12 Hp Briggs Stratton repair after Blow Up

cleddy · Apr 30, 2023

I have a low hour 12 hp vertical Briggs & Stratton engine that ran low on oil and had a major failure after mowing on a side hill. It is Model 284707 from 1999 when they still made pretty good engines. I know the short answer is (scrap it out and replace it) but as a challenge I bought some new parts, welded the case up, and put it back together. With the exception of the big counter weight inside seizing and causing damage everything else appeared pretty un touched.
Fast forward to now I put the engine in service and it ran fine thru the change over but after about one Hour of mowing it failed. I am not sure if anything sized up but the little connecting arm that secures the big counter weight has totally demolished so parts jammed up inside. I am thinking the short pin that presses into the top of the engine may have fell out and let parts swing where they and not suppose to. I do know the pin is not pressed into the housing anymore. Does anyone ever have any luck repairing these engines-just asking???Cleddy

T.R.K. · Apr 30, 2023

There is always some risk when attempting to repair an engine that has had a catastrophic failure. I don't ever attempt repair on engines damaged like that for customers. With that said, both of my main mowers have had repairs done and are still going.

The Brigg and Stratton engine on the Toro had an oil leak that was caused by a defect in the sump casting. Briggs warrantied it for a customer. Briggs never asked for it back. So after several attempts, I fixed it with RTV in the groove with the oil pump o-ring. And it is running on its second mowing season this year. I mowed with it Friday.

The Kawasaki engine on the larger Zero turn dropped a valve for a customer at about 150 hours. That demolished one of the cylinder heads and left a big dent in the piston. Kawasaki replaced it under warranty. When they never asked for it back, I installed a good cylinder head from another blown engine and I have been using it for nearly four years now. It still has the dent in the piston, but it hasn't opened up into a hole yet.

circus · Apr 30, 2023

Why does an old riding lawn mower, with a good engine, cost $100, sometimes free, but an old engine cost $400?
It's repair estimate shock... I placed a want ad for a broken motorcycle and replaced my 750cc engine for $200.

cleddy · May 6, 2023

I paid $460.00 for this engine in 1999 and that why i want to keep dragging it along. People throw whole lawn tractors and equipment away every spring at the Clean Up Days I could have a 29 HP Craftsman
lawn tractor with 9 hours run time for almost nothing.Cleddy

12 Hp Briggs Stratton repair after Blow Up

cleddy

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T.R.K.

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circus

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cleddy

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