1997 Yamaha G16, typical engine RPM range?

thoffman2000 · 05-29-2021, 10:51 AM

I have a 1997 G16 with the 301 engine and Plowman's Hot Setup. It has a Equus tach but it was very jumpy and sporadic so I installed a new inductive pickup sensor. Tach now operates nice and smooth. I'm wondering...what is the typical RPM range for an engine like this? And, what would be considered a "red line"? It seems to fire at about 1000 rpm (which is about as slow as I can run it as well) and revs in neutral to about 4000 (which is where I stop for fear of blowing it up). Governor is bypassed with pedal connected directly to carb.

Thanks for any thoughts/info you can give!
T

smallblock450sl · 05-29-2021, 01:52 PM

Just drive it like you stole it

Then put a Bigblock in it.

slonomo · 05-29-2021, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thoffman2000

I have a 1997 G16 with the 301 engine and Plowman's Hot Setup. It has a Equus tach but it was very jumpy and sporadic so I installed a new inductive pickup sensor. Tach now operates nice and smooth. I'm wondering...what is the typical RPM range for an engine like this? And, what would be considered a "red line"? It seems to fire at about 1000 rpm (which is about as slow as I can run it as well) and revs in neutral to about 4000 (which is where I stop for fear of blowing it up). Governor is bypassed with pedal connected directly to carb.

Thanks for any thoughts/info you can give!
T

Yes if the engine is stock 4000 rpm is about right. Above that and you'll get valve float. Engine wear will also occur at a much faster rate.

raydhd · 05-30-2021, 08:12 AM

Can't speak about a G16 But I drove my G14 for 8 years on a rings and rod bearing rebuild @ 4500 rpms. As far as I could determine the valves were not floating at this rpm. After the 8 year it started smoking again so at that point the VC 460 was swapped in. The weakness in the G2-14 engines is the oil control rings. Most everything else is pretty beefy. No doubt running higher rpms probably shortened the rings life BUT I still got 350 hours on a minimal rebuild.

slonomo · 05-30-2021, 08:26 AM

IMO the factory valve springs are very weak, probably done on purpose to prevent speed at the golf courses. I knew guys that would take tools with them when they played around and would crank up the governor all the way. The soft springs act like a "secondary governor" to keep the engine from reving up. The engine would just not rev any farther past a certain point. No idea what rpm that was but it was surely above 4000 rpm. I've also heard rumors of bent pushrods on these early Yamaha's. Why take the risk? These engines weren't designed to rev. Use it like it was intended and it will last a long long time. Go beyond that and you'll see it won't last. Not sure I'd recommend anyone reving these to 4500.

TheNewGuy · 05-30-2021, 08:59 AM

With the Plowman's Hot Setup, I would be calling Plowman's....talk to Don.

raydhd · 05-30-2021, 09:45 AM

Don will certainly know

thoffman2000 · 05-31-2021, 11:49 AM

Thanks everyone!

05-29-2021, 10:51 AM	#1
thoffman2000 Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Knoxville, IA - The Sprint Car Capital of the World! Posts: 301	1997 Yamaha G16, typical engine RPM range? I have a 1997 G16 with the 301 engine and Plowman's Hot Setup. It has a Equus tach but it was very jumpy and sporadic so I installed a new inductive pickup sensor. Tach now operates nice and smooth. I'm wondering...what is the typical RPM range for an engine like this? And, what would be considered a "red line"? It seems to fire at about 1000 rpm (which is about as slow as I can run it as well) and revs in neutral to about 4000 (which is where I stop for fear of blowing it up). Governor is bypassed with pedal connected directly to carb. Thanks for any thoughts/info you can give! T

05-29-2021, 01:52 PM	#2
smallblock450sl Sometime's............ Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tacoma Washington Posts: 11,875	Re: 1997 Yamaha G16, typical engine RPM range? Just drive it like you stole it Then put a Bigblock in it.

05-30-2021, 08:12 AM	#4
raydhd VC 460 CLONE GONE WILD Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Ray BY The Bay NJ Posts: 10,647	Re: 1997 Yamaha G16, typical engine RPM range? Can't speak about a G16 But I drove my G14 for 8 years on a rings and rod bearing rebuild @ 4500 rpms. As far as I could determine the valves were not floating at this rpm. After the 8 year it started smoking again so at that point the VC 460 was swapped in. The weakness in the G2-14 engines is the oil control rings. Most everything else is pretty beefy. No doubt running higher rpms probably shortened the rings life BUT I still got 350 hours on a minimal rebuild.

05-30-2021, 08:26 AM	#5
slonomo Searching for The Way Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO) Posts: 11,442	Re: 1997 Yamaha G16, typical engine RPM range? IMO the factory valve springs are very weak, probably done on purpose to prevent speed at the golf courses. I knew guys that would take tools with them when they played around and would crank up the governor all the way. The soft springs act like a "secondary governor" to keep the engine from reving up. The engine would just not rev any farther past a certain point. No idea what rpm that was but it was surely above 4000 rpm. I've also heard rumors of bent pushrods on these early Yamaha's. Why take the risk? These engines weren't designed to rev. Use it like it was intended and it will last a long long time. Go beyond that and you'll see it won't last. Not sure I'd recommend anyone reving these to 4500.

05-30-2021, 08:59 AM	#6
TheNewGuy Admin/Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 18,055	Re: 1997 Yamaha G16, typical engine RPM range? With the Plowman's Hot Setup, I would be calling Plowman's....talk to Don.
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05-30-2021, 09:45 AM	#7
raydhd VC 460 CLONE GONE WILD Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Ray BY The Bay NJ Posts: 10,647	Re: 1997 Yamaha G16, typical engine RPM range? Don will certainly know

05-31-2021, 11:49 AM	#8
thoffman2000 Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Knoxville, IA - The Sprint Car Capital of the World! Posts: 301	Re: 1997 Yamaha G16, typical engine RPM range? Thanks everyone!

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