I think a lot of the issues with briggs and their bad reputation is that they dont have cylinder liners in the consumer grade engines, just plate the bore in the one piece crankcase and when the plating wears or it overheats its done for.
Add to that they have no oil pump on the consumer motors, just a oil flinger, then to compound things they have a easystart grind on the camshaft on a lot of models which holds the valves open slightly at lower rpm to allow briggs to fit smaller starter motors or make it easier to pull start with less robust pull start components. But, you cant compression test one to diagnose bad rings etc in advance easily.
Add to that a coil/magneto that sometimes gives problems and you have a lot of potential for pain.
The IC series motors are better, they fit a cast iron liner in the block, some of them have a actual oil pump etc. Ive had more luck with IC series motors, although I still managed to seize one in use in a ride on.
Honda, you just fit it, it just works, it does everything quietly in the background. Last time I bought a push along mower, I bought a cheap one with a honda engine, and the mower itself dropped to bits around the still perfect engine in use over time.
I cut my grass with a kubota 3 cylinder diesel mower now, the days of fighting with keeping some briggs running are gone for me.
Add to that they have no oil pump on the consumer motors, just a oil flinger, then to compound things they have a easystart grind on the camshaft on a lot of models which holds the valves open slightly at lower rpm to allow briggs to fit smaller starter motors or make it easier to pull start with less robust pull start components. But, you cant compression test one to diagnose bad rings etc in advance easily.
Add to that a coil/magneto that sometimes gives problems and you have a lot of potential for pain.
The IC series motors are better, they fit a cast iron liner in the block, some of them have a actual oil pump etc. Ive had more luck with IC series motors, although I still managed to seize one in use in a ride on.
Honda, you just fit it, it just works, it does everything quietly in the background. Last time I bought a push along mower, I bought a cheap one with a honda engine, and the mower itself dropped to bits around the still perfect engine in use over time.
I cut my grass with a kubota 3 cylinder diesel mower now, the days of fighting with keeping some briggs running are gone for me.
