Around here,most people do not cut their own grass anymore.
Briggs and Stratton Files Chapter 11
- Thread starter Lubener
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Ariens has EFI figured out on their premium snowblowers. The time is soon for this to trickle down. I'd prefer a propane setup though, the fuel never goes bad.
Propane doesn't go bad but it does freeze.
No, but someone must be doing it.
Tecumseh went out to the pasture because of their crapola carburetors. Although briggs sound as smooth as the hondas now, their OHV design is too new to see how it will age.
Honda engines are made in china, and made very cheap with some crappy parts that still outlast the equipment.
Honda engines are made in china, and made very cheap with some crappy parts that still outlast the equipment.
After working on many thousands of OPE engines over many years, I can tell you with authority (from experience) that you couldn't be more wrong. For many years Tecumseh's carburetors were vastly superior to the carburetors offered on other inexpensive small engines, including Honda. The primary reasons that Tecumseh went under were because of the following facts...
1. They failed to improve their engine designs in a changing small engine environment.
2. They refused to design and manufacture twin cylinder engines for riders and other larger equipment with higher horsepower requirements, forcing their customers to turn to their competitors for engines.
3. The decline of Sears, far and away the largest seller of their engines.
Negative. Although Honda manufactures engines in many countries around the world, including China, the Honda engines used on most of the OPE products sold in North America are manufactured in Swepsonville, North Carolina
I can tell you've worked on small engines like I have because I share the exact same opinion.
Tecumsehs used to be one of the most fuel efficient small engines, especially on lawn mowers. The smaller jets and passages are what made them a bit more likely to get clogged from ethanol unfortunately, but they were fuel efficient for their time. Many of their vertical engines also had an oil pump inside. They ultimately failed for the reasons you mentioned.
My Toro Super Recycler I specifically ordered with the Honda, as it was made in the USA. The Briggs engines offered seemed to be "assembled in USA from foreign and domestic parts". There are quite a few Briggs engines that are made in the USA (just installed a single cylinder 17.5 Intek on a rider that had that sticker) but some engines from their line are not.
Briggs history in 40 blast from the past photos.
https://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/money/2020/07/20/briggs-stratton-through-years/3287557001/
https://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/money/2020/07/20/briggs-stratton-through-years/3287557001/
I seriously doubt Tecumseh's carbs put them out of business. People didn't like them because they lacked the skills to work on them.
the engines Tecumseh was making right before they went under were their best ones ever. I run a lawn service and the last 2 engines I bought both have been ultra reliable and are still running now with commercial use to. far better than the briggs early ohv engines
I just hire my yard to be cut,,,,nowadays
I have an old troy bilt tiller with the 206cc Intek briggs. It needs a $75 replacement carburetor or a $99 predator repower....
That is true but no one is mowing their lawn at -44F.
The only Honda OPE engines made in the USA are the OHC ones. Everyone’s coveted finicky carb GX engine is made over seas.
The newer Briggs engines are junk.
I would rather have almost any small engine besides a Briggs, I'd take Predators, Champions, Hondas, Kohlers etc.
The Intek engines, that are rebadged and sold on many box store mowers are absolute junk. The large single cylinder inteks are lucky to make it to 200 hours before blowing a head gasket and burning through a large amount of oil in a short amount of time. don't get it shut off soon enough, it will be throwing a rod in short order.
The Twins are slightly better, but a 5-600 hour throw away engine.
The only good engines they currently have are the Vanguard commercial engines.
I would rather have almost any small engine besides a Briggs, I'd take Predators, Champions, Hondas, Kohlers etc.
The Intek engines, that are rebadged and sold on many box store mowers are absolute junk. The large single cylinder inteks are lucky to make it to 200 hours before blowing a head gasket and burning through a large amount of oil in a short amount of time. don't get it shut off soon enough, it will be throwing a rod in short order.
The Twins are slightly better, but a 5-600 hour throw away engine.
The only good engines they currently have are the Vanguard commercial engines.
Wow. decisions made 20 years ago probably cost them big time. Used to, there were 2 known companies, brigs and tecumseh. Tecumseh went belly up and we saw Honda and fuji enter the picture, now followed by a whole slew of them.... briggs enjoyed mostly flathead life based on a proven durable design while the rest of them jumped out with quieter, more efficient, and easier to start machines. Briggs made a good comeback I thought - the 14.5hp one-banger I have now has been a great engine and has at least 500 hours on it now, runs like new, consumes no oil, and is easy on fuel. but, I’m not surprised. It was the underdog option even on my ztr, favored by a Kohler IIRC.
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JTK
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I don't have the numbers and hours into it like some of you fellas have, but I wholeheartedly agree on the Tecumseh thing. Many a family member and others who's OPE I "fix" have some pretty old Tecumseh Snow king engines that I've never had to fiddle with the carburetor on at all. I'm talking 30yr/old machines that most of which have used E10 for eons.
I would have liked to see Tecumseh stay afloat. I've got a 21yr/old YardMan 24" snowblower that has a 7hp Tecumseh OHV engine on it. It had to be one of their first, if not the first series of OHV single cyl engines Tecumseh made. It's an odd ball with the counter rotating shafts, but starts with one pull, idles smooth as butta and has very snappy throttle and power. Never touched the carb on it either. Been through a recoil assembly and maintenance parts is about it.
Agree wholeheartedly! I have a 2004 Yardman with a Tecumseh. It starts right away and uses no oil. It's had Mobil 1 5W30 since new, dealer never even filled it when I bought it because I told him it was going to get M1 as soon as I got home. I use non ethanol gas and never touch the engine. I am however going to need a new snow blower soon to mount this engine to... The ole girl is startin' to show its age but I keep limping her along.
Agreed, we had mostly tec engines and I simply never had many issues with them. I’d forgotten about their better draw on fuel. I mowed a lot of lawns and disliked the Briggs mower we had, though it did tend to start easier- but I do respect the opinions of many who prefer Briggs. I always recall seeing blown rods on tecs from go-kart duty. Tec also had massive flywheels on those guys.
I bought and rebuilt a commercial tecumseh engine back in the 80s. It was a beautiful engine. Thick iron castings, roller bearings, nicely machined counter weights, pressurized lubrication and OHV. It had thousands of hours on it, and accepted repairs at the hands of a 16 y.o. well.
I bought and rebuilt a commercial tecumseh engine back in the 80s. It was a beautiful engine. Thick iron castings, roller bearings, nicely machined counter weights, pressurized lubrication and OHV. It had thousands of hours on it, and accepted repairs at the hands of a 16 y.o. well.
I’m in that crowd too. $25 / week to not deal with the TX summer heat. I do other yard work tho
Grew up with Snapper and switched to Honda push mowers. If I had to do it myself I’d go electric. It’s not the oil changes but transporting gas, noise and fumes.
Seems like Anyone in the gas OPE business needs to make sound product portfolio and investment decisions. Seems to be missing here for B&S.
Do like I did my Snapper SP, buy an older used unit then buy the engine of your choice. The unit itself lasts decades and are everywhere.
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