Armilite
Well-Known Member
I'm more of a Rotax guy, but I do also follow other Engines. The Kawasaki 340F/440F were very popular Ultralight Engines account they were Cheap, Reliable, and were available as Industrial Engines, as well as used in different brands of Snowmobiles, Kawasaki, John Deere, Arctic Cats, etc. Later on, I don't know their full History, but the Arctic Cats were switched over to Suzuki 340/440's which are almost identical to the Kawasaki 340/440's. The Suzuki motors never really caught on with the Airplane crowd. The only bad thing about them was Nobody made a Good Ultralight Tuned Pipe for them. They used an Adapter Plate to use a Rotax A Gear Drive or used a Belt Drive with them. Newer Kawasaki 340's/440's and the Suzuki 340's/440's used a Balance Shaft. There was also Water Cooled versions and even Dual Plug versions and Free Air versions. There was also 550 Liquid Cooled and FAN versions, Single and Dual Plug.
The Good things were, all Kawasaki/Suzuki used Nikasil Cylinders and so were lighter than the Rotax's. Most were under Carbed so have the potential to make more HP! They used same PTO that Rotax's use, 30mm 1:10 Taper.
340's were (60mm x 60mm) 339.4cc. 339cc/7cc = 48.4hp at 6500rpm.
Power output varied: 32-35hp at 6800rpm
440's were (68mm x 60mm) 436.0cc. 436cc/7cc = 62.3hp at 6500rpm.
Power output varied: 38 hp (28 kW) at 5000 rpm for Industrial use.
Most were used at a Higher Rpm for 40-45hp!
Remember, the 7cc to make 1hp Rule is using 6500rpm and using 11.5cr with a Tuned Pipe Designed for 6500rpms.
Each 1.0cr = 2hp, so each .5cr = 1hp, up or down from 11.5cr.
For the Gear Drives, you want the model Case that has the Big Boss around the PTO. For the newer ones with a Balance Shaft, it would be nice to make a Billet Balance Shaft Cover with the Provision 8 Data on it. Even the Kawasaki 440 Jet Ski Motors could be adapted. 8-9 months ago you could But a New Suzuki 440 Crate Motor for $950 on eBay.
Anybody here using a Newer Kawasaki/Suzuki 440 or converted one of the 440 Jet Ski versions? Got my eye on a little Jet Boat sitting in the weeds that has one of these Kawasaki 440's in it.
I know the Sled 340/440 share same lower end, and I see the 440JS and 550JS share same lower end, so I would bet the Sled 340/440/550 also share the same lower end. Haven't found the Bore & Stroke of the 550 yet.
Never seen any of these Kawasaki/Suzuki's 340/440 ever Dynoed.
The Good things were, all Kawasaki/Suzuki used Nikasil Cylinders and so were lighter than the Rotax's. Most were under Carbed so have the potential to make more HP! They used same PTO that Rotax's use, 30mm 1:10 Taper.
340's were (60mm x 60mm) 339.4cc. 339cc/7cc = 48.4hp at 6500rpm.
Power output varied: 32-35hp at 6800rpm
440's were (68mm x 60mm) 436.0cc. 436cc/7cc = 62.3hp at 6500rpm.
Power output varied: 38 hp (28 kW) at 5000 rpm for Industrial use.
Most were used at a Higher Rpm for 40-45hp!
- Dry weight: 49 lb (22 kg). I believe I read once a Kawasaki 440 was 7 lbs lighter than the Rotax 447.
Remember, the 7cc to make 1hp Rule is using 6500rpm and using 11.5cr with a Tuned Pipe Designed for 6500rpms.
Each 1.0cr = 2hp, so each .5cr = 1hp, up or down from 11.5cr.
For the Gear Drives, you want the model Case that has the Big Boss around the PTO. For the newer ones with a Balance Shaft, it would be nice to make a Billet Balance Shaft Cover with the Provision 8 Data on it. Even the Kawasaki 440 Jet Ski Motors could be adapted. 8-9 months ago you could But a New Suzuki 440 Crate Motor for $950 on eBay.
Anybody here using a Newer Kawasaki/Suzuki 440 or converted one of the 440 Jet Ski versions? Got my eye on a little Jet Boat sitting in the weeds that has one of these Kawasaki 440's in it.
I know the Sled 340/440 share same lower end, and I see the 440JS and 550JS share same lower end, so I would bet the Sled 340/440/550 also share the same lower end. Haven't found the Bore & Stroke of the 550 yet.
Never seen any of these Kawasaki/Suzuki's 340/440 ever Dynoed.
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