Have you ever had problems with these engines?

TillerofdaEarth · Feb 21, 2006

All we have ever had is briggs & stratton engines on Augers, sprayers, generators mowers etc..... Never had any problems with any of them that I can remember.

It always amazed me that those briggs engines on the "Augers" that set around for 10 to 11 months and all through the winter, would fire up after squirting a little gas in the spark plug hole and run like champs.

I currently have 5 briggs powered pieces of equipment and none have failed to perform.

Nothing against Kohler or Honda, I know they are fine engines, but I have had such success with Briggs that it has never been a priority for me to shop for something powered by a diffirent engine.

Also these Briggs are as quiet as anything with my little foamy ear plugs installed.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JohnSinVA · Feb 22, 2006

Hey 14 -

Isn't that Robin engine in your PT rated for 5000 hours of duty?

PAB_OH · Mar 2, 2006

CT, I admire your diplomacy. I just don't agree with it, respectfuly of course. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I did not judge, label, or call anyone a name. I made an observation regarding the merits of a comment. Would it have been better if I had stated it that way? Even though it means precisely the same thing?

Like I said in my reply to Carl's post, I don't want to start anything with anyone but I won't pretend like what was posted made sense to me because it didn't. Maybe I should have kept it to myself but I get tired of hearing people using that type of logic. I worry about my children's future the way it is. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

As for the OP, my FIL just bought a Simplicity with a Kohler engine so hopefully they are as great as everyone says they are. I have seen nothing but good things about them on here. That said, he just gave me his 7 year old MTD that has a Briggs 14 HP in it and he said the engine runs terrific although the chassis it is in is in terrible shape. I plan to use it for close-in mowing around the house as I have some pretty steep slopes and I don't want to run the Kubota w/ a RFM that close to the house.

By the way, not to hijack the thread but I heard Briggs owns Simplicity. Is that true? Sorry I didn't search the archives for this as I'm sure it was probably discussed if it is true. I'm just wondering if that will have any bearing on if Kohlers will be available in the future in the Simplicity line.

KJO · Mar 3, 2006

A good discussion going on here about engines and longevity. A question for some of you....I just finished overhauling my dad's Kohler KT17 after 25 years of service. If it were a Honda or Kawasaki....would it still be running? Would I be able to get parts to overhaul it? The old KT17 has iron cylinders....no lightweight aluminum here! The crankcase is aluminum however, unlike the K Series single cylinders (of which I have several). My overall point here is...where will these engines of today be in 30 years from now...in the scrap yard as throw away engines...or will they be overhauled and back in service for another 30 years? I may not be around in 30 years to care, but my kids...or their kids..will be and grass will still need to get mowed.
Personally, I have both Kohler and Briggs...I like the Kohler a little better. I have several Honda motorcycles and have worked on the engines...the prices on parts are crazy. Working on the engines takes a delicate touch...all aluminum!

SnowRidge · Mar 3, 2006

A question for some of you....I just finished overhauling my dad's Kohler KT17 after 25 years of service. If it were a Honda or Kawasaki....would it still be running? 

And if it is any make built today, will it still be running in 25 years? My guess is not. Today's air cooled engines run much leaner and hotter than those of yesteryear, due to regulatory requirements, which should pretty well insure a shorter life.

Like they say in the stock market, past performance is no guarantee of future results.

tenacrewoods · Mar 13, 2006

Hello! FOURTEEN
If you wanted the best chainsaw you shoulda bought a
Stihl or Jonsered or Husqvarna or Sashs-Dolmar. Not saying Echo is not a good saw but not in the same class as the top 4 . Stihl built it's first chainsaw in 1926, a two man saw with eletric motor and made a one man gas saw in 1929. Husky made a 2man saw aruond the 1930's and started production of a one man saw in 1959. the Jonsered & sashs-Dolmar were made between theses two dates. Look at www.arborist.lawnsite.com for the best info. on chaisaws.
All theses saw are top of the line and built between 1929-1959
Do a search on any of theses saws History or ask the Guy's at
Arborist and these are the saws they'll suggest. I hope your really happy with your Echo,I own one also and love it and I collect Chainsaws 13 so far, but too say Echo's the best saw out there is just plain Wrong!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

CT_Tree_Guy · Mar 13, 2006

Fourteen, I have a story you might like. I've always been a Stihl man, but I've loved some Huskys too. (My 242 got about 1000 trees on the ground, and was like a part of me).

I once asked one of our local chain saw experts (make that Expert, with a capital "E") to settle the Stihl/Husky debate for me once and for all. (Very honorable mention to Jonsered and Sachs-Dolmar of course). His reply: "If I had to walk a mile into the woods with a saw that I knew would start and run, it would be an Echo".

