Engine mount for 6.5 hp predator engine on a 657

[Schmendrickthemagnificent 22]

Thoughts and opinions on how to mount a Predator engine on a wheel horse 657, was kinda hoping the mounting bracket would work from the previous engine which apparently looks like a Tecumseh h50 with a Craftsman part number so who knows where it came from... so do I just buy a universal plate from amazon or ebay and drill some holes, find some metal and make one, dunno if anyone has bothered to go thru this already and had a good suggestion or anything I should know about... Thx

[Maxwell-8 4,367]

I just bolt the engine directly to the frame. 

That is if the shaft height matches to the previous engine.

Should be a very easy swap

[cschannuth 3,817]

I just bolted it  to the frame with a spacer plate to get the engine pulley as close to the original position as possible.  I upsized the engine pulley for a little bit more speed so I had to modify an old belt cover that I had laying around just a little bit to make the opening near the engine pulley fit properly.  This was a roller when I got the tractor so I actually used the original belt guard to help dictate placement of the engine.

[SylvanLakeWH 29,260]

Here’s how I mounted two of my predator repowers… used the w section sign post to get pulley at same elevation as original. Bolted right on after that.

 

 

[Maxwell-8 4,367]

I have never seen one of those predator engines in person. Didn't know they where that small.

[D_Mac 9,319]

Never used one on a Wheel Horse but I put one in my 655 Lambert project. I just positioned it to where I got the best fit. Drilled new holes and bolted it down.

[Schmendrickthemagnificent 22]

Welp, I guess i'm gonna make one out of this then

[Schmendrickthemagnificent 22]

Failed attempt # 1 engine belt guard doesn't line up... 

[Snoopy11 5,719]

On 4/27/2022 at 6:20 AM, Maxwell-8 said:

I just bolt the engine directly to the frame

PRECISELY what I have done in the past.

 

Trying this with a big HOZZ of a 457 makes it difficult.

 

On 4/27/2022 at 12:18 PM, Maxwell-8 said:

Didn't know they where that small

Well, any 212 base is small. Then when you remove all the air filter crap, muffler, etc... it makes it THAT much smaller.

 

Here is a 212R that was originally on my L-157:

 

 

Compared to the 457:

 

 

 

 

All of those are really old pictures, but you can tell there is a MAJOR DIFFERENCE!!!

 

Don

[Schmendrickthemagnificent 22]

Attempt # 2 now it’s the hood… Hopefully third time is the charm lol

[cschannuth 3,817]

8 hours ago, Schmendrickthemagnificent said:

Attempt # 2 now it’s the hood… Hopefully third time is the charm lol

When I did mine the hood was a bit of a problem as well. I was able to spread the inside of the front of the hood/grill enough that everything fit without having to do any cutting or major modifications. It’s tight but it’s not really even noticeable that I had to spread the hood unless you’re really looking close. 

[Snoopy11 5,719]

If you so choose, you can remove that airbox and go with an aftermarket filter... which helps the hood fit...

 

Also, if you remove the top of the filter housing, it should clear the hood. (You can leave the filter housing top removed indefinitely).

 

Don

[Snoopy11 5,719]

6 hours ago, cschannuth said:

I was able to spread the inside of the front of the hood/grill enough that everything fit without having to do any cutting or major modifications.

I never thought about spreading the hood! What an idea! 

 

Don

[cschannuth 3,817]

8 hours ago, Snoopy11 said:

I never thought about spreading the hood! What an idea! 

 

Don

It didn’t take much and I figured I could always put it back like it was originally if I ever went back to an original engine.

[Schmendrickthemagnificent 22]

Thoughts about moving engine back to fit into hood, but then I’ll have to cut down belt guard and put a smaller sized belt…. I tried pushing/spreading hood but would have to do too much and would look silly or crack more

[Schmendrickthemagnificent 22]

Welp here’s the finished ugly project but it works so whatever, fml

[Schmendrickthemagnificent 22]

That is a pig fyi

Edited July 19, 2022 by Schmendrickthemagnificent

[Schmendrickthemagnificent 22]

[Schmendrickthemagnificent 22]

[Schmendrickthemagnificent 22]

Once again, that is a pig, this is NJ btw lol, thank you all for your input 👍

Edited July 19, 2022 by Schmendrickthemagnificent

[wallfish 18,614]

I realize it's too late now but maybe it can help the next guy.

The engine needs to be set on the right side edge of the frame rail, yous is positioned way to far to the left. The problem was the drive pulley spacing from the engine block on the shaft. That pulley needs to be deeper on to the shaft and positioned right next to the engine block. Maybe 1/16-1/8" of space. And then the engine block slid over to the edge of the frame on that same pulley side. That's how every Wheel Horse HZ engine tractor is set up no matter what kind of engine it is.

Look at the 606 pics above. A 606 and 657 are basically the same tractor so that engine should've fit without cutting the hood.