Save Old Iron 1,563 #26 Posted June 5, 2012 The best part about a Briggs...when they do blow up they are cheap to replace! ROFL!! I'll add a comment to the "best part of a Briggs" statement. Equipment with a blown INTEK can be had for a song. Once a hole gets punched in the block due to owner neglect, the item quickly hits Craigslist. Last fall I picked up a Little Wonder blower and and a pull behind Track Vac for $100 each. Both had blown Inteck 6 hp's. Both owners admitted to "someone forgot to check the oil". Another $200 for replacement engines will net me $2000 worth of lawn equipment I would otherwise not be able to justify paying for. The 3 or 4 times I will use the blower in the spring and fall will dictate an offshore clone replacement engine for $100. So in closing, a tip of my hat to those who don't do regular maintenance. Gotta go ! Time to check Craigslist for another bargain. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fordiesel69 210 #27 Posted June 14, 2012 I also agree the 16HP twin I have in the GT-1642 has never been touched other than a new bendix kit / gear for the starter. Never even a carb cleaning......... To this day it does not burn oil or knock. It has outlasted all of the K series we have owned. Kohler is still my favorite for rebuilding / working on. Their carbs are just the best once adjusted properly. I have always hated tecumseh. They do NOT handle overspeed at all. Out pops the rod, and when that happens 9/10 times the block is shot. As for their carburetors, total junk. Brand new carbs still don;t run perfect...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkPalmer 80 #28 Posted June 14, 2012 I have come across quite a few Cub 582's people had with the original 16 horse Briggs twin, and all of them ran very well and likely outlasted the not-so-great Kohler KT17 Series I twins that were put in thier bigger brothers as new. I'm sort of indifferent towards Briggs, neither like nor hate them in general. -Mark- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COMMANDO6 20 #29 Posted June 15, 2012 Well, the Teccy in mine runs perfectly, and it gets the job done. And my dad has a 20+ year old Briggs generator that always fires on the first pull. But I can't really have an opinion because I haven't used a Kohler. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Will G 3 #30 Posted June 19, 2012 For as long as I can remember, my dad had always had Briggs's on his mowers and they always ran just fine and got the job done. He bought a brand new Toro Timecutter in 04 or 05 and it came with a 17.5 hp Briggs ELS OHV single that lasted quite a few years until it had so much blow-by that oil mist was coming out of the fuel pump vent due to worn out rings from the air filter design being crap. He replaced that with a 12.5 Kohler Command OHV off a John Deere STX-38 that his friend gave to him. Ran well and had enough torque to run a 42 inch deck, 2 hydros and a blower. Last year I replaced the coil on it as it died with no spark. Now it won't start and everything checks out OK. However a neighbor of ours gave us his worn out AYP made Craftsman with a 13 hp I/C Gold Briggs which runs perfect. The 11 hp Briggs on my 79 C-111 may have an aluminum bore but it runs perfect and doesn't smoke at all. I also have an 81 Snapper RER Forrest Gump mower with an 11 hp Briggs that will sit for a couple years at a time and fire right up with fresh gas and a freshly charged battery. I have had a good experience with Briggs motors and not so good luck with Kohlers and Teccys Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken B 3,116 #31 Posted June 19, 2012 I'm a big fan of Briggs motors. Most times even with just a little care they run very smooth and last a very long time. I have run quite a few of them on my Old Allis Chalmers B-10's and Simplicity Landlords of the sixties and they all ran fantastic! None of them were rebuilt and they had PLENTY of hours on them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 2,545 #32 Posted June 19, 2012 I ran a Briggs 11hp in my Dixon ZTR for 30 years before finally when I went up a steep slope oil would run past the oil ring and it would smoke. That thing worked darn hard on a ZTR with 42" deck, it had regular oil changes and one bendix gear before it was cheaper(lazier) to buy a replacement engine. After 3 years left in the garden as scrap we bought some fresh rings and gaskets and a card rebuilb kit and the thing runs as good as new, starting almost instantly. I certainly love the old Briggs ! interestingly across the forums there are as many folks who claim kohlers are junk!!! the only thing I'd say is that if a 14hp kohler is thirsty - an 11hp briggs is something else :twocents-02cents: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
