D-400 engine
| D-400 series engine | |
|---|---|
 Restored Masport Iron Horse engine | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer |
Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) Lawn-Boy |
| Also called | Iron Horse |
| Production | 1954--1977 |
| Combustion chamber | |
| Configuration | Single-cylinder 2-stroke |
| Displacement | 108.99 cc (6.651 cu in)[1] |
| Cylinder bore | 60.325 mm (2.3750 in) |
| Piston stroke | 38.1 mm (1.50 in) |
| Cylinder block alloy | Aluminium |
| Cylinder head alloy | Aluminium |
| Compression ratio | 4.5:1 |
| Combustion | |
| Fuel system | Float carburettor |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Oil system | 16:1-32:1 pre-mixed fuel:oil mix |
| Cooling system | Air-cooled |
| Output | |
| Power output | 2.6 kW (3.5 hp)[1] |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | D-600 |
The D-400 series engine or the Iron Horse engine was a light-duty 2-stroke engine used for powering lawnmowers produced in the 1960s to the early 1980s. D-400 engines were single-cylinder engines designed and manufactured by the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC; Johnson and Evinrude) for Lawn-Boy[2] and Masport. The D-400 engines displaced 109 cc, generated 2.61 kW of power, and operated in the range of 2400-3300 RPM.[1][3] The engines have a distinctive rectangular cowling that has created a nickname of Brick-top mowers. Another distinctive feature is the two-finger vertical recoil starter.[3] The kidney-shaped muffler and exhaust unit is mounted beneath the mowers' deck and gives the engine a small, low profile design when compared to the newer and more powerful lawnmower engines. The ignition system employs a magneto, points, and a condenser (capacitor) set-up with an unusual spark-advance system which utilised a weight on the crankshaft to adjust the spark-advance amount depending on engine speed. The sprung governor was also unusual with a throw-yoke which operated under the flywheel and was linked to the throttle. The carburettor was a float design and fed into a pair of reed valves.
The D-400 engines are now a popular engine restoration job due to their distinctive shape and low cost.[4][5] Parts, however can be difficult to source and therefore multiple engines are often bought to satisfy part requirements. The recommended oil:fuel mix is either 16:1 or 32:1 depending on age.[1] In New Zealand and Australia, Masport offered the D-400 engine on their Premier, Premier II, Rancher, Rotacut, and Tornado models.[6] In this Oceania market, the D-400 was called the Iron Horse engine.
References
- 1 2 3 4 Lawn-Boy (1983). "Lawn-Boy Service Manual 1950--1983". Retrieved 2012-02-04.
- ↑ "Lawn-Boy brand history". 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
- 1 2 "Lawn Boy Engine series". 2008. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
- ↑ "1977 Lawnboy 5024 Restored by Yard Nazi". 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
- ↑ Pcamore (2011). "Finished my Renovation 2 Stroke Masport Iron Horse". Retrieved 2012-02-04.
- ↑ "Moving Up to Masport TV Commercial [sic] (1972)". 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-04.