Should I be afraid of a Briggs Engine

[RazorsEdge]

No issues with the Intek 17.5hp engine on our 2012 Craftsman tractor

 

[Fordiesel69]

All have a "dud" engine in their lineup. I would rather spend the money on the Kawasaki if I were buying new.

 

[thastinger]

I'm an older dude and I always thought B&S were pieces of junk as engines. Lo and behold, as I go lawnmower shopping I'm getting told things that are causing my brain to tilt. Here's what I heard yesterday. Briggs is a great engine. The Vanguard is not really a Briggs but it is better than a Briggs. Kawasaki QC has gone down. Koehler is a great engine. All you gotta do is take care of them and they will all last a "lifetime".

I am looking as Bad Boy, Grasshopper, Kubota, Cub, Scag, etc. From watching a bunch of You-tubes, I know to go first for more transmission as
my main criteria, then comfort and then "all" engines are pretty much the same. As for as engines, hp does not equal pulling power so don't let 1 or 2 hp pull me from a better lower hp engine.

One dealer told me to only use 30 wt oil as they use Federated (I only mow in VA/NC border) and to not use a high temp grease as it wouldn't melt in the spindles???

The world sure has changed since I purchased my Honda 4120 in 1994 for $4500.

I thought I knew "the truths" but apparently my reality has been in "Wonka" land.

In your context, you are talking about either a Briggs Commercial Turf engine or a Vanguard engine, both are great engines. I have a 810cc Briggs Commercial Turf engine on my 61" 2014 Ferris IS700 mower, not a single issue and I run E10 pump gas in it, my BIL just bought a Ferris IS800 with the fuel injected commercial turf engine on a 60" deck, tons of power.

 

[oil pan 4]

all the small engines have come a long way. Kawasaki is still the top dog. vanguard it the commercial Briggs. your biggest issue now is the fuel. use Stabil with every fill up. I just put it in the gas can before I fill them up so I know everything has it in it.

Even better, dump or run the the gas out of it when you park it for the off season.
Ideally pull the gas drain on the carb.

 

[jeepman3071]

I bought a FR type air cleaner to put on my FR730V. There was some chatter about carb jets but I could not find different specs. Running fine for a year now.
https://powerequipmentman.com/products/air-filter-upgrade-kit?

I have heard the same thing about carb jets, but haven't done enough research to know if it is a legit concern, and haven't ever done the air filter upgrade on any engines I've owned.

For what it's worth, I have done quite a few re-powers for commercial mowing companies in my area. They always go for the engines in the following order:

-Kawasaki
-Honda
-Kohler Command
-Briggs Vanguard

I think Briggs Vanguard is pretty even with Kawasaki reliability-wise, but they seem to be a bit harder to find in the configuration that is needed. The last time I put an Intek V-Twin on a commercially used mower for someone (just a regular Intek, not commercial turf) it barely lasted past the warranty before it dropped a valve seat.

The biggest issues with Inteks are lack of quality construction. Just poor engineering. If you look at a Vanguard or Kawasaki, the engine cooling sheet metal fits closer to the engine to help prevent rodents from getting in. Just small things like that which can make a big difference between the engine overheating or not.

You also have to keep in mind that the salespeople are there to sell you a mower, and will say whatever they have to in order to sell you on their brand.

 

[odie]

Have a J.D.130 with the B&S 22 H.P. twin cylinder with about 600 hours on it . Always use synthetic oil ( mostly 5w-30 P.P. ) with J.D or B&S oil filter . Run 90 or 91 non E gas . Mow 2 > 3+1/3 acres with close to 35 degee inclines . It was purchased new at LOWES about 11 years ago .

 

[350Rocket]

all the small engines have come a long way. Kawasaki is still the top dog. vanguard it the commercial Briggs. your biggest issue now is the fuel. use Stabil with every fill up. I just put it in the gas can before I fill them up so I know everything has it in it.

Yes small engines have come a long ways downhill. Briggs used to make good stuff.

 

[b_b]

Yes small engines have come a long ways downhill. Briggs used to make good stuff.

I always considered them bottom of the barrel. they were aware of their reputations and they released the vanguard series which probably saved the company.

