The power unit, without a doubt, appears to be one of the most expensive and important design components of any motorized garden equipment. Despite the abundance of engine models on the market, the leading position is occupied by the Briggs Stratton engine of various modifications.
It has been produced by the American concern of the same name for many years. The product range of this manufacturer includes many items, and unlike products from other manufacturers, Briggs Stratton brand engines are constantly being improved and equipped with new features.
Excursion into the past
The history of Briggs & Stratton dates back to 1908, when American industrialist Stephen Briggs entered into a business agreement with investor Harold Stratton. Initially, their joint venture specialized in electric power, but towards the middle of the 20th century it completely retrained to develop and produce power plants for garden machines. In 1953, it introduced the world's first lightweight aluminum engine.
The rapid growth of the garden equipment market in the second half of the last century provided the company with a huge amount of work. Soon, lawn mowers powered by Briggs & Stratton engines became synonymous with quality and efficiency. Of course, such success did not go unnoticed by other industrialists. In the 80s, the position of the American company began to be squeezed out by Japanese brands that offered premium internal combustion engines at a more affordable price. The Americans, in response to increased competition, carried out a radical reorganization of their activities. The model line was expanded, prices were optimized, and new markets were developed. And this strategy turned out to be successful - Briggs & Stratton not only did not leave the market, but also strengthened its position in it, continuing to produce excellent gasoline engines.
In the 21st century, the company began to actively implement a policy of mergers and acquisitions. The main acquisitions were a number of garden equipment manufacturers, which helped it enter the end product market. As a result, Briggs & Stratton transformed itself from just an engine manufacturer into a major industrial group. At the same time, the key specialization of the company has remained the same - the main products of B&S are still engines.
Today, under the auspices of Briggs & Stratton, several subsidiary brands and many acquired manufacturers are developing. The scale of the company has grown to an international level, and its authority is recognized by leading industry representatives and independent experts.
Technical parameters and design features of Briggs&Stratton engines
Briggs & Stratton Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of engines for outdoor power equipment; The world's leading manufacturer of portable power stations and pressure washers. The company owns several lawn and power equipment brands, including Simplicity, Snapper, Ferris and Murray. The company is international, and very large-scale - Briggs & Stratton products are sold and serviced in more than 100 countries around the world. The company was founded in 1908, today annual sales exceed 10 million engines (over 2 billion US dollars). The company has 11 factories located in different parts of the world.
I/C series motors
General purpose Briggs&Stratton engines with a horizontal crankshaft. They are characterized by high performance, endurance and reliability at a relatively low cost. I/C series engines with power from 3.5 to 10 hp. With. Excellent for installation on cultivators, generators, high pressure washers and motor pumps.
Vanguard series engines
Vanguard industrial motors are designed for commercial use and meet the demanding demands of professionals. Incorporating the most advanced technologies, Vanguard engines are highly reliable and have a long service life even under extremely difficult conditions. These motors are often installed on cultivators, walk-behind tractors, generators and motor pumps, professional lawn mowers, and off-road equipment. The scope of their application is very wide: agriculture, construction, landscape work. They are actively used by emergency services. All Vanguard air-cooled gasoline engines come with a three-year warranty.
Motors for snow blowers
“Winter” engines installed on snow throwers have a number of differences from “summer” ones, due to the specifics of their operation at low temperatures and in conditions of snow dust. The difference should be found in the body kit elements; the main parts, such as the crankcase or connecting rod and piston group, are identical. Since it is cold in winter and people usually work with gloves, all control elements (levers, switches, starting handles) are increased in size. Even the recesses on the fuel tank cap are made deeper.
Another feature is related to the presence of snow. In winter, there is practically no abrasive dust in the air, but there is a lot of snow. And since there is no dust, there is no need for an air filter, which can freeze in winter. Therefore, in “winter” engines, the carburetor takes heated air directly from the space under the side casing. Snow blower engines are often equipped not only with a manual starter, but also with an electric one, starting from 230 V. This is due to the fact that the oil thickens in the cold and it is more difficult to turn the crankshaft manually in winter than in summer. The manual starter casing for “winter” engines also has a special shape that prevents snow from getting inside.
