Q for the small engine guys. B&S or TroyBilt?

Tom7

Tom7

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Here's where I'm at. Somebody stole my dad's Deere. The dude at Farm Bureau said we'd get "market value", so we probably won't get another Deere. Googling said probably not even half new Deere price. Just aggravates me cause the mower wasn't but a year old.

So I've found a Craftsman and comparable Troy Bilt. Basically identical except the motors. The Craftsman has a Briggs, the Troy Bilt is a Troy Bilt motor, which googles says is a Chinese knock-off of a Honda.

Which motor is better?
 
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What Briggs does the Craftsman have? Intek, Vanguard, etc. I have a ZT with a 22 hp B&S Intek V-Twin, and it has been solid as can be. Change oil regularly, clean air filter/change like same, and no issues. I also have a Troy Bilt that had a Kohler that blew up, and I put a B&S Vanguard on it, and that thing probably has over a thousand hours on it, and it's still running very well. Gave it to Kelly's dad, and he uses it every weekend in the mowing season. I like B&S simply because you can find parts for them about everywhere.
 
They are both Chinese engines. Toro has a new Toro engine that’s made in China. You’ll get about the same service out of either of them.
 
Consider using full synthetic oil, will not break down in these air cooled engines, change at regular intervals.
I have my Craftsman mower since 1991, B&S engine. I changed the needle valve seat every 10 years. Reliable.
 
Button Pusher said:
Consider using full synthetic oil, will not break down in these air cooled engines, change at regular intervals.
I have my Craftsman mower since 1991, B&S engine. I changed the needle valve seat every 10 years. Reliable.
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Yep, changed mine in the ZT after the 10 hour break in to full synthetic. Put 50 more hours on it, and it still looks good. Change mine every 50.

Sent from my LM-Q710.FG using Tapatalk
 
Thanks guys. I’ll get the B&S.

Can’t afford a big name since pops retired. And I got monthly college payments the next few years, can’t pitch in to help him much.

btw...does anybody know if the “state colleges” are gonna reimburse those last two months of dorms and meal plans ?
 
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Last I saw, the colleges were looking at pro-rating the housing and meal plans. Trying to figure out how to do it. Seems pretty straight forward to me.
 
Tom7 said:
Thanks guys. I’ll get the B&S.

Can’t afford a big name since pops retired. And I got monthly college payments the next few years, can’t pitch in to help him much.

btw...does anybody know if the “state colleges” are gonna reimburse those last two months of dorms and meal plans ?
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Check Lowe's and Home Depot for returns. I got a Honda Self propelled walk behind "reconditioned" someone bought and returned for less than half of new... A $450 mower for $209... They check it out, change the oil and clean it up. Same warranty as new.
 
beamernc said:
Last I saw, the colleges were looking at pro-rating the housing and meal plans. Trying to figure out how to do it. Seems pretty straight forward to me.
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Yeah. Simple enough imo.
Refund two months...but I ain’t holding my breath.
 
LeeMajors said:
Why is that.
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I’ll guaran-damn-tee you that you know more about this than I, but I’ll give you pops logic I cannot disagree with. Pops farmed, I drive a truck lol.
Pops:
“It’s not that it hurts an engine, it hurts an idle engine. Fine for the trucks, don’t put it in anything that’ll sit over winter.”
 
Tom7 said:
I’ll guaran-damn-tee you that you know more about this than I, but I’ll give you pops logic I cannot disagree with. Pops farmed, I drive a truck lol.
Pops:
“It’s not that it hurts an engine, it hurts an idle engine. Fine for the trucks, don’t put it in anything that’ll sit over winter.”
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Exactly. run it all year. run it whenever. use the fuel shutoff and run it the carb empty before you store it.
 
Get the mower with the Briggs & Stratton for parts availability, service, and warranty support.
The Chinese knock off engines do not have the same coverage.

Also, price a comparable mower with your local outdoor power equipment shop. Building a relationship with a small business is worth spending a little more than you would at the big box store, IMHO.
 
ZanderMan said:
It’ll still absorb moisture in the tank.

Just don’t.






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You do yours and I'll do mine.


I worked 28 years in the gasoline industry so I'd say that Carrie's a little more knowledge about the effects than your YouTube videos.

But this is the internet right ........
 
LeeMajors said:
You do yours and I'll do mine.