 

[350Rocket]

I always considered them bottom of the barrel. they were aware of their reputations and they released the vanguard series which probably saved the company.

I think they are now. But before the 2000s they weren't. My push mower is a 1999 Toro recycler with a 6hp quantum flathead Briggs. Still starts first pull almost every time. The 11hp single cylinder Briggs I had in my 81 MTD lawn tractor ran good but it was overheating every use for several years because of a noise nest in the fan before the previous owner (I mowed his lawn) gave it to me. My 1981 push mower my parents bought new 2 years before I was worn worked fine mowing several acres of our 33 acre property when I was a kid and worked fine on my side job mowing until I hit a huge bolt hidden in long grass on city property and bent the crankshaft.

I'm curious what your experience is since it is opposite of what I've experienced and always heard from everyone? I definitely feel like they're junk now. But they certainly weren't in the old day IMO.

 

[b_b]

I think they are now. But before the 2000s they weren't. My push mower is a 1999 Toro recycler with a 6hp quantum flathead Briggs. Still starts first pull almost every time. The 11hp single cylinder Briggs I had in my 81 MTD lawn tractor ran good but it was overheating every use for several years because of a noise nest in the fan before the previous owner (I mowed his lawn) gave it to me. My 1981 push mower my parents bought new 2 years before I was worn worked fine mowing several acres of our 33 acre property when I was a kid and worked fine on my side job mowing until I hit a huge bolt hidden in long grass on city property and bent the crankshaft.

I'm curious what your experience is since it is opposite of what I've experienced and always heard from everyone? I definitely feel like they're junk now. But they certainly weren't in the old day IMO.

I always had trouble with them growing up, even with meticulous maintenance. now I hardly hear anyone say anything bad about them, beside carburetor gummed up from not using Stabil.

 

[350Rocket]

I always had trouble with them growing up, even with meticulous maintenance. now I hardly hear anyone say anything bad about them, beside carburetor gummed up from not using Stabil.

Yeah we never did maintenance back when I was a kid. Not that my dad didn't believe in it, he was just overwhelmed with stuff at the time and we never had the time. Somehow they didn't blow up anyway. I started maintaining that 1981 after 30 years and it hardly used any oil. Everyone has their own experiences but I've known a lot of people that had the same experience as me.
I've seen a few cases of needle and seat sticking and causing fuel to leak into the oil and take out the rings causing major oil burning but other than that most of the problems I have read about were with newer OHV engines.

 

[rekit]

Had a boxer twin briggs, crappy coil was ok till it got hot then you were done for a few hours. Replacements were not any better. And that was before everything came from china. (I think).

 

[The_Eric]

all the small engines have come a long way. Kawasaki is still the top dog. vanguard it the commercial Briggs. your biggest issue now is the fuel. use Stabil with every fill up. I just put it in the gas can before I fill them up so I know everything has it in it.

Maybe your experiences vary from mine, but until last year, I never used to use stabilizers and almost exclusively used E10. My Deere L110 has amassed 700+ hours with no fuel related issues (except for some debris causing a stuck needle). My stuff gets parked in the garage at the end of the season and started in the spring when it's time to mow again. It wasn't until last season that I decided to splurge and "treat" my OPE to some CRC marine stabilizer - but they didn't start any different than years gone by.

 

[repairman54]

'96 17.5 Intek in a JD still going, and got it used and abused before I got it gifted. Only a valve cover gasket and starter so far. '95 14.5 IC Gold still going, and it did a lot of mowing and snow plowing in a Craftsman rider and just plow duty now. Bottom crank seal is leaking some but it's not worth the labor to replace. I've beat the snot out of it, even snapped off the front transaxle brackets pushing up snow onto mounds.
Good fuel and quality clean oil will never let you down.

 

[Gebo]

I have heard the same thing about carb jets, but haven't done enough research to know if it is a legit concern, and haven't ever done the air filter upgrade on any engines I've owned.

For what it's worth, I have done quite a few re-powers for commercial mowing companies in my area. They always go for the engines in the following order:

-Kawasaki
-Honda
-Kohler Command
-Briggs Vanguard

I think Briggs Vanguard is pretty even with Kawasaki reliability-wise, but they seem to be a bit harder to find in the configuration that is needed. The last time I put an Intek V-Twin on a commercially used mower for someone (just a regular Intek, not commercial turf) it barely lasted past the warranty before it dropped a valve seat.

