Briggs powered Toro engine failure
FTE Community Team
Joined: Dec 2023
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From: sussex county, nj
kawasaki twin on my current zero turn, 5 years 300 hours so far so good, my power washer has the single OHC honda 15 years old zero motor issues 30 ton log splitter has a flat head briggs, breaks my arm trying to start it, must be 1000 hours on it, just started smoking a little this fall
same as car take care of they almost always run a very long time
same as car take care of they almost always run a very long time
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
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Same here, well-maintained Briggs 18HP twin on my 1991 garden tractor just recently outlasted the 6-speed transaxle. Still runs great. I'm going to fix the transaxle and keep using it. Its 1999 19.5HP sibling with a hydrostatic is also telling the same story about itself. Regular maintenance goes a long way. I think the main reason the transaxle failed on the `91 is that it is supposedly sealed for life, but then water got into it a couple of years ago.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
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Yep, that's a good one!
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FTE Community Team
Joined: Dec 2023
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From: sussex county, nj
had a call about a generac generator not starting low oil pressure warning,checked the oil pressure ZERO, opening it up found a nylon driven gear in the oil pump blown apart ,plastic throughout the machine even under the valve covers 2008 machine told the owner better off replacing the whole machine over spending 3k for a new motor, asked what brand told them kohler or cummins as at least the whole oil pump is metal in both
FTE Community Team
Joined: Dec 2023
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From: sussex county, nj
bringing this back up, replaced my 5 year old toro 1028 snow blower with a honda hss928atd , track drive hydro ,after started to lists parts like the 2 drive belts as NLA ,forget engine parts the big ones for the china made motors are also NLA ,the toro started smoking with about 100 hours run time.found cracked rings can't over bore it no OS pistons were ever made, the fix would have been a new block,piston,rings and gasket set all NLA
FTE Community Team
Joined: Dec 2023
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From: sussex county, nj
TRUE!! 5 year old $2000.00 machine to the scrap yard,
yet it seems this PO started with cars in the early 80's with something called a LEASE, and the throwaway car, drive them for 2 or 3 years, turn it in for another new one,
yet it seems this PO started with cars in the early 80's with something called a LEASE, and the throwaway car, drive them for 2 or 3 years, turn it in for another new one,
FTE Community Team
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 8,803
Likes: 4,247
From: sussex county, nj
depends on which vanguard series, some are worthless thanks to plastic parts inside them
have replaced many a head on van guards due to valve seats falling out of the head alike the op in post 1 shows, plastic camshafts twisting the plastic lobes out of time. any motor can have problems today,
have replaced many a head on van guards due to valve seats falling out of the head alike the op in post 1 shows, plastic camshafts twisting the plastic lobes out of time. any motor can have problems today,
Last edited by charlie g; Mar 14, 2026 at 04:20 PM.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,745
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The only issues I've had with B&S engines have been surging that it only solved by choking the engine slightly at all times. Otherwise I've had great service from them. I guess that's why I haven't often had the "pleasure" of dealing with the foibles of the modern engines very much.