Poll which engine?

Briggs, they'll run for ever even if put up wet. Mine woodsplitter 5hp will crank on the 2nd pull every time even if gas was left in it all year long.
The Tecumses always had carb trouble. Let gas dry in the carb one time and it will never be right again.
Brother in law used to claim that his 92 Kenworth had a highly modified Briggs in it. lol
Good luck on what you go with. A good ole 302 is hard to beat.

clint

 

CLOWN!! ROFLMAO!!! you forgot six captured enemies peddaling that adjust the speed according to the war drums!! thats my vote.....

 

I've always had a problem with the Tecumseh's shearing the flywheel key, or throwing the connecting rod out the side of the block. They seem to make more power then the Briggs, but the reliability just isn't there.

 

Aint that some funny S*&%!

 

Now THAT was Funny!!!!!!

 

Go with a Kohler. It will outlast any of the above listed, make more torque and get you better mileage in the end. A bit more up front cost, but would be well worth it. I worked on a grain cleaning outfit during the summers when I was in H.S. and we would have to replace the briggs engines every couple of years. Not necessarily full on rebuilds, but freshen them up with rings, hone the cylinder and replace valves as needed. But the Kohler never had anything ever done to it in the 5 years that I worked there. It was quieter too. You guys are right though about the Tecumsehs, they just dont last. The engines seem to run ok, but the carbs are crap. Stabil or Seafoam goes a long ways towards keeping them running though. Air cleaner changes are a must too.

 

I've had both these problems. But I like the Tecuseh block better than the standard black-block Briggs. I guess my opinion would be Briggs carbs and Tecumseh blocks. I'm only talking about standard black-blocks. What I really like are the oil pumped Kohlers and Briggs Vanguard twins.

Lance, you have to take a picture of a small engine in your car after this thread!

 

Yay Briggs! oh, the engines... yea they're good. i got a 11.5 horse im thinkin bout puttin on a go-cart. my uncle has a 3horse that'll throw grass with a full-grown adult on it, so if i can gear the 11 horse right... >. Briggs all the way is my vote, but maybe im just partial because i share the name with em, but they never let me down.

 

Go with a 25 hp Briggs,then stroke it/spray it up the around 100hp.Should run about like a stock 200.

 

You just can't beat a Briggs, I used to have an old tractor with a single piston 18hp, ran that puppy with no air-cleaner for 5 years, never had a problem with it, in cold starts i would just pour gas in the single barrel and !!POP!! this thing ran all the time. The single piston 18hp was from the 60s has both electric starter setup like a ford and had a huge pull option like a lawnmower. Tried it once and nearly pulled my arm off. This beast looked like a Briggs 5hp on steroids, exactly the same but way larger and upright. The loud popping sound of a straight pipe exhaust would get me excited :evilsmile kinda looked like the one in the picture but bigger