13HemiRam 20 #1 Posted June 27, 2017 Hey guys, I just picked up this C-161 Twin 8 speed this morning! My C-175 recently popped the engine (series I) and I wanted another horse to leave the mower deck on so I don't have to keep switching from the blade back to the deck on my 310-8. Plus I've really started to like the look of the black hoods and this one was in pretty decent shape compared to other horses I've seen for sale recently. I'm not a huge fan of the big light on the hood so I may remove it and have the hole patched. I already swapped the seat pan for the metal one that was on my C-175 because the plastic pan had a few cracks in it. This is my first Briggs powered wheel horse, and honestly I wasn't super excited about it because when I think wheel horse I think kohler engines and I really like the cast iron kohlers, but from the little that I've read about it it seems like a pretty solid engine. Hopefully better than the series I kt17. Anyway, the first pic is how I picked it up with the plastic pan and the next two are after I swapped the metal pan and seat from the C-175. What do you guys think? 15 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 28,898 #2 Posted June 27, 2017 (edited) Looks great!! Although I'm with you, the Cyclops eye could go. Edited June 27, 2017 by Achto 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Uncle Buck 246 #3 Posted June 27, 2017 6 minutes ago, Achto said: Looks great!! Although I'm with you, the Cyclops eye could go. What he said! LOL 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,774 #4 Posted June 27, 2017 Nice tractor. The first black hood and my favorite with the black hood mated to an older style dash. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACman 7,630 #5 Posted June 27, 2017 31 minutes ago, Achto said: Looks great!! Although I'm with you, the Cyclops eye could go. You took the words right out of my mouth ! I really like the looks of the metal pans compared to the plastic ones . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,153 #6 Posted June 27, 2017 Were you checking the oil before every use of your KT17? Describe what you were doing when it "popped". 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cschannuth 3,817 #7 Posted June 27, 2017 The Briggs will last forever as long as you do regular maintenance on it. My dad's 78 is all original and has never had anything done to it. Starts right up and it's a real powerhouse. Even before I swapped out the rubber mounts for solid ones. He too swapped out the seat pan and I really like the looks of it. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ed lincoln 33 #8 Posted June 28, 2017 My c161 has the big plastic fender pan. The 161's look much better with the streamline metal pan. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
13HemiRam 20 #9 Posted June 28, 2017 5 hours ago, AMC RULES said: Were you checking the oil before every use of your KT17? Describe what you were doing when it "popped". For the most part I check it almost every time I mowed. Ill be honest I may have skipped it a time or two but I checked it the day it decided to give up. As for what I was doing when it "popped", right after checking the oil I turned the key to start it while it was still sitting in the garage and bam it started knocking. I had mowed the yard the week before and it ran great. It actually still runs it just knocks pretty good. Obviously I shut it down and haven't ran it since 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jay bee 912 #10 Posted June 28, 2017 Great looking tractor!!! I also swapped mine to the metal pan. I like the look much better. And, I too think the one big "eye" should find a new home...Nice score. Jim 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
13HemiRam 20 #11 Posted June 28, 2017 (edited) Does anyone know what air filter and oil this engine uses? Also what's the engine code for the Briggs? (Such as kohlers k241, k301, kt17 etc.) I haven't found much on it at all Edit: found the info I was looking for! Edited June 29, 2017 by 13HemiRam Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 5,658 #12 Posted June 28, 2017 13HemiRam nice looking worker. That should do a lot of work for you. Enjoy it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bds1984 1,466 #13 Posted June 29, 2017 Decoding the Model and Code really aren't too difficult. https://www.jackssmallengines.com/jacks-parts-lookup/briggs-stratton-model-locator.aspx As far as oil, I'd run the same that you run in your Kohlers. The air filters can vary but I've always used round ones similar to what is on my K-series although the height of them may vary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
13HemiRam 20 #14 Posted July 4, 2017 Can I drive this one on a hillside? As in, is the briggs splash lubed like the series I kt17 or is it pressure lubed like the series II? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cschannuth 3,817 #15 Posted July 4, 2017 Since there is no oil filter I always assumed it was splash lubed. I can tell you though that our property was very hilly and we never had an issue. We had to sit way out on the fender to keep from turning over sideways in a couple places. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
