briggs + stratton

[drewmitch44]

ok whats the deal with these motors? Anyone used them and are they any good? I live in delware where the bigest lake or pond is like 100 acres. There are big bass and all i do is freshwater boating so maybee this is the answer for me. I see that a lot of people buy them cause i watch ebay and search boat motors like every day. so what is the poop if anyone knows let me know. my boat is a 14' mod-v almost flat all together except in the front and i took the center seat and cut into it so it now has a lid and i livewell in it with the through hull circulation and areation and all.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: briggs + stratton

B&S 5 hp i mean the ones for like $699

 

[Scaaty]

Re: briggs + stratton

Well, they have been making lawn mower engines that has sat out in the rain and snow for as long (50+ years) as I can remember, bought by people that don't know a spark plug from a butt plug, and somehow still manage to work. On a freshwater lake, I see no problem. Last time I was in Carquest, they were selling them. Go there and look them over. Some here will complain that its air-cooled, but their argument don't hold water

 

[roscoe]

Re: briggs + stratton

Decent little 4 stroke for the price.<br /><br />BUT noisy like a lawn mower.<br />All other 4 stroke AND 2 stroke outboards are quieter in my opinion.<br />Intended to be used to get you there and back.<br />But not intended for to be used for trolling (got this directly from the B&S tech department).<br /><br />Has a durable engine, and a lower unit made by Tohatsu/Mercury.<br />But some have complained that the cowling and controls get damaged if the motors get tossed in a trunk or truck bed.

 

[koolerb]

Re: briggs + stratton

I don't have any personal experience with them but I have read a few posts here and there. The coments have been that they're noisy and produce alot of vibration.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: briggs + stratton

The Briggs is okay for use in a freshwater environment, but will not last long when exposed to salt water. That's why the warranty is voided if you use it in saltwater. Also, I have no idea where that lower unit design came from, but it's not a Tohatsu...Past or present.

 

[Rbsgfd578]

Re: briggs + stratton

Hello, hope this helps ya out a little.<br />I bought a Briggs and Stratton about 2years ago and it has been the best little motor for the money.It is a little noisy but it runs like a champ.Its just like your lawnmower a little cold natured at first start, but after that she run and starts fine all day,Have mine on a 14' deep V, and it pushes it around 7-9 mph.

 

[timmathis]

Re: briggs + stratton

It all in what you want. Like they say it is a little noisey. You need to weigh the +'S and the -'S noise, weight, trolling Etc. I would try to find sombody with one to compare. Tim

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: briggs + stratton

the reason so many sell on ebay, is that they are a fraction of the cost of a 4 stroke from an outboard munufacturer

 

[timmathis]

Re: briggs + stratton

Not bad for the money!!!

 

[jay gravely]

Re: briggs + stratton

I'm not sure there is a lake or pond in DE that you can even make a wake in.I was running a 25 evinrude in Lums at idle and got read the riot act.Get yourself a good electric trolling motor and good batteries

 

[roscoe]

Re: briggs + stratton

Internetoutboards, interesting.<br /><br />Dad put 34 years in at Briggs, and was privy to some info about these motors. Maybe he was mistaken, or "assumed", or was given bad info, but he was led to believe the lower unit came from Mercury, and they got it from Tohatsu. So now I wonder.<br /><br />I'll take your word for it though, ad dad is .... well, he's old, and not good with details anymore.

 

[CFronzek]

Re: briggs + stratton

The only derogatory comments I've heard about any air cooled motors was that at low speeds some did not have enough fan power to keep the cylinder cool.<br />On most lawnmower motors the governors keep the RPM's at about 1700 which guarantees enough cooling air.

 

[Pony]

Re: briggs + stratton

Originally posted by roscoe:<br /> Internetoutboards, interesting.<br /><br />Dad put 34 years in at Briggs, and was privy to some info about these motors. Maybe he was mistaken, or "assumed", or was given bad info, but he was led to believe the lower unit came from Mercury, and they got it from Tohatsu. So now I wonder.<br /><br />I'll take your word for it though, ad dad is .... well, he's old, and not good with details anymore.

