Briggs opposed twin rebuild?

[Stepney 2,351]

Hello, all. Well, sadly the low hours appearing WorkHorse GT1848 I picked up has a pretty nasty rap. When I bought it, I figured it had acorns in the shroud.. alas, I was moving it just 3' ahead of it's spot in my shed the other day to prepare to pull the engine out, and once it fired up, it made a pretty sharp 'clang' and was now running on 1cyl.. bad suspicion she dropped a rod, doesn't sound like a valve seat to me. Anyway, I've rebuilt my share of older small engines, and a few K series. But never a Briggs post 1950. Can't even really find talk about anyone doing such a thing. I've found all the gaskets/seals, valves, and pistons online, but no luck with rods yet. 
Anyway, being as WH used these 16 and 18hp oppy's in the WorkHorse and I think there was an actual WH with one? Has anyone here ever rebuilt one? I have a 16hp and a 10hp K series on hand, but I would like to keep a nice smooth twin in it if I could manage to get it going. 

Of course, I have to tear it down and see the damage, it could be past saving now .. but who knows? Anyway. Has anyone here ever rebuilt an old Boxer Briggs? This one is an 18hp iron liner engine, of the 42ci variety. 

Edited April 26, 2019 by Stepney

[Hacksawhero123 351]

From the little bit I just read about them, they eat rods. Saw some used ones on eBay and forged ones are available but expensive. Best of luck. 

 

Mark.

[ebinmaine 70,975]

I wonder if there would be other brands of tractor or equipment that would have that same engine and you could use as a donor?

[Stepney 2,351]

12 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I wonder if there would be other brands of tractor or equipment that would have that same engine and you could use as a donor?

Craftsman/Roper used them. Wrong crankshaft though. I know other companies did as well. But from what I know, these engines have a thrust bearing on the crank for the force of the PTO clutch pushing inward. Something electric clutch, and belt clutch tractors never had to worry about. And coincidentally .. WH is about the only company that spec'd such an engine. I see some people using Vanguard V2's, and I'm sure a big Magnum Kohler or a KT17 could be made to work. But even then, within those chats, they mentioned concern due to the PTO. 
As I understand, the Vertical models are more or less the same, just add the horizontal sideplates, manifold, dippers, etc. A more logical choice may be to use a K series, but as I said, the 2 cylinder is so much smoother of an engine. There are tons of the vertical 16-18hp engines around too. Might try and hunt one down just to compare. Be curious to see if this engine has the thrust bearing, I'd bet it does. 

[ebinmaine 70,975]

If you have a manual PTO it Should.

Any consideration to switching to electric PTO?

 

[Stepney 2,351]

15 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

If you have a manual PTO it Should.

Any consideration to switching to electric PTO?

 

Being this will be the workhorse, .. no pun intended, running the snowblower and bigger decks, I'd be hesitant to use an electric. Also, just where would I find such a unit, as, from what I know, WH really didn't use them much after the 70's. And for what people seem to be selling used oppy's for .. heck I may as well find something newer. Have to tear it down and see the damage I guess. I do like the machine so far, I feel it's worth fixing up. 

[Achto 28,888]

2 hours ago, Stepney said:

but no luck with rods yet

 

Looks like you will definitely need to know your model # before ordering  but here is a link. You may want to check out their prices on the rebuild kit too, $7.95 shipping no matter how much you order.

 

http://www.psep.biz/store/briggs_stratton_connecting_rods.htm

[ebinmaine 70,975]

I got a couple electric PTOs.

Never tested 

You want one... We can negotiate something.

 

 

 

[Sarge 3,464]

It isn't that bad to rebuild that Briggs - just get the correct twin opposed engine book and have at it. Be aware, most of those damage the bottoms of the cylinders when the rods let go - might have to find another block and I believe the model specs that had the thrust bearing the block is machined internally to accommodate the thrust bearing. The Twin II engines the same all around - easy enough to find a solid vertical crankshaft version and do some swapping if that thrust bearing can be done. Otherwise, an electric clutch is the solution. 

 

Sarge

[WVHillbilly520H 10,376]

On 4/26/2019 at 6:34 PM, Stepney said:

Being this will be the workhorse, .. no pun intended, running the snowblower and bigger decks, I'd be hesitant to use an electric. Also, just where would I find such a unit, as, from what I know, WH really didn't use them much after the 70's. 

2000s the 314-15 went back to electric PTO clutches on the Kohler Command OHV engines.

[aHorseofCourse 261]

 

I rebuilt an 18hp.  They are great motors but don’t get a whole lot of love in the wheel horse world.  I would recommend saving it if there isn’t too much damage.  There’s nothing especially challenging about rebuilding one but parts are getting harder to find.  I got most of mine on eBay.  Let me know if you have any questions if you decide to rebuild, I may be able to help.

[bds1984 1,466]

I vote for rebuilding it.  I rebuilt a vertical shaft, 18hp twin in high school which wasn't a big deal at all.  For me it was the equivalent of two singles that shared one camshaft.  IF you are searching for a block, any 18 HP block should work.   I have come across many (mostly in 80s Craftsman GTs) and they have the necessary PTO bearing for a WH application.  Or you can just use this chart to compare a potential engine you find:

For the third digit after the displacement number, look for a 3 or 4.  By far most of what I have came across is the 3 for bearing code.  I believe I can count on one finger how many horizontal shaft Briggs with pressure lube I have seen; plenty of verticals, but few horizontals.  They really are a decent engine if they're maintained but unfortunately many Briggs opposed twins were put into cheap mowers bought by cheap owners which in turn gives them that reputation. 
On a side note, a finely tuned big Briggs opposed twin sure does sound sweet under load at full throttle!

 

Edited May 28, 2019 by bds1984
duplicate pic

[ebinmaine 70,975]

1 hour ago, bds1984 said:

tuned big Briggs opposed twin sure does sound sweet

Boy is that true. I had a 16 back about 10 years ago and it sounded great. Just yesterday A friend of ours brought over his 1992 Sentinel tractor.

It has a very small muffler on each cylinder and it has a very nice low low tone.

 

[Mudrig150 313]

First to check is to see if it does have a thrown rod. I'd see if it has compression on both sides.