All these design changes ensure reliable starting of a cold and warm engine at low temperatures. Repeated starting or stopping in snowy conditions also does not create problems (but a “summer” engine in such conditions can easily fail due to freezing of the air filter and freezing of the carburetor).
Cooling system self-cleaning technology
The optimal thermal balance of air-cooled engines is ensured by powerful air flow. It is created by an impeller located on the axis of the flywheel. As the blades and air channels are used, they become clogged with settling dust, worsening heat exchange. To prevent this, Briggs & Stratton engines are equipped with a self-cleaning system that effectively cuts off dust and small debris contained in the air, thereby providing more powerful airflow even after long periods of operation. The system lowers the operating temperature of the engine and oil by 25-30 °C. This reduces the need for maintenance and subsequent equipment downtime. By the way, the self-cleaning system has another advantage. The impeller housing is made of glass fiber reinforced plastic, which effectively absorbs noise. Therefore, engines with this system work not only longer, but also quieter.
TransportGuard
Storing and transporting gasoline engines is not as simple as it seems. When the engine is turned off, certain processes occur that may further affect its performance. The most noticeable is the evaporation of gasoline and its gradual seepage through the seals. This can lead to gasoline entering the crankcase during long-term seasonal storage and mixing with oil. And this is fraught with disastrous consequences. In particular, the oil loses its lubricating ability, since the oil film is easily washed off with gasoline. Under bad circumstances, even an explosion of gasoline vapor in the oil sump cannot be ruled out.
Commitment to innovation
Since its founding, this American engine manufacturer has remained true to its original philosophy of continuously improving its product offerings and increasing the efficiency of each engine it produces.
As company representatives note, the most important impetus for development for them has always been and remains investment. Briggs & Stratton engineers strive to achieve maximum power without sacrificing reliability and ultimate performance in every engine model. At the same time, the operation of the motors is simplified. And this combination of priorities gives the engines of this brand truly strong competitive advantages.
Model range of garden equipment
For garden lawn mowers, Briggs and Stratton offers the following power unit models (regardless of the brand under which the devices are sold):
- 450E Series™;
- 500E Series™;
- 550E Series™;
- 575EX Series™;
- 625E OHV;
- 625E Series™;
- 650E Series™;
- 650EXi Series™;
- 675EX Series™;
- 675EXi Series™;
- 675IS InStart®;
- 750EX DOV®;
- 750EX DOV® I/C®;
- 800E Series™;
- 850E Series™;
- 850E I/C®;
- 875EX Series™;
- 875iS InStart®;
- 950E Series™;
- E 900 (the most powerful engine currently available from the manufacturer).
Briggs and Stratton power units are installed on lawn mowers from many global manufacturers, for example, Husqvarna, Makita, Champion, AL-KO, Viking, Mc Culloch, Stiga and others.
Wide range of solutions for a variety of tasks
The Briggs & Stratton catalog presents engines of various types and purposes:
- compact motors for manual lawn mowers;
- powerful internal combustion engines for riders;
- power plants for snow blowers;
- Vanguard™ commercial engines for high-performance garden equipment;
- general-purpose motors that can be used to mechanize a wide variety of equipment - motor cultivators, wood splitters, pumps, mini-washes, gas generators, etc.
The common features of all Briggs & Stratton engines are outstanding performance, ease of starting in any conditions, ease of maintenance and outstanding unpretentiousness. In self-propelled lawn mowers, these engines provide powerful traction and stable torque - so even on difficult terrain your machine will not stall. And a variety of models with different power and working volume allows you to choose a profitable option for mowers of any size.
And the large reserve of power that each engine of this brand receives makes it possible to quickly and efficiently cut grass of any length and any condition. It can cope even with dense wet thickets, leaving them no chance. Your mower can handle almost any task in one pass, leaving a perfectly smooth lawn.
Engine classification
For the convenience of consumers, the widest range of manufactured products is divided into several series, which belong to one or another category of motors according to their purpose. The most common group can rightfully be called consumer devices, which include the Quattro, Classic, Sprint series.
Among other categories, worthy of mention are:
- advanced - Intek, Quantum;
- semi-professional - Intek PRO modifications;
- professional - Vanguard.