I've always loved Echo products; I have a PB-210 blower, and PB 751 blower, and a PPT-2400 power pole pruner. And I might just get an Echo 440 saw sometime, just to have one. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

What's the best saw? Maybe it's the one that you like best, and that runs. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

John

CarlGlas · Mar 16, 2006

( That has to be the most asinine* comparison I have ever heard. Period. 'nuff said.
And if you don't know why then....

* - marked by inexcusable failure to exercise intelligence or sound judgment

I'm not trying to start anything but that was just uncalled for. Maybe both of the comments were, but at least the first comment had merit. )

* * *

Not quite sure how I missed your response, but was my response really that foolish and stupid just because you have a different interpertation in the relationship between the two comments?

CarlGlas · Mar 16, 2006

( ( I wonder if the survivors of Hiroshimo and Nagasaki feel the same about products made in the USA?)

 They should feel that "You don't tug on Superman's cape
You don't spit into the wind
You don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger
And you don't mess around with" Uncle Sam!!

Or, as Yamamoto said on 12/7/41: "I fear that we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve"!

That said, it is now 65 years later, we live in a world economy, and it may be foolish to not buy the best products available regardless of where they come from!

Every product that Honda builds is of superior quality, and many of them are actually built or assembled right here! Which is the 'foreign car', the Honda made in Ohio, or the Ford or Dodge made in Canada, or the Chevy made in Mexico or Brazil!!??!! (I currently own two cars, an Acura CL made in Ohio, and a Dodge Magnum made in Canada. Which is my 'foreign car'??) /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I am happy that Power Tracs are built in VA, but that isn't why I bought one! It's the best machine for my jobs! I would rather have a Kohler engine in a Power Trac than a Robin (Subaru) engine, but if the Robin powered Power Trac will do the job, why not!?

I recently bought an Echo chainsaw because I had heard that they were excellent. Echo sounded Asian to me but I didn't care! I just wanted the best! To my amazement I subsequently learned that Echo was a pioneer in the invention of the modern chainsaw, that "Echo, Inc. was founded in Northbrook, Illinois in 1972", and currently has over 300,000 square feet of facility in Illinois!

In this country we have many freedoms, and an important one is the freedom to spend our money as we see fit! I don't care if someone buys foreign or domestic, but I do care when the PC Police try to tell me how to spend my hard earned money!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif


)

My comment was intended as food for thought.

How long should a grudge be held against a country and or its people because of an unpopular decision their leaders made, years before their time?

Does the government owe reparations to the decendents of slaves? Back in those days slaves were considered chattel.

Do you like Mexican food? Remember the Alamo?

CarlGlas · Mar 16, 2006

( Careful there Carl, we may ended WW2 but we sure didn't start it. )

* * *

Gee, some of you guys certainly read more into my comment than was intended. FDR did what he felt was necessary, unfortunately, as documents have been released, it had been discovered that many things could have been prevented, but they weren't. They were allowed to progress for a purpose.

I am not anti USA, just informed.

CarlGlas · Mar 16, 2006

( CarlGlas: Rather than warning you to "be careful" what you say, I'd just like you to know that I would fight and die for your right to say whatever you want to about the United States. This is not a perfect country, but I think it is (still) a great one, and no small part of that greatness lies in the fact that we are free to peacefully and respectfully express our opinions.

John )

John, thank you for your cautious concern. I wished I could apologize to those who completely misunderstood my comment, but why should I apologize for their misunderstandings. There was just more read into what I said than was intended and my comment had nothing to with politics, it was about economics.

turbo36 · Mar 16, 2006

( ( Careful there Carl, we may ended WW2 but we sure didn't start it. )

* * *

Gee, some of you guys certainly read more into my comment than was intended. FDR did what he felt was necessary, unfortunately, as documents have been released, it had been discovered that many things could have been prevented, but they weren't. They were allowed to progress for a purpose.

I am not anti USA, just informed.
)

Jeez Carl you sound like we were the aggressors in WW2 "FDR did what he felt was necessary?" Do you really think we could have or should have stayed out of the war?

By the way it's good to know we have at least one "informed" member on this board /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

CarlGlas · Mar 16, 2006

( ( ( Careful there Carl, we may ended WW2 but we sure didn't start it. )

* * *
)

Jeez Carl you sound like we were the aggressors in WW2 "FDR did what he felt was necessary?" Do you really think we could have or should have stayed out of the war?

By the way it's good to know we have at least one "informed" member on this board /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif )

Thanks for your reply.

This isn't the proper forum to conduct this discussion and unless you are a scholar of world history between the years of 1939 and 1945, I have no interest in discussing the subject with you.

By the way, I think FDR was a good president.

