds. Thats an extra 30 pounds you have to push around.
Plus the belt covers never seem to go on properly which is a problem, I would fabricate a cover to fit properly. I would also remove that electric starter that requires a battery and get rid of about 8 pounds their. I think using that machine commercially especially the way I do, that would be a problem and wear me down. I think the Predator 301 would be more than ample for this application at 56 pounds. I think it gets to the point where their is simply more powet than you need at the cost of weight and fatigue. Anothet issue I hear a lot is how those engines wear the crap out of the machines because they are simply putting out to much power. I put a Predator 212 on which runs at 4050 rpm and that thing is snapping axle roll pins. By the way it has turned my machines into animals. The 301 which is much more powerful should be plenty more than ample at the 4050 rpm these things run at. I just do not see the need for a 76 pound engine, its counter productive. To heavy and will beat down the user and machine.
I prefer using this over the same model with a factory 12.5hp. This is the size engine Ariens should use and do on their commercial models. The added weight is not noticeable. This is used light-commercially and has had no issues yet. The electric start is nice to hook a L-ion jump pack to, not that it's hard to pull.
@@StephenCunningham1 Yes, they start very smooth with just the rope, thats why I would elimate that starter and get rid of about 8 pounds right their. I do commercial snow removal I'm out about 3 days at a time using blowers like that and at the end of it, I'm exhausted and were talking machines around the same size with Predator 212 engines or engines the same weight as the Predator 212. Loading machines like that up ramps onto a pickup is already a difficult task. One has to be manually turned sideways so they both can fit. The 420cc Predator would make that task impossible. Again just using the Predator 212 vs the old 7hp Tecumseh is already giving me twice the power the old engine did, but is also breaking down the machine and doing it in a hurry. Bearings, bushings, belts, roll pins are all blowing out using the Predator 212 because the machines were not designed for the torque a d rpms these put out. On most of the machines, the 301cc would be the max I would ever need power wise, because as it is my machines are getting thru stuff and launching it further than most other peoples machines already as it is. The best part the engine only weighs 46 pounds. Another 30 would overstrain my body and the amount of torque an engine that size puts out will cause the machine to self destruct. Theirs simply no reason for an engine that large on one of these blowers, especially due to its mass and weight, the 301 would be more than ample with evenly distributed weight. By the way Ariens does use 414 and 420 cc engines on their pro 32 and 36 wide machine's. I could see the need for an engine of that size cc's on a 36 wide machine, but even than, those engines are not as large or heavy as the Predator 420. Prior to Tecumsehs departure from the engine business they had and used a 13hp 358cc OHV engine. They were also very good poweful engines but they were not overly massive or heavy, yet very powerful and are on some of the older Ariens Pro 32 and 36 as well as other large snowblowers. They were the perfect size to power and weight ratio.
With good mods a 301 can do what a 420 can without a that extra un-necessary weight. Their is simply no reason for an engine that size on a machine that size. The cost of the added strain and fatigue is not worth it, the 301 makes more sense, plenty of power and torque at a tolerable weight for a person to use a few days straight without killing themselves.
Thats just the way I see it. If it were a 45 wide unit the Predator 420 makes sense or something that runs an engine stationary or on a tractor, sure go 420, but something you have to walk behind, 76 pounds and that size juzt doesn't make sense, its overkill at the expense of the users body.
@@StephenCunningham1 Did you have a 358cc 12.5hp Tecumseh OHV engine on that machine prior to this Predator, or an LCT? Because if it was the Tecumseh and it was still running good, I would have left that Tecumseh on. Those Tecumseh snowking engines were/are the best winter engines they ever built and could get your hands on. They were powerful and they were not overly large or heavy. The 12.5 was only a 1/2 hp step down from Tecumsehs largest winter engine, the 13hp OHV 358cc, which was their top of the line, biggest most powerful engine, the best in the business. You cant get any better than that. I like the Predator but those larger Tecumsehs are my favorite of all. For me the 10hp 358cc L head they made is about the best one out their and also well suited for a 28 wide snowblower.
Cant kill them and they work so well.
@@Mr_Tecumseh what mods to the 301 are you talking about to make it perform like the 420...?
@@MrMnwolf No mods, a 301 is more than ample for a machine of that size with considerably less mass and weight. I never said modding it to run as powerful as a 420, a 301 is plenty able for a machine of that size. These engines run stock safely at 4050 rpm, I've been using my 212 that way on my machines 3 years. My 32 wide couldn't hurt from slightly more power but has plenty of power and my 24" is a beast.
If you wanted to mod it, billt flywheel and connecting rod, stronger valve springs and you could run one of those into the 6000 rpm range, but that is completely un-necessary and run the blower into the ground fast.
The only real necessary mod to these engine for winter is the adjustable main jet for the carb, so you can run it off choke, that's about it, other than that these engines are built ready to rip, thats why a 420 which is huge and heavy as hell is not necessary on a blower.