Briggs & Stratton® Commercial Power engineers have discovered a new engine option that will save money for landscape professionals and also deliver the power and torque they demand. A new Low RPM engine option, available on Vanguard™ BIG BLOCK V-twin engines, not only increases fuel efficiency, it significantly decreases noise levels and vibration.
Laboratory tests performed by Briggs & Stratton show Low RPM BIG BLOCKS consume up to ten percent less fuel than other leading engines. As reported in the April 2008 issue of Landscape Management, the new option leverages the power produced by the Vanguard BIG BLOCK engines reducing engine speed from the standard 3,600 RPM to 3,200 RPM. But while the engine speed decreases, the mower blade speed remains the same due to belt pulley ratios.
“When we looked at the strengths of our BIG BLOCK engines, we discovered that the torque produced allowed us to slow them down without compromising power,” said Dan Roche, Marketing Manager of Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power.
Reducing engine speed creates a “reserve torque” to tap into when the machine is handling heavier workloads. The system works like an overdrive gear in a car – power remains in reserve for situations that require full-power application.
Not only will owners save money on fuel costs, owners will enjoy additional benefits. Landscape professionals will notice a decrease in noise levels and vibration by using the new Low RPM option.
Ferris, in an effort to deliver higher productivity and efficiency to their customers, chose to install this new feature on two of their 30-horsepower Vanguard BIG BLOCK mowers. The Ferris IS2000Z and IS3100Z zero-turn mowers both offer this new Low RPM option.
For more information on the BIG BLOCK air-cooled V-twin engines, or any engines in the Vanguard commercial engine line from Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power, visit www.vanguardengines.com.