KJO · Mar 17, 2006

A little closer to the subject matter of this thread....I recently got that CC3100 with the Kohler Command 23. As a result I decided to go to the Kohler web site and download their service manual for the Command 23. Granted...it has some unique features such as full pressurization, hydraulic valve lifters and one piece crankcase/cylinder assembly (which is made of aluminum). I really have to wonder, however, how this engine is going to last compared to my old K301 with ball bearings (the Command has shell bearing inserts like a car engine), a cast iron crankcase and cylinder assembly etc. It makes me wonder if the days of the long life small engine are over and what we have left to purchase are "throw away engines". Taking into consideration that any engine will only last as long as it is properly maintained and used, I really don't like what I see with the increased use of aluminum in engines...lawnmower, car or whatever. When I think of my grandkids in the year 2060, trying to restore Grandpa's old 3100, I can't help but think that it will be very difficult because servicable components will be hard to find.

CarlGlas · Mar 17, 2006

In the past, Kohler, as well as many other notable small engine manufactures made quality engines. Unfortunately, due to either poor design, outsourcing, or a lack of quality control,
the quality of some engines have diminished.

Knocking on wood, so far I have had no complaints with any of the B&S engines on my push mowers over the years (which I'll have to admit have been abused maintenance wise) or the 27HP Kohler Pro Command on my Sears DGT6000, which I am more loyal to maintaining.

However, I would advise anyone who cares to listen, please follow the manufactures suggestions on maintenance while it's under warranty.

(I won't mention the Honda that I have had since 1985 that still cranks on the first pull) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

turbo36 · Mar 18, 2006

( ( ( ( Careful there Carl, we may ended WW2 but we sure didn't start it. )

* * *
)

Jeez Carl you sound like we were the aggressors in WW2 "FDR did what he felt was necessary?" Do you really think we could have or should have stayed out of the war?

By the way it's good to know we have at least one "informed" member on this board /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif )

Thanks for your reply.

This isn't the proper forum to conduct this discussion and unless you are a scholar of world history between the years of 1939 and 1945, I have no interest in discussing the subject with you.

By the way, I think FDR was a good president.

Carl, I agree this isn't the proper forum and the discussion has gotten out of line but you were a early and willing participant with your comment about the survivors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. All I was trying to do was caution you that there are still many in our society that are still greatly affected by their experiences in WW2 and are thus biased in the thoughts toward Japanese products. In our society they have the right to express those feelings as many on this board have stated their willingness to defend it ( in reference to my comment to show caution /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif).
As far as being a scholar of the period of 1939-1945 I may not be as learned as you but during my college years history of 1920-1950 was of great interest to me and I still do a lot of reading today. My wife is a Civil War period buff but I feel the early 20th century is far more complex and relevant. Two books that I believe give a very real look into life during this period are "Only Yesterday" by Frederick Lewis Allen and "The Glory And the Dream" by William Manchester, I'm sure you are familiar with these. Coming from a childhood of poverty I found these books to offer guidance in keeping a real perspective of life while pursuing the "American Dream".

So to sum it, if I offended you I apologize and offer a glass of Wine of your choosing (within reason /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) as a peace offering.

Fordlords · Mar 19, 2006

One thing to watch for with small lawn and garden tractors is that engine manufacturers Kohler and Briggs and Stratton have a commercial line (Command for Kohler, Vanguard for Briggs) rated to last in the 2000 hour range, and a cheap line (Courage for Kohler, Intek for Briggs) that are 750 hour rated engines. The better mowers will have the better engines, and of course cost more. The commercial lines of both manufacturers both get high consumer reports and are great long lasting runners. I'd pay the extra for them over the cheaper engine lines.

World War 2 ended almost 60 years ago, and Honda and Kawasaki make great small engines too, if that's what one chooses to use- it can be a personal preference thing of course, but those who have an understanding of a global market are not concerned about a long ended war, and also know that Honda and Kawasaki employ a lot of people in their USA assembly plants. Contrary to popular belief they are not much more expensive than high end Briggs or Kohler (check www.smallenginewarehouse.com), and the bigger HP engines are all commercial grade with 2000+ hour rated lifespans, they do not make a cheaper lineup of engines. Where I most often buy American brand names when I can, such as my pickup and car, I chose a Honda GX engine as the repower for my Cub Cadet 682. Why? Because in doing a thorough research with everything available, it hands down was the winner in about every category for a new 18 HP small engine and thus far I am ecstatic about its performance in my application.

Most any of the name brand small engines out there now are fantastic. They start easy, run smoothly, and the OHV designs really pinch fuel. All you can do is listen to word of mouth, read consumer reports, and use your best judgement to decide what make to choose.

-Fordlords-