The biggest issues with Inteks are lack of quality construction. Just poor engineering. If you look at a Vanguard or Kawasaki, the engine cooling sheet metal fits closer to the engine to help prevent rodents from getting in. Just small things like that which can make a big difference between the engine overheating or not.

You also have to keep in mind that the salespeople are there to sell you a mower, and will say whatever they have to in order to sell you on their brand.

Interesting about the "fins". What is the difference between a Commercial Briggs and the Vanguard? And where does the "Intek" fit in?

 

[Gebo]

I use Amsoil Stabilizer and PRI-G in all my 4 stroke gas engines. I use that expensive Stihl gas in my 2 strokes.

 

[Gebo]

The real reason is I am having a quality issue question in my mind. I've had a Honda engine in my mower for 30 years. Never seen
a single repair. I can't find a ZT with a Honda Engine. My second choice is a Kawaski. I got my eyes on a Grasshopper 100 but they
said they quit using Kawasaki because Kawasaki couldn't meet their demand?????

I'm trying to use yalls experience to help me feel comfortable with my decision. I'm just not there yet. I'm just not settled as
of this morning.

 

[dlundblad]

I bought a self propelled walk behind Columbia mower 4 years ago. It's got that Briggs engine that advertises itself as not needing oil changes ( I change it once a year).
No issues yet.

My wife's grandpa bought one of those mowers about 4 years ago. It was always funny hearing him complain about it.

I may or may not have purposely brought up the subject to get him riled.

 

[92saturnsl2]

I’m a victim of Kawasaki’s cheapening out on their homeowner grade FR series. Barely lasted 100 hours out of a FR730V before seized rings led to excessive oil consumption. Engine seized at about 140 hours but was able to be freed up by the dealer. Now it only can start cold, no dice once it’s fully warmed up.

This time around, I went with a Briggs Commercial Turf motor and it is lightyears better than the Kawasaki FR line. I’m at 100 hours and no issues to note. Easiest starting engine that I’ve ever had, cold or hot.

I just bought a $7K Ariens Apex 60" Limited Edition with this engine. If first impression is anything to go by, I'm not impressed with my Kawasaki FR730V at all.

I've been all around 2-cylinder OPE engines a lot in different applications. Onans, Kohler Commands, Hondas, less so with Briggs. I've never seen anything so cheaply made. The air filter housing is a thin plastic joke with no pre-filter. The location causes it to fill with grass clippings fairly quickly. The engine shroud/cover is cheap/thin plastic over the hottest part of the engine. Seems this is planned obsolensce as heat cycles will kill plastic, not just engine hours. FR engines removed the blowout ports where you could stick an air wand in and clean the fins. For what reason? Even the FR730V model sticker on top of the cheap cover looks like something off a toy, bubbles all in it, crudely applied.

The amount of oil burning smoke I've seen rolling out of this engine is enough to make me worry about it. Never encountered that before on a new engine. It happens after a long mow, where you're actually putting it to work. If it sits for 10-15 minutes then go to restart it, rest assured there will not be a mosquito within 50 feet of you or downwind once this sucker fires up. It's happened a couple times now, very embarassing. I also hear valve clatter on a 13 hour engine which suggests valves need adjustment.

I don't know why so many folks espouse Kawasaki as the best. Even without the issues I've had, a good look at the construction tells me right away there's serious cost cutting going on. Kawasaki's answer to oil consumption in years past was a dealer bulleting advising them to use 20w-50. I know of no other small v-twin with that recommendation. I love the Ariens mower (a real beast), but not the engine. If I had a do-over, I'd go with a comparable Ferris machine w/ Briggs engine.

 

[Opelman]

I'd be bringing that Ariens back to the dealer. It shouldn't be behaving like that. I've been working a bit at a Gravely/ Ariens dealer and the Kawis have been solid. I haven't had to do a head gasket on a Kawasaki yet, lots of Kohlers and Briggs though. I'm waiting to do an autopsy on an injected high hour Yamaha that grenaded.