Should I avoid Briggs and Stratton?

[Vern_in_IL]

...since they declared bankruptcy, dealer part shortages, and crappy parts, such as pressed together camshafts.

Are engines and brands like Simplicity(which nobody has on their showrooms) OUT?

 

[97prizm]

I think another American company has re-invested and taken over. I wouldn't freak out yet. They still seem to make a good product. There aren't many choices left for small engines as the government is trying to force everyone to electric.

 

[b_b]

vanguard makes a solid product, as does kohler and Kawasaki. i think they have all improved over the last 20 years. Any pick will serve you well. imo.

 

[Imp4]

There's a few supply chain things to be concerned about these days.
IMO, the ubiquitous nature of B&S parts availability isn't one of them.

 

[Imp4]

There aren't many choices left for small engines as the government is trying to force everyone to electric.

@97prizm
This is a bad take.
Full stop.

A more appropriate assessment would be that the market has rewarded those that can both maintain reasonable prices and good quality while managing dynamic changes in market expectations.

A more pedestrian assessment would be to make good stuff inexpensively while adapting to changes in the market.
Capitalism 101.

Too many people here want government controls to maintain classical markets. @97prizm, for instance with his bad take here.
Socialism 101.

Innovate, innovate, innovate.
It's the American way.

 

[mrsilv04]

I think it would depend on how much money you're looking at spending.

A $300 push mower?...No issue. A $3000 lawn tractor?.... Nope. Not a chance.

 

[BISCUT]

@97prizm
This is a bad take.
Full stop.

A more appropriate assessment would be that the market has rewarded those that can both maintain reasonable prices and good quality while managing dynamic changes in market expectations.

A more pedestrian assessment would be to make good stuff inexpensively while adapting to changes in the market.
Capitalism 101.

Too many people here want government controls to maintain classical markets.
Socialism 101.

Innovate, innovate, innovate.
It's the American way.

Your premise seems to make assumptions that are not readily able to be verified quite yet.

 

[JC1]

...since they declared bankruptcy, dealer part shortages, and crappy parts, such as pressed together camshafts.

Are engines and brands like Simplicity(which nobody has on their showrooms) OUT?

You buying brand new or used OPE? I had a 6hp Briggs in my Ariens mower. Never let me down in 20 years. Yearly oil changes and fuel stabilizer religiously. I never changed the air filter in 20 years. Didn't need it. I think I changed the spark plug once. Went out and bought a 20v DeWalt mower and the POS died after 6 weeks and 3.25 mowings.

Returned it and got a Ryobi battery powered. Hopefully it lasts a few years.

I'm sure there are plenty of Parts for Briggs engines.

 

[Imp4]

Your premise seems to make assumptions that are not readily able to be verified quite yet.

Innovative economies do not wait for fully verified and implemented solutions to receive the stamp of approval.
That's what lagging economies do.
Leaders innovate themselves out of current problems and quagmire.

The traditionalist mindsets prevalent here laughably don't see that they are the problem, not the solution. This is 19th century suff guys. Come on.

 

[Jackson_Slugger]

...since they declared bankruptcy, dealer part shortages, and crappy parts, such as pressed together camshafts.

Are engines and brands like Simplicity(which nobody has on their showrooms) OUT?

Try ordering parts from Japan...

 

[Astro_Guy]

...since they declared bankruptcy, dealer part shortages, and crappy parts, such as pressed together camshafts.

Are engines and brands like Simplicity(which nobody has on their showrooms) OUT?

I wouldn't worry about it. They are still one of the predominant brands of small engines, along with Honda, Kawasaki, and Kohler, and they will be for some time.

 

[97prizm]

@97prizm
This is a bad take.
Full stop.

A more appropriate assessment would be that the market has rewarded those that can both maintain reasonable prices and good quality while managing dynamic changes in market expectations.

A more pedestrian assessment would be to make good stuff inexpensively while adapting to changes in the market.
Capitalism 101.

Too many people here want government controls to maintain classical markets. @97prizm, for instance with his bad take here.
Socialism 101.

Innovate, innovate, innovate.
It's the American way.

No I'm as libertarian as it gets, Not to get political, i have a royal dislike for any socialist regime. I was simply stating that Briggs&Strattons had another company come in to restructure after. bankruptcy. I don't see an issue with purchasing a new product with a B&S engine. There aren't many small engine choices left. Innovation is great.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Get something with a Honda engine, or something electric

 

[b_b]

Get something with a Honda engine, or something electric

honda engines carry big price increase, thats why you dont see them on big zero turns. they do make great engines though, have 17 year old honda generator that still runs great.

 

[BISCUT]

Innovative economies do not wait for fully verified and implemented solutions to receive the stamp of approval.
That's what lagging economies do.
Leaders innovate themselves out of current problems and quagmire.

The traditionalist mindsets prevalent here laughably don't see that they are the problem, not the solution. This is 19th century suff guys. Come on.

Such arrogance displayed for a tech that pre-dates ICE. Under your statements, it's rather clear the current US administration is certainly not providing leadership. And I sure don't find it laughable, sad you do.

 

[TeamZero]

My 22hp one on my 2011 snapper has been great. Badly abused up until 3 years ago when I got it free. Spent about 500 $ fixing it up.. ...belts, blades, ign switch,tune up, hydro oil change, couple tires , and front wheel brgs. Oil was like mud, changed a few times to flush out and now once a year. Dont have to add any in my roughly 35 hrs a year. 435 hrs on it now. I even tow a 500+ pound roller around in the spring.

 

[jeepman3071]

Like anything else there are models I would buy and others I wouldn't. Their commercial engines are pretty good (Vanguard) as well as the commercial series V-Twins. There aren't too many "bad" small engines these days, at least for mowers. I would avoid any of the Chinese engines, not because the engines themselves are bad, but the fasteners they use are complete garbage. I had a customer with a broken recoil rope on an almost brand new snowblower with a Chinese Honda clone. They tried removing the recoil bolts with a nut driver and all of the bolts snapped.


Edit:

There are some small engines I would generally avoid:
-Briggs Intek 12.5hp - 21hp single cylinder vertical shaft engine (head gasket problems, valve seat/guide issues, carb needle valve issues)

-Kohler Courage (cracking blocks, loosening bolts that jam the flywheel, endless large leaks, plastic DOHC gears breaking)

 

[joekingcorvette]

I believe it was in 2020 when Briggs and Stratton filed BKR. I believe their products will be fine with parts available. It' probably not a whole lot different than the car companies that have file BKR since they all seem to bounce back. Too bad the shareholders received $0.00.

 

[4WD]

Well, have always bought Craftman (Husqvarna) with B&S … the metal and steering is gone way before the motor … got my money’s worth and sell to someone who welds up the deck etc …
but I don’t have a crystal ball on them or other small motors …
On the electric comments - we are heading for heavy competition and surface extraction - and need some actual engineered solutions … Everytime you go battery at a fixed location (not automobile or mobile device) - that is still more pressure on limited resources instead of dealing with the ‘fixed’ issue … (O/K knows this) …

 

[vwmaniaman]

I have B&S motors on all my equipment meaning 4 riding mowers and a Rototiller from the 70's. My son just started using my Dad's old 77 J.C. Penny (Murray] 42 " cut riding mower. It's 11hp B&S motor has never been apart and still fires right up. When I bought our Husqvarna 42" cut hydrostat mower the salesman told me at this independent farm store that they had been having problems with the Kohler motors and recommended the B&S model even though it was cheaper. I just service them once a year for oil and sharpen blades.