Which Racing Lawn Mower Engines Are a Racer’s Favorites?

There are many factors that will determine your success in mower racing. One of them is having good racing lawn mower engines. If you’ve heard stories about last lap passes and inside passes during tight turns, this is mostly because the driver has the skills and has a good engine.

People who are new to mower racing often ask what the best engine is. There really is no direct answer to that question as different racers prefer different engines, but the most widely used are Briggs and Stratton and Tecumseh racing lawn mower engines. This is because of their experience in building engines and the availability of high quality spare parts.

Spare parts are important especially if you plan on becoming active in lawn mower racing. There will be times when you will need to replace parts prior and after every race. Furthermore, you will need to match the performance parts that you use to the track that you will be competing on.

Popular racing mower engines include:

• 19 CID 8HP Briggs and Stratton
• 28 CID 12HP Briggs and Stratton
• 31 CID 12HP Briggs and Stratton
• 40 CID 20HP Briggs and Stratton
• 44CID 20HP Briggs and Stratton
• 14.5HP 28CID OHV Single Briggs and Stratton
• 17HP 31CID OHV Single Briggs and Stratton

The engines listed above are the most popular and some of them are custom built for mower racing. But don’t limit yourself to this list, as previously mentioned Tecumseh engines work well too. Even Hondas are good. It’s just a matter of jiving with your engine and making it fit for your lawn mower racing.

There are racers who can make old and tattered engines look and feel like new again. Racing lawn mower engines are no different than your car engine. So the modification process is almost the same, you replace parts, port and polish the intake, bore the block, etc… Just make sure that the modifications are acceptable in the division that you are competing in.

Different divisions have different rules when it comes to modifications. Sanctioning bodies are strict with this so you have to make sure that you are abiding by the rules. Consider improving these areas so you can get the most out of your racing lawn mower engines. Again, be aware of your limitations before tinkering with your engine.

• Flywheels
• Pistons
• Crankshafts
• Carburetors
• Valves
• Heads

It is no different than what you would do to get your car ready for the race track. Proper modification, tuning, and testing will win you that coveted checkered flag. Not to mention a year worth of bragging rights as the top dog in lawn mower racing.

The best time to work on your racing lawn mower engines is during the winter. This way you will have ample time to perform all the modifications on your engine and make it ready for the next lawn mower racing season.