HP vs HP

LarryRB · May 4, 2004

the Avantis built in Ohio, weren't they built on modified Pontiac Firebird frames?

Gatorboy · May 4, 2004

Larry,

Instead of writing the same post out again with a type-o correction, it would have been better to just "edit" your first one.

jinman · May 4, 2004

( SHORT OF MENTAL TELEPATHY, it is probably the least efficient way to transfer power I can think of. )

What a great statement! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I'm gonna "steal" that and use it 'til I wear it out. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gatorboy · May 4, 2004

( As others have metioned the HP on the machine is marketing, hook your tractor to his tractor and have a pulling match )

I think the reason for buying the lawn tractor was to cut grass -- not enter pulling contests. I'm sure the higher HP helps in the cutting through tall or thick stuff.

I hardly believe HP is used for marketing reasons. My Scag 48-inch walkbehind is offered with 15 to 18 HP engines. I will guarantee that an 18 HP engine will be able to cut faster, taller and thicker grass without bogging down than with the 15 HP.

Bob_Skurka · May 4, 2004

Gatorboy, I was referring to the high horsepower MTD-Craftsman-and similar units, typically sold at box stores, typically sold as value priced units in the $850 to $2000 price range, that seem to be in the range of 22-to-25 hp with little 48" or 52" mower decks. A Scag can use lower hp and probably cut a heck of a lot better, but at a higher price, but I was not referrring to the upper grade equipment with my comment.

As for the Avanti being built on a Firebird frame, that is not my understanding, it is my understanding that some of the models were built on modified Monte Carlo frames. After the inventory of Studebaker engines was used up, they switched to Corvette & Camaro engines. The Convertibles got the lower hp Camaro engines because the are a bit too flexible to handle the torque of the Corvette engines.

Jinman . . . feel free, but if you get rich and famous using it make sure you give me credit in some footnote somewhere.

Soundguy · May 4, 2004

There was a big discussion about this a while back.

For one.. your 20hp engine probably easilly produces that, and is rated to run at that 'usefull' hp. The 25 hp number listed for that lawn tractor may have been with all accessories off the engine, and it produced that hp at some rpm right befoe the engine detonated on the test bench... in other words.. a very unrealistic number.

When I first moved into the horse community I lived in 4 years ago.. I had this same discussion with a neighbor across the street.. he had a big huskie 25 hp machine.. and my little ole' 21ish hp yanmar 1700... he wanted a tug of war... Lets just say i pulled him around his pasture till he had a sad look on his face... even in high gear...

Weight will also be a concern. Even IF a lawn tractor could put 25 hp to the wheels.. if it only weighed 800 pounds... it would break traction before ever using it in a pull or ground engaging fasion..

Soundguy

lablovers · May 4, 2004

Bob,
I know we are supposed to be talking tractors here, but the Avanti is an automobile icon. I grew up with a father and step-father in the car business and have a deep appreciation for the classics.

The 9/11 connection to your car gives it a special place in the heart. Just reading your post brought back some powerful memories. The thought it belonged to someone killed on 9/11 gave me goose bumps. Good luck with the car, and give it the care it deserves.

Bob_Skurka · May 4, 2004

The Avanti spends most of its life in storage, but I bring it out on sunny days in the summertime. It gets into a fair number of parades alternating between some politicians and various groups of high school cheerleaders. Prior to me getting it, the car was very lightly used, and for much of its life was a trailer queen being towed back and forth to car shows where it was a regular award winner. I'm not a big fan of show cars, I believe if you own it you should drive it. And I love to drive it. A guy who owns a string of car dealerships was tooling around in his Ferrari and he stopped it in the middle of the road to gawk at the Avanti. It is a joy to own and a great thing to drive. I find that men really are drawn to the car, it is not flashy enough for the ladies, but guys go out of there way to talk to me about it.

One of the most bizarre experiences I had was when I was driving home on a divided 4 lane rural highway. At a stoplight a group of about 40 Hells-Angle types surrounded the car. For a while I thought that the police would find me on the side of the road dead, but the bikers (and these were NOT the weekend biker-weekday accountant types) seemed to appreciate the car and several asked questions and talked to me. We sat through a full red light-green light-red light cycle (because they had me surrounded and I couldn't move) but they finally went on their way and I went home and checked my shorts to see if they needed to be changed!

BUT SOMEHOW I THINK WE ARE WAY OFF TOPIC

Currmudgeon · May 4, 2004

( I have a car that has about 300hp, I have a fleet of diesel trucks that have about 175hp. )

Reminds me of a discussion I had years ago with a sports car snob sneering at my truck.

"I'll drag you, but under my rules."

<Lighting up> " Really? OK! What are the rules."

"We face the vehicles in opposite directions and run a log-chain between the back bumpers. Then we see who drags."

nomad · May 4, 2004

We had a long talk about this a month ago or two.

If summarize it (without referring the old thread);
Power (HP) is a kind of unit of Energy (E) which is a multiplication of Speed (S) and Force (F) or Torque (T).

This means "some" of your HP energy is spent on the Speed and "some*" of HP (Energy/Time) is spent on Force/Torque.
In the cars, most of HP is spent on the speed while in tractors most of it is spent on Force that does the Work.