I worked 28 years in the gasoline industry so I'd say that Carrie's a little more knowledge about the effects than your YouTube videos.

But this is the internet right ........
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I don't understand why an experiment that a real person posted to YouTube and MY 30 years of experience with Ethanol makes it discountable. I mean, YOU'RE on the internet, right?

Look, you can't deny that ethanol absorbs moisture and does bad things to engines, especially ones that sit for months.

But being in the "gasoline industry" (which I read to mean "Ethanol lobbyist") I guess you know better than anyone with real-world experience.
 
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ZanderMan said:
I don't understand why an experiment that a real person posted to YouTube and MY 30 years of experience with Ethanol makes it discountable. I mean, YOU'RE on the internet, right?

Look, you can't deny that ethanol absorbs moisture and does bad things to engines, especially ones that sit for months.

But being in the "gasoline industry" (which I read to mean "Ethanol lobbyist") I guess you know better than anyone with real-world experience.
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Was that across, or into the bow?

I've had sitting ethanol gas corrode carburetor internals. If it's going to sit a while, I'll add Stabil and a bit of synthetic 2 stroke oil to the gas so it'll leave a protective coating when the carburetor's been run dry.
 
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ZanderMan said:
I don't understand why an experiment that a real person posted to YouTube and MY 30 years of experience with Ethanol makes it discountable. I mean, YOU'RE on the internet, right?

Look, you can't deny that ethanol absorbs moisture and does bad things to engines, especially ones that sit for months.

But being in the "gasoline industry" (which I read to mean "Ethanol lobbyist") I guess you know better than anyone with real-world experience.
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No I mean I worked my way up from a wash boy to the safety director of a huge national company. in the refineries on the drill rigs. I've been in on alot of the .Gov gas testing for octane levels as well as the ethanol effects in modern gasoline

Yes ethanol does attracts and absorbs water. I never said it didnt. If I were to ever lobby it would certainly be AGAINST ethanol

I suppose you only run ethanol free gas I your vehicles as well.

Now what is YOUR 30 years experience with ethanol
 
Thanks again for the advice.
UPDATE:
Insurance man got back to me, and pops it’s getting back a wee more than we figured (including they’re gonna deduct the $500 deductible out of the check.)
So got a few more hundo to play with. Actually wouldn’t be but about $50 short including taxes on this Husqvarna.

Thoughts? Intek Briggs motor.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Husqvarna-...ing-Capability-Kit-Sold-Separately/1000368427
 
Tom7 said:
Thanks again for the advice.
UPDATE:
Insurance man got back to me, and pops it’s getting back a wee more than we figured (including they’re gonna deduct the $500 deductible out of the check.)
So got a few more hundo to play with. Actually wouldn’t be but about $50 short including taxes on this Husqvarna.

Thoughts? Intek Briggs motor.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Husqvarna-...ing-Capability-Kit-Sold-Separately/1000368427
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Not a bad choice. how much land to mow ?

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Husqvarna-...ing-Capability-Kit-Sold-Separately/1000368431

If you could swing it.
 
Tom7 said:
Thanks again for the advice.
UPDATE:
Insurance man got back to me, and pops it’s getting back a wee more than we figured (including they’re gonna deduct the $500 deductible out of the check.)
So got a few more hundo to play with. Actually wouldn’t be but about $50 short including taxes on this Husqvarna.

Thoughts? Intek Briggs motor.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Husqvarna-...ing-Capability-Kit-Sold-Separately/1000368427
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Is it a large yard with a lot of things to mow around? If so I'd want a tractor that turns like a ZT or a ZT if it was affordable.
FYI- They're made in SC. I might look into another brand, we're familiar with that facility, make sure it wasn't made on a Monday.
 
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The “yard” part isn’t but a couple acres.
He bush hogs the rest. Yards flat with one tree lol. No need for a ZT.
 
I could be wrong, but I've been told the Husqvarnas that are sold by Lowes are a cheaper model than the ones that are sold by true Husqvarna Dealers. Sort of like buying cheaper tools or industrial grade.
I've always been a Snapper fan myself.
 
Etruett said:
I could be wrong, but I've been told the Husqvarnas that are sold by Lowes are a cheaper model than the ones that are sold by true Husqvarna Dealers. Sort of like buying cheaper tools or industrial grade.
I've always been a Snapper fan myself.
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That's true of every brand sold by box stores vs dealer . Chainsaws weedwackers blowers etc
 
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