Shame, i really do like those Teledyne built Wisconsin engines, damn good gas engines. I do have several vertical shaft, built to Teledyne spec's Jap built Wisconsin Robin powered Snapper mowers, starts every spring, smooth runners and never gave any problems, very cost effective when compared against the new high hp gas eating OHV junk on the market now. You guys would LOVE my little 27 inch Ariens mower i repowered with a Yanmar diesel.
I do a lot of residential brushing, hedges, pruning and de-limbing, the man hours of having to lob up everything to size and truck the waste home to be ground up with my grinder has always eat into the profits and kept me from attaching more like jobs or hiring help (hard to find good help anyways). As much as the 2016D appeals to me, it sounds like the drum chipper would be better.
A inside story for you Holmen as to why the Winnie engine run was limited. Wisconsin's engine division, Teledyne, not the aeronautical division per say but the older original plant owned by Continental Motor Corps (Wisconsin's parent company) needed residential markets again but instead of tooling up for engine below the 30 hp a contract was made with a reputed small engine Mfg called Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan to build gas and diesel engines under the Wisconsin Robin brand. It was a instant hit and why not, it was backed by the most powerful engine Mfg in the country. Wisconsin begin to include and update the older cast iron multi-cylinder gas engines and single cylinder diesel casted right here in the US at the Wisconsin plant under the supervision of Teledyne, the Wisconsin Robin brand hence the Teledyne name and part numbers, the gas engine updates entailed high output mil spec electronic ignition, balanced and weighted flywheels, two versions of high quality rebuildable Jap carbs (the carb Mfg's eludes me right now) updated heads and higher compression pistons while still retaining the proven Wisconsin's older design L-head block and internals such as balanced and blueprinted cast iron cranks, updated heavy duty crank tapered roller bearings, aircraft quality rods and higher compression dimple pistons, Stellite (cobalt-chromium) self cleaning rotator type valves with heavy duty replaceable valve guilds, clips and double valve springs, updated aircraft alloy aluminum heads and a range of other goodies attached. Non of the other US built engine Mfg could touch Wisconsin's engines with a one mile long pole with help. It was the best US built gas engine. Then Continental Motor Corp's engine division Teledyne shot itself and us in the foot and did not renew the Wisconsin Robin contract for reason unknown and ended the joint venture. The Wisconsin's engine plant dried up and blew away with the wind with a lot of proud workers losing their jobs. Now just a faded memory while Fuji Heavy Industries joined with Subaru and continued to market the little gas engines to this day, not even close to the outstanding quality we once had.
As quick as it came in it blew out hence parts are very difficult to find for those engines. Never abuse it, keep it covered and pray nothing break and it will continue to run. Sad part is, eventually it will wear out and become collectable, matter of fact, they already are !