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The technical characteristics of such engines are also different, depending on their purpose. As a rule, the higher the class of the power unit, the more suitable it is for intensive work over a long period of time. The standard operating time of consumer models of this brand is approximately 500 hours, but professional devices can operate up to 2000-3000 hours.
Technology at the service of convenience
Briggs & Stratton uses Mow N'Stow® technology to develop modern Briggs & Stratton engines. Thanks to it, the mower can be installed vertically, reducing the footprint by 70%. At the same time, placing the device in this way makes it much more convenient to service it. In particular, raising the lawnmower to a vertical position makes it much easier to clean the blades, which should be done regularly.
The possibility of such installation provides a whole range of unique technical solutions:
- special design of the gas tank that prevents fuel leakage;
- reliably insulated, “leak-free” carburetor;
- engine protection against oil flooding.
Moreover, the Mow N'Stow® system also takes care of your comfort. Installing the lawn mower in a vertical position is not difficult. And the design of the end of all devices that use this technology ensures their maximum fixation.
Repair and service
Regular maintenance ensures a long service life for engines of this brand, as well as compliance of their characteristics with the values declared by the manufacturer. A similar procedure should be carried out once every 50 hours of work or every year.
The most common manipulations that need to be performed when servicing units are:
- Change of oil;
- cleaning/replacing the air filter;
- replacing spark plugs.
For replacement, it is recommended to use high-quality oil that matches the analogue used by the manufacturer. It contains up to 25% of various additives designed to make the engine operate more efficiently and more stable. New models of the Exi and other series provide the ability to add oil without completely replacing it.
What problems are most often addressed to the service?
Most consumers who use units with similar motors in the private sector contact numerous service centers. After all, unqualified repairs can lead to serious problems and increased costs to eliminate them.
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However, in some cases, the engine owner can fix the problem himself. For example, if the engine does not start, the reason may lie in poor fuel quality, lack of contact with the spark plug, or a problem with the air damper.
If the power unit smokes, this may be caused by exceeding the permissible oil level, dirty air filter, or incorrect installation. However, the most common problem with which owners of devices of this brand contact service centers is overheating of the motor.
As a rule, it is observed during long-term operation in intensive mode, for which the engine model used is not designed. Overheating can be caused by:
- contamination of the cooling fins;
- lack of oil in the unit;
- Improper seating of engine valves.
Self-diagnosis when such faults are detected is not recommended if, in order to find out the causes of the problem and eliminate them, the consumer needs to disassemble the motor, as this can lead to failure of the unit.
Simple and reliable starting in any conditions
No more yanking on the cord to get started—your Briggs & Stratton-powered lawn mower starts with just the press of a button or the turn of a key. The iS Series InStart® system, based on new generation lithium-ion batteries, is responsible for fast starting. It combines the features of using competing types of mowers - high performance and power of gasoline units and ease of use of electric analogues.
The new generation of external lithium-ion batteries used in the iS Series InStart® system last three times longer than conventional batteries and support fast charging technology. It takes only 60 minutes to fill 100%, enough for 75 starts. And in 10 minutes the battery receives enough energy for 20 starts.
The iS Series InStart® is a unique development from Briggs & Stratton that certainly provides a competitive advantage. Starting petrol lawn mowers has never been so easy.
Another exclusive technology is called InStart® iSi. When using a Li-ion battery, it is built directly into the engine. The stationary design allows for particularly high performance. The ISi battery can withstand up to 200 starts on a single 4-hour charge – this is more than enough for the entire summer season. And if you need to start working as quickly as possible, then just connect the charging cable to the mower for just 10 minutes - this will be enough for 10 starts.
The most advanced B&S engines are equipped with the advanced 82Li Series™ lithium-ion batteries. Their main advantage is the maximum voltage of 82V - and this means an easy start and long-term, stable operation without the need for charging. And special technology is responsible for determining the thickness of the mowed grass and optimizing performance.
Instart system
One of the characteristic features of these units is the use of innovative technologies in the design of models. Thus, many of Briggs and Stratton engines are equipped with Instart technology, which makes starting the engine much easier and more convenient.