Dont feel bad Roscoe.....my dad's got 30 years in and he still works there.....I thought the same thing you did.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: briggs + stratton

Roscoe,<br /><br />I called and asked a Japanese engineer at Tohatsu just to be sure. He said no. Actually it sounded more like "noooaah". There's a rumor about Tohatsu making Clinton too...Also not true. The Briggs may have a 20 year plus Mercury design, but my knowledge of Mercury's before 87 is about like my knowledge of quantum mechanics...I can spell it, but I have no idea what it is.

 

[jmoser]

Re: briggs + stratton

Like has already been said they are air cooled 'lawn mower' engines with a conventional muffler. I do not know if it is a modern OHV design or if it is the old 'L-head' mower engine design. [L-heads will be trouble in cold weather - too much chamber area for the fuel to condense on leads to hard starts and poor combustion.] <br /><br />Most air cooled engines like a nice warm up period before they settle in to smooth operation. No thermostat means you need to watch your engine temps - may want to play with heat range on the plug to match your air temp / operating conditions. Factory is going to tune for 'average' conditions of probably 70 deg F.<br /><br />MI Nov Duck hunting / Steelhead fishing = 20 deg air temps, may want a hotter plug.<br /><br />FL Aug bass fishing = 95 deg air temps, may want a cooler plug.<br /><br />Also if this is a 'no oil filter' crankcase design you want to drain frequently - its only 20 Oz or so and will pay dividends. Match the oil to the air temp also, use the right SAE weight for conditions. Many lawn mowers can use straight 30 wt in warm weather but check the B&S manual.<br /><br />FYI most 'homeowner grade' utility engines for mowers, chain saws, weed wackers, etc. are only designed for 50 - 100 hrs of useful life. In many parts of the country that is 1 hr per week, 4 months per year, you figure it out but that buys you at least 3 - 5 years and nobody complains. Most lawn mowers never ever get an oil change or a new plug, they do OK but expect more from a well maintained outboard.<br /><br />IMHO the B&S outboard is a great value as long as you can live with the noise and do not expect it to match up to a dedicated outboard design.

 

[Pony]

Re: briggs + stratton

FYI most 'homeowner grade' utility engines for mowers, chain saws, weed wackers, etc. are only designed for 50 - 100 hrs of useful life. In many parts of the country that is 1 hr per week, 4 months per year, you figure it out but that buys you at least 3 - 5 years and nobody complains. Most lawn mowers never ever get an oil change or a new plug, they do OK but expect more from a well maintained outboard.

I sort of disagree with some of that statement......every lawn mower at my house gets new oil, new plugs, and a new air filter once every year. Sometimes the oil gets changed twice. We have two engines that are over 20years old, both run like the day they were bought with nothing more than annual maintainance. The lawn mower that I used the most cuts my yard and the neighbors....so it runs 2-3 hours a week from April until October.......that one is 19years old. Maybe it helps that my dad has been making parts and assembling these things for 30years idk.......but I think just like an outboard a properly maintained lawn mower engine will last 20+years.<br /><br />I agree that a dedicated outboard may well last longer and be better suited for a given situation.......but I refuse to agree a lawnmower engine cant last just as long will some regular maintanence. IMHO FWIW

 

[ondarvr]

Re: briggs + stratton

I don't think the B&Ss are bad motors, but for the same price you can buy a good used real outboard. It can be used for everything with no special needs, will be quieter, vibrate less and last longer. Outboards that I own may run for 10 hours a day 3 to 5 days a week when the fishing is good, so the hours can add up fast. I just bought an almost new 8hp LS merc with less than 20 hours on it and looks perfect for $300.00,<br />I just kept watching the local paper and jumped on it the day it came out. At $600.00 to $800.00 you can find them all day long.