QuestionA couple of weeks ago, before you went on vacation, I enquired on how to disable the speed governor in the Briggs & Stratton Vanguard Twin 20 hp to enable it to rev freely to possibly 3.600 rpm. I have now identified the control arm that is attached to the governor post that comes out of the crankcase, secured by a nut. I have dismantled the lever and found that the post can rotate quite a bit but I have to assemble the lever back in order to retain the throttle mechanism. There is slot on the governor post and if I were to just loosen the nut in the control arm, I can make some adjustments, but which way do I turn. Is this the right way to achieve my rpm anyway.
AnswerThis is not the best way to ajust the governor. The post you speak of rests on the cam shaft inside the engine. If the paddle does not rest on the cam you can break it inside the engine.
Racing engines completely remove the governor shaft (post) that you are talking about so it does not break off inside the engine.
To adjust the governor you need to move the throttle to the fast positin and then turn the post in the same direction...retighten the nut.
To increase the RPM there should be a spring near the carburetor. You will probably have to remove the air cleaner housing to see the spring. You can shorten or tighten the spring to increase the engine RPM.
This is a very expensive engine to be over reving. Higher rpms will cause the engine to vibrate more and wear out quicker. How long to you want the engine to last? You should be able to get 3600 rpm out of the engine with excessive vibration or wear.
Let me know if you find the governor spring.
Eric
