Replacement Briggs engines (for Snowblower)

[pidster]

Our beloved snowblower lost it's engine a couple months ago. Lady luck has not been on my side with machinery lately. I checked the oil before starting her up as I always do, full. Start clearing the driveway, nearing the end the motor seems to be bogging down easier and pinging a little like it's running a little lean, I figured it's on the verge of running out of gas.. So I back off from the snow stop the auger figuring I'd drive it back up to the garage before shutting it down. POP! bunch of smoke comes out of the side of the engine and it slowly coughs to a halt.

As I wave away the smoke I notice the bright yellow plastic oil drain plug is no longer where it should be. Then I realize the source of the smoke is the hole in the side of the crankcase.

Obviously this engine is beyond a rebuild.

Any suggestions on where to get my hands on a replacement at a decent price, whether online or locally in the Greater Toronto area?

 

[pidster]

Also, it doesn't seem like swapping in a different horizontal shaft small engine would be too difficult, the motor just bolts on top of the snowblower chassis and spins 2 belts, I'd think perhaps drilling some new mounting holes and finding different size belts is all it would take.

The first thing that struck my mind was finding a fairly large 2 stroke engine, or a very small diesel. Just to be different lol.

But really I see no reason I couldn't adapt the engine from another blower, or something like a generator if I had to. The 2-stroke would be easiest but I have no idea what kind of equipment would have came with a 2 stroke motor big enough for snowblower duty. A lawnmower just won't do it.

Hmm, figuring out a way to turn a simple repair/replace job into a complicated, expensive and totally irrational project, that's what happens when I spend too much time tinkering in the workshop.

 

[CharlieJ]

Have you looked at this thread?:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/snow-blower-reengine-harbor-freight-6-5-pics.149281/

Swaps old snow blower engine for a new engine.

 

[Warstud]

Sounds like you threw a rod....had that happen to me last year. I patched up the hole and replaced the rod and all is well now.

 

[eljefino]

There are lots of dead briggs motors around with good compression but bad magnetos or carbs. If you can shovel until spring you can make a nice project.

Also parting out small engines can make you serious money on ebay: $50 for a carb? Nuts! Don't just chuck the core in the dumpster.

The bolt patterns are pretty universal; you should be pleasantly suprised.

 

[Kestas]

My snowthrower blew the crankcase open last month. I can't get a replacement engine because it has two counterrotating shafts that drive the unit. Does yours have one or two shafts?

 

[dwendt44]

http://acengines.com/ZenCart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_14

 

[turbodieselfreak]

I'm going the diesel route myself with a two-stage toro, using a yanmar clone. Everything measured up, but I forgot to measure block width right to left-the left side bolts are off by 3/4 of an inch. I'm going to fabricate an adapter plate from sheet steel, and leave enough room for a platform installed battery over the left wheel, so I don't need a jumpbox or the pull starter. Everything else was a perfect fit, even shaft and keyway specs. I don't know how to post pics, otherwise I'd show you a few with the engine sitting on the frame, after yanking the shot gasser. I'm thinking the torque curve will be perfect for this app.

 

[boraticus]

With the torque of the diesel, you'll have plenty of opportunity to experiment with pulley ratios. If you're not happy with impeller and auger speeds, the diesel will easily power larger drive pulleys.

 

[kemo]

pidster, PM me the model type and code... i'll try to find a replacement briggs engine that should drop in.