Originally Posted By: javacontour
it seems to have more power while being rated at 5.5HP compared to the 6HP rated Briggs.
Lets not forget the massive class action lawsuit against Briggs, Tecumseh, Kohler, MTD, Deere, Sears and Toro for knowingly fudging horsepower ratings and conspiring to deceive consumers as well as violating Rico laws.
That 6 HP. Briggs is actually about 3.5 HP. Now they use torque rating to deceive consumers. A 6.75 Torque engine delivers about 3.8 HP but the 6.75 rating is far more appealing than a 4 hp label. When Sears claimed to have the "Most powerful mowers in the world" and sold a 7 HP push mower, it tested at 3.6 hp, the same as all the other 160cc engines, some sold as 4 hp on up to 7 hp and everything in between. Of course the "more powerful" machines sold for more money.
Sears also claimed to have the most powerful compact garden tractor, the 27 hp Kohler Pro 5000GT tractor. When tested, it produced 16.4 hp, a 72% fudge yet the 16 hp rating is a much more believable rating. This practice has not stopped, in the suit, the parties settled but admitted to NO wrong diong or deception of horsepower ratings to consumers. I assure you that an 8 inch wheeled Sear rider is not delivering 26 horsepower. The tuff-torq K-46 transmission is only capable of transmitting a peak of 200
inch lbs. of torque and about 4 hp to the tires. A 12 hp engine would be more than enough for any task that machine can handle. I'd, like to hook it back to back with my '78 WheelHorse C-121 12 hp Kohler and demonstrate real power to the proud owner of that shiny new 26 hp 8 inch wheeled Craftsman.
Manufacturers want to sell equipment and strive to make their equipment more enticing than the competition. One way of doing so, since HP sells to the laymen, is to have a higher hp label on top of the engine than the competition and sell it for the same price. Joe & Mary the home owners perceive a higher value and make the higher hp purchase.
I purchased, from my local dealer, a 495.00 Toro 6.5 hp walk behind in 2004 and I received 150.00 in settlement money. It was a model 20039 21 inch recycler, 21" aluminum deck, electric start, blade brake, personal pace rear wheel drive with a Briggs Quantum 6.5 hp. It was the most expensive model and I still have it and love it. You are very hard pressed to see any clippings from a standing position, even in thick 8" grass. It is extremely quite and smooth, its a nice machine.
Here is a link to class action suit pdf