Originally Posted By: Panzerman
I have no clue why the Briggs Stratton motors are so under estimated. They are super tough and reliable. I think its a "Status" thing of I need a Honda or Kohler, they are the best. As the owner of a lot of equipment. My favorites are the Briggs Stratton and the Robin Subaru engines. I have seen people neglect Briggs for years and then bring them back from death and they still run awesome. To me, anyone that would buy a mower with a new Briggs Stratton, take care of it, it would last them. Ive had more decks rust out and crack, then Briggs Stratton die. Parts are readily available and cheap, unlike Honda or Kohler. Forget the badge, forget the name and just buy a common no nonsense mower with a simple Briggs Stratton engine.
@ Panzerman: I've started my life as a mower boy with a ignition point based B&S flathead with pulsa-jet...was ok but constantly fiddling with the carb in order to make it run right.
Fast forward to those B&S with side-draft carbs: they run very lean (close to stoichiometric of 14.7:1, as perceived by spark plug deposits and colour on the ceramic tip). When they run right: they are ok; but about 3/4 of them ended up being a bit of PITA on my end (when I fix them): carb leans out too much when hot (hotstarts issue---require multiple tugs or sometimes a spray of starting fluid, etc.), auto thermal-choke sticking causing hot start issues; those walbro LMS "clone" carbs are all sealed and non adjustable (unless you are able to get your hands on the earlier versions RE: late 90s, where the mixing screw is not sealed and can be adjusted, etc.); plastic throttle plate with very loose shaft to bore clearances, etc. all contributes to air-fuel mixing issues as the engine ages.
All of these (methinks) due to cost cutting measures and yet still aggressively tries to comply with EPA most recent compliance level. The older, dirty runing pulsa-jet or vacu-jet types of carb are much simpler to run (does run rich though, so be prepared to decarbon the cylinder head every 200hrs or so)....
pulsa-jet and vacu-jet types of carbed B&S are no longer avail as new mower engine since the early 2000, so unless you still own or shop for older B&S engines, the likeliness of getting a new one is next to impossible.
As emissions tightens, B&S is having a hard time getting their flatheads to comply with the latest emissions. That could possibly be the reason why they now starts with 500 or 550ex series of OHV engines, but as I checked on them recently @ lows: plastic carb fuel bowl, etc. is something that disappoints me....
through the years of ownership and maintenance, I've owned numerous B&S flatheads, and now also has a Honda GC series power washer in my possession. They are equally capable of lasting 10 yrs or more, easy to maintain, etc. but when it comes to component quality, etc. it's very distinguishable somehow.
My 2c on this subject.
Q.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...476#Post2664476
