you got that right and thank you!

I don't, I never liked the carburetor design on these being plastic, needing a primer as well as the use of a rubber diaphragm fuel pump instead of gravity feed and the ease of serviceability is the reason I have Honda and Kohler engines. The Hondas (GX and Kohlers, this case Command Pro) last forever and are relatively easy and simple to service and incredibly reliable, evidenced from my 43+ year old Honda flathead powered tiller and snow throwers. They're also much quieter and smoother to boot. So, in order to change that diaphragm requires the removal of two bolts, but Briggs didn't make the head size the same, one is a longer 1/2" headed bolt and, depending on the year of the engine, another smaller 3/8 or 7/16" head. Also to remove, there's usually a spacer between the fuel tank and the block. Why couldn't Briggs just build that spacer into either the block or the tank? Next, you pull the fuel assembly off. Keeping an eye on the O-ring and retainer and putting them back into the carburetor. Then, to replace the diaphragm, you have to undo six fasteners. The slot head for the filter, then five additional fasteners with Phillips heads. You take the carburetor off of the tank, and remove the diaphragm and gasket. Then you have to clean off the remaining gasket material that may be stuck to both the tank and the plastic carb. Make sure while doing all of this you don't lose the spring or the screens. Already there are more steps than it takes to remove the fuel system from the Honda. The Honda GX only has three fasteners to remove: Two 10 mm headed nuts and a 10 mm headed bolt. Pull the air filter off in one assembly, carefully remove the carb disconnecting the two linkages and the tension spring. Undo the 10 mm bolt on the bottom of the carb to access the float, needle and main fuel jet. To get to the pilot jet on the top of the carb, take a Philips headed screw driver and pull the idle set screw, gently pry up on the plastic of that jet. All metal construction, no chance of warping. Removing the recoil starter on the Honda is just as easy, depending on the age and series of engine, it's three 8 or 10 mm fasteners that hold the recoil to the blower housing. Briggs flathead? It also depends on the series of engine: Quantum or Classic/Quattro. Sometimes it's the removal of layers of things, typically vanity plastic, fuel tank and the blower shroud with again, an assortment of fasteners. It also depends on the series of engine: Quantum or Classic/Quattro. You can probably see somewhat why I don't like Briggs engines. When they work, they work very well but when they don't (this happens quite a bit with me and I have owned Honda, Honda clones, Tecumseh, Kohler, Suzuki, Briggs and for a brief time, one temperamental Kawasaki) it can become a nightmare and time wasted.

you and me both!

I see your point and yes it could have been streamlined but the idea that they're still around is the amazing part.

@@WJCTechyman yes, I’ve had / have / serviced all of those engines and they all have their strong points, but the simplicity and incredible reliability of these inexpensive little engines is just something else. I’ve had sooo many of these come in after being relentlessly abused, and yet with a little bit of service they come right back to life (in many cases they simply start right up and run fine). The simple carbs are not at all finicky and if the tank mating surface is slightly warped it can be brought back to level very easily (rarely happens IME). These were great engines for simple, low power demand applications. Every Honda GX I ever had on the many HR214 variants I’ve had over the years burned oil like a mosquito fogger, Kohler equivalents like the XT675 have half a dozen different carb setups each with their own problems, Chinese knockoffs like the Loncin engines are very good (but next to impossible to source internal parts for). Every Kawasaki engine I’ve ever had on JX75 style walk behinds has been stellar.

@@WJCTechymanok but I have one with a steel one well I it is not plastic I can’t remember what it is called

nice work!

@randyragsdale5481 You do realize 10w-30 and sae 30 are the same viscosity when at operating temp? 10w-30 just won't get as thick as sae 30 when it's really cold outside.

thanks for that

thank you for sharing that information, I'll have to consider it

I have and had Hondas, Kohlers, Tecumsehs and Suzukis. that have lasted decades, still keep going and not anywhere near as many problems as Briggs, are typically more reliable, easy to service and specifically Honda flathead engines that don't smell as bad, smoother operating and quieter than Briggs.

you got that right

I like the idea

Yes my neighbor loved the older style B&D edger but when it died she bought the updated corded style and hated it and returned it. I found a used older one on eBay and she was happy.

you are right about that. Sometimes I still mess up with my string trimmer when edging

that was nice of you

Exactly! As time goes by I'm considering using one of these

well said

no problem and thank you for the comment!

nothing wrong with that

in your situation it makes perfect sense to have one of these

very true and thank you

nice!

nice!

no problem

you are correct, but in this case I do believe carbon build up on the valve and seat are the cause for the large clearance

I was a BCS dealer since the 80's through the Honda era and never saw that.

@@MUUKOW3 in the US? Because here in Italy they used to mopunt ACME,Lombardini and in some older models even Condor Guidettis from the 40's

@@andrefixa We had Lombardini, diesel, Acme ALN ,290's ,the 200 and the Tecchnimotor on the 205. Then they went Kohler and tge dark days of Briggs then to the current Hondas with Yanmar and Kohler diesel sprinkled in.

@@MUUKOW3 I noticed the catalogue for BCS America, the last time I looked had mostly Kohler and Honda engines as options. I just looked again, there are two with a Kohler, the others seem to be Honda. I would still love to have one of those tractors, but the tractor I want, by itself is the price of two Honda HSS928CTD 28" hydrostatic tracked, battery electric start GX270-powered snow blowers. Then the accessories probably make it more viable to have a small Kubota tractor with a mid mount mower, snow blower and some other accessories.

wow that's crazy!

these are nice, but seem like too much when doing a small lawn

the valve that's affected Is the exhaust valve and if the engine burns more oil than it should, the valve seat will start to collect excess carbon. That will then cause the valve lash to go "wide" due to an obstruction and not wear.

makes sense , thanks .

nice trimmer and yes after all the work, it didn't smoke at all. I think the old oil was part of the problem

yes you can.

LOL!!! I've already got the one, so I don't know if I need a second one.

I agree with you

agreed!

thank you!

sure, it's brake fluid

not sure maybe someone else can chime in

well said and you make a good point. These are great little engines and would be worth the effort

nice !

If done well, making an edge with a heavy duty string trimmer like my Echo gas powered unit looks pretty good.

nothing wrong with that

I like that, I'll have to use those terms when I se them next time. yes these are not everyones engines as they have a lot of interesting design quirks.

on this carb it wouldn't. The carb is plastic and the fuel sits under it. Not chance for vapor lock.

you make a great point, a string trimmer is a much better option

I agree, but the stick edger configuration of my Echo can be difficult to control. It seems like it always wants to kick up while something like this with the added mass of the frame and edger would probably limit the kickback. This is especially true when forming an edge on a lawn that never had one before.

@@WJCTechyman I meant the original stick edger with no engine. The original!

thank you!

Funny thing is I had two of those on my service route today, the Troy version with the Briggs Sprint and the Cub Cadet version with the Fachina engine..

thank you for sharing that. I was hoping for something in the 130's

I'm glad you got that!

And the spray u use to clean the rust what is it called and is it possible to make it at home cause I found a mower and wanna clean it up

online or to friends or coworkers

the spray I use does not take off the rust, only the oily and dirty stuff.

Is there a name I can find to get it ​@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE

great idea

me too

I hear ya

yes they are and bolens is the king of re-branding of other machines

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE thanks

wow, the Echo stick edgers are really good machines

interesting idea!

thank you very much and for the advice

agreed, not sure what happened to it, but afterwards the engine didn't smoke nearly as much.

nice, I'll have to look it up and see what it looks like, thanks

already sold it and made a lot more than $10 on it.