Briggs & Stratton in trouble.
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
I too used B&S engines on my mini bikes & go kart. Still have an old MTD push mower w/Flathead Briggs in it, still runs flawlessly. Used today as matter of fact.
Cat Man- Some Briggs engines are being made now in china. Disposable ones.
Doc - B&S also acquired the residential line of Snapper, another place to put their engines. Snapper really went down hill since that happened. Thanks for the update info.
It's rough out there.
Many, many Chinese knock off out there that are much less than the real thing.
Are they better ? No. Their throw away items.
That's what has happened in the USA and around the world.
Why fix something when all you have to do is go to Harbor Freight.
That's my .02 on this.
Many, many Chinese knock off out there that are much less than the real thing.
Are they better ? No. Their throw away items.
That's what has happened in the USA and around the world.
Why fix something when all you have to do is go to Harbor Freight.
That's my .02 on this.
The issues at Briggs are far deeper than engine competition. They actually still do very well in that area. It's the diversification into other products that's killing them. Purchases of companies like Simplicity and Murray, they became competitors of their own customers. In fact they lost one of their largest customers over this issue. They were expected to sell off a huge portion of the product lines by the end of June, then COVID-19 hit. The plan was, and still is, to sell off the product lines and get back to power systems only.
Most of Briggs engines are all made in the US, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia and Missouri . Although the Murray, KY plant will be closed soon.
Most of Briggs engines are all made in the US, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia and Missouri . Although the Murray, KY plant will be closed soon.
Senior Member
Joined: 02-01-2006
Posts: 1,471
From: lockport,ny
I built a go-kart in the early 70s. Nothing fancy or fast, just something to putter around the yard in.
It was powered by a Briggs & Stratton engine taken from a gas-powered reel mower (remember those?).
No recoil starter, you put the knot at the end of the rope into the notch on the "cup" at the end of the crank, wrapped the rope around the cup and pulled the t-handle, hoping the rope knot popped off and didn't get stuck when the engine started.
We did a lot of "dangerous" things when we were young and learned from our mistakes.
How many people got their finger cut by the prop on the Cox .049 engines in the string-controlled planes when using the starting spring?
Steve
It was powered by a Briggs & Stratton engine taken from a gas-powered reel mower (remember those?).
No recoil starter, you put the knot at the end of the rope into the notch on the "cup" at the end of the crank, wrapped the rope around the cup and pulled the t-handle, hoping the rope knot popped off and didn't get stuck when the engine started.
We did a lot of "dangerous" things when we were young and learned from our mistakes.
How many people got their finger cut by the prop on the Cox .049 engines in the string-controlled planes when using the starting spring?
Steve
Senior Member
Joined: 08-03-2010
Posts: 3,564
From: Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
I built a go-kart in the early 70s. Nothing fancy or fast, just something to putter around the yard in.
It was powered by a Briggs & Stratton engine taken from a gas-powered reel mower (remember those?).
No recoil starter, you put the knot at the end of the rope into the notch on the "cup" at the end of the crank, wrapped the rope around the cup and pulled the t-handle, hoping the rope knot popped off and didn't get stuck when the engine started.
We did a lot of "dangerous" things when we were young and learned from our mistakes.
How many people got their finger cut by the prop on the Cox .049 engines in the string-controlled planes when using the starting spring?
Steve
It was powered by a Briggs & Stratton engine taken from a gas-powered reel mower (remember those?).
No recoil starter, you put the knot at the end of the rope into the notch on the "cup" at the end of the crank, wrapped the rope around the cup and pulled the t-handle, hoping the rope knot popped off and didn't get stuck when the engine started.
We did a lot of "dangerous" things when we were young and learned from our mistakes.
How many people got their finger cut by the prop on the Cox .049 engines in the string-controlled planes when using the starting spring?
Steve
Especially when the rope hit you after the pull start.
That Cox .049 spring was a killer also. Been there, done that. Lol.
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
I can remember on my home made go kart, I put a B&S (maybe 5 hp ?) on it & when I learned messing with the governor could really let it rev & run fast.
That same afternoon I promptly blew that engine up.
My Dad was so proud.. 
That same afternoon I promptly blew that engine up.
My Dad was so proud..
Thread Starter
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
Senior Member
Joined: 04-07-2008
Posts: 1,051
From: Wisconsin