The first models equipped with this function were released in 2016. The system is an electric engine start, which has the form of a battery mounted directly on the motor body. Models equipped with electric start weigh slightly more, but can be started by turning the key or pressing a button on the remote control.
The technical characteristics of the battery used to start the engine allow up to 50 starts after charging the battery for 1 hour. Models equipped with this function are slightly more expensive, but are noticeably more convenient in everyday use.
The first engines in history that do not require an oil change
The highlight of the Briggs & Stratton product catalog is the EXi line of engines. They absolutely do not require engine oil changes. All you have to do is check its level from time to time and, if necessary, add fresh lubricant to the crankcase. And this not only reduces the cost of time and money - with such an engine you will definitely not exceed the replacement interval, since there is none.
Other features of EXi engines include the following nuances:
- minimum weight in its class with an optimal weight ratio;
- compactness;
- low noise – thanks to the technological OHV platform, these motors produce minimal noise and vibration;
- the innovative ReadyStart starting system; in addition, the InStart® system is also suitable for these engines.
Categories of modern Briggs and Stratton engines
Briggs and stratton E Series Logo.
Motors in this category have a low level of toxicity, a super-powerful new quick start system, and also combine functionality and the ability to operate for a long time.
Briggs and stratton EX Series Logo.
A series that combines all the advantages of the previous one, also equipped with a ReadyStart® launch system. The best option for fast work and optimal functioning of a lawn mower or walk-behind tractor on your site.
Briggs and Stratton EX-SERIES ECO-PLUS
A combination of the qualities of the two previous series with ECO-PLUS™ technology. These engines produce the smallest amount of toxic substances, they have a reduced amount of fuel evaporation, and they ideally fit into the concept of environmentally friendly technology that does not pollute the air and vegetation.
Trademarks under which briggs and stratton sells equipment with its original engines in European countries (European product line):
Each original motor has a corresponding serial number, using which the owner of the equipment can find the original engine operating manual on the manufacturer’s website.
Reliability guarantee
Briggs & Stratton engines offer outstanding performance, high practicality, excellent power and impeccable reliability. They are in high demand in a variety of countries - today more than 100 million power units of this brand are regularly used in the world. And the owner of each of them can be sure that, if necessary, he will receive all the necessary support. A developed network of service departments allows you to receive any service - both warranty and post-warranty. There are also no problems with maintainability; B&S factories produce the widest range of spare parts for the entire line of engines - both modern and past generations.
Review of Briggs and Stratton brand lawn mowers. Technical characteristics and operating rules
The American company Briggs and Stratton is known throughout the world as a manufacturer of engines for various equipment: lawn mowers, walk-behind tractors, mini tractors, trimmers. Briggs and Stratton engines can be divided into two broad categories: air-cooled and water-cooled.
All motors are designed for outdoor equipment.
The company's headquarters is located in Milwaukee (USA). There, the company's engineers and mechanics develop, assemble and sell the final product, distributing goods off the plant's assembly line throughout the world.
For more than a century, briggs and stratton has been producing motors of various power levels that meet international quality standards and have great power and durability.
The distinctive characteristics of briggs and stratton engines are:
- high environmental performance (ECO-PLUS™ technology);
- additional technologies (ECO PLUS Permeation - protection against the leakage of harmful substances through the gas tank, fuel line, seals and gaskets, ECO PLUS Ventilation - reduction in the amount of exhaust through the ventilation system);
- the E SERIES™ concept, according to which the most important indicator in an engine is the low level of toxicity of exhaust emissions emitted by the engine;
- power;
- durability;
- high reliability and no need for frequent repairs;
- easy start.
Lawn mowers with briggs and stratton power units
This category of lawn mowers includes both self-propelled and non-self-propelled models. More accurate technical characteristics of a particular lawn mower can be obtained by studying the operating instructions (manual) in more detail before purchasing the device. You can also access the manual on the manufacturer’s official website by entering the engine model number in a special field.
Below are the official brands promoted by the company in the global market. Motors from an American manufacturer are also installed on other lawn mowers of Finnish, German, Polish, Swedish, and Chinese production. The brands listed below are from the USA and are sold throughout Europe.
