Catalytic Converters for Small engines

[willing]

Given the extraordinary amount of pollution produced by small engines, you'd think that cat converters would be more common by now. I believe there's US legislation requiring serious reduction in pollution in new machines by 2007, but I'm not sure. My research did turn up lobbying efforts by Briggs and Straton to defeat such legislation in California a few years back - way to lead us forward, B&S!

Anyway I've found a couple of links for companies who claim to be working on aftermarket cat converters for small engines, but so far nothing actually shipping. Anyone know of a company who's doing this for real?

In a related question, a CBC TV news item a while back featured a guy in the maritimes who's been custom-building these things for just this purpose, and had them tested and proven effective by some Canuck gov department, but he can't seem to get anyone interested in funding manufacture. I'd love to have the guy's name.

-=s

[Edwin Pawlowski]

I'm sure it will come. I [pollute more cutting my grass that my drive to work each day.

Biggest problem I see is cost. Gone will be the $89 weed trimmer and $99 chain saw.

Auto industry fought it too, but turns out we have many side benefits. Leaded gas is gone along with spark plugs that fouled in 10,000 miles or less, and oil changes every 1000 miles.

[Joseph Meehan]

Small engines are very dirty to start with. All those hydrocarbons would kill the typical converter quickly. You need to start off with fairly clean exhaust to start with and that means good temperature control, which is very difficult to do with an air cooled engine (Which is why you no longer see air cooled engines on automobiles.) and tight ignition timing and fuel control (computer controlled fuel injection) So with the needed equipment your next push lawn mower may cost a few thousand dollars.

Actually a lot of improvement can and has been made. Many are much less dirty than they were 10 years ago, but you are right, more can be done. However until people demand it, the industry will keep lobbying government and it will not happen.

[ds549]

i go to kohler, echo ,kawasaki,briggs,tecumseh,stihl engine schools every year. ive been hearing there will be cat converters and fuel injection on small engines since 1993. kohler has a gas engine with fuel injection but customers dont want it. lawn boy 2 strokes are no longer to be made as of this year and that all 2 strokes will be history in the next 10-15 years ........ i will say that 4 stroke small engines have been improved on vastly over the last ten years as far as polluting less, due mostly to improved carb and intakes and overhead valves and electronic ignitions. best regards, lucas

[willshak]

I'd rather see seat belts first. Do you know how many times I have fallen off my tractor and spilt my beer? :-)

How about small engines that run on Ethanol?