Questions on Horse Power

[Kestrel Motors Inc.]

Hey,
I have a 1 1/2 horse Clinton engine. I looked up motorbike laws in NE (where I live) and bikes are considered mopeds here. In the laws, it said that it couldn't be more than two brake horsepower. http://moped2.org/laws/Nebraska.htm I don't understand what a brake horsepower is and if my engine is under that. I don't know how many cc's it is... Answers would be great, thanks guys!


Kestrel Motors Inc.

 

[professor]

As far as I know brake hp is the output on a brake dynomometer. I would not worry about the rating. That engine is a real old timer, probably as old as me.

 

[HeadSmess]

indicated as versus brake horsepower.

indicated is a theoretical, harks back to steam engines when you could have a pressure guage on the cylinder and work out the "indicated" horsepower by the cylinder pressure/cylinder volume etc.

and yep, brake horsepower was when its hooked up to a brake. i think its what it can start turning with, not how much it takes to stop it turning.


these days? a HP is a HP is 750 watts approx, or 30000ft-lb/min

ps is slightly different but close enough to not matter

0.75 Kw is 1 hp...

ooooh, nice n rusty i like that engine muchly though i prefer my 1926 b&s with OHV