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18 hp briggs

B

bill mart

Well-known Member
Working on a 1992 Craftsman rider with a Briggs twin cylinder 18 hp verticle shaft engine. Seems to have a knock to it, maybe in the upper half. Are these engines known to go bad? The reason I ask is the deceased owner had an extra 18 hp engine laying in pieces behind the shed the mower was in. Bill
 
The biggest "common" issue with these engines were valves. Seats falling out and guides getting loose. A knock can also have carbon buildup in head and piston hitting it. Easiest thing to do is pull heads and take a peek at top end of engine. You can check seats, guides and cylinder for wear or piston slap.
 
And check for compression.

I had an 18 hp that the valves would stick when it got warm.

I had a 16 Hp Vortec that ran but seemed flat like the governor was missing. It ended up being that one connecting rod was broken.
 
Some of that newer B&S stuff says "use synthetic oil only" I hear if you don't you get valve problems.
 
I am a Briggs Master Tech and have not seen Briggs telling you to use synthetic oil. As for valve problem issye in newer OHV Briggs engines, if you use gas that gets a little old and stale, it will cause valve stems to get deposits on them, stick in guides, and push guides out of heads and bend push rods.
 
I have a Briggs 18 HP opposed two cylinder.If I let it set over winter it wants to knock for a while but comes out of it. If I start it ever several weeks it wont knock. I can now let it set over winter sinse I use Lucas oil treatment. If it sets for a long time oil drain away from top bearing.
 
Replaced mine 2 times before we found out it was carbon build up on top of pistons. Went to straight 30 weight oil and no problem for several years now
 
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