18HP Vanguard replacement options?

Hello! Am new to group - thank you for being here.

I have a John Deere GT235 with a dead Briggs Vanguard 18hp vertical shaft engine - It runs(sort of) on one cylinder and I found a cracked block up on top near where the crank bearing is. I bought tractor like this---original owner didn't know what was up so he just got a new tractor.

So, I am looking at replacement engines and or short block as this is a super nice and clean tractor and it would be nice to have a lawn mower less than 20 years old!

The engine is 350777-1137-E1 and it seems there is a modern 18hp that will replace it as well as a new short block option, BUT, since I am going to need to fork out the cash anyway for another engine, I was trying to figure out whether there were larger engines in the same 'class' that would just drop in place. It seems that 'maybe' the 20hp and the 23hp might be easy bolt-in compatible. I have e-mailed Briggs & Stratton customer support and gotten a generic reply that they had forwarded my request for info to regional engine specialists who are supposed to get back to me. Christmas has come and gone and still no reply.......

Do any of you here have the knowledge/expertise/resources to help answer this?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

[rayg]

Ray G
Erie, PA

356777-3137

A crack in that position will not make a difference to the way the engine runs nor cause it to only run on one cylinder.
It will cause an oil leak and if big enough affect the fuel pump.
A twin running on 1 cylinder is generally the coil or the wire between the two coils ( bad plugs ignored )
The hole should be able to be welded, JB welded or soldered ( Lumiweld & similar ).

Any ride on engine should be able to fit in the spot where the Vanguard you just have to be sure the PTO shafts are the same size , style & length.
Engines fitted to ride ons are generally 25% larger than the maximum requirement of the equipment and spin at the same speed so in most cases do nothing other than consume more fuel.
If you mow wet grass that is too long the extra balls might come in handy other than that you are just peeing your money against a wall.

Small Engine Suppliers
Small Engine Warehouse
Both specialise in replacement engines and in particular superseeded , end runs & factory pulls.

The Surplus Center also gets some very cheap engines from time to time but they have no technical support.
If you go for another Vanguard then all of your controls will transfer directly to the new engine, even if the controls are different, yours will bolt directly onto the crankcases.
Thus you can use a fixed speed engine from a walk behind or if it is a horizontal engine, a compressor or pump engine.

Suggest you check out a few of the you-tube video's about engine-swapping, if you've never done it before, you can make the job fairly easy,..
(using same make and APPROX same HP rating,) most important is diameter & length of the crankshaft (so you can re-use your current "stack-pulley" and/or electric PTO clutch assembly) mounting bolt holes remain the same, wiring MAY have minor differences, if any, muffler has to be thought of as well,then your engine throttle and/or choke cable(s) that's about it.

Staying with the same make, but going from say a single to a twin, think everything mentioned previously, but now engine size MIGHT come into play, will it fit under your mower's HOOD ..?? usually, NOT a problem, BUT be aware it's not always the case, might encounter muffler problems, ( new brackets, plates etc.) fuel-tank location may enter into the picture now, as I stated watch a few of the vids and get an idea of where you're headed and what's involved, also take LOTS of pics, BEFORE, DURING & some AFTER, they help more than you can imagine, especially with wiring and carburetor linkages/ controls.

Changing from one make to another, although done quite often, it involves some headaches, usually the wiring, the stack-pulley/PTO clutch, mounting holes, muffler, etc. as I said, watch the videos and then determine which route you're going to take, repair as Bert pointed out, which can be done, or replace, whichever you decide, best of luck, and keep us up-dated. ..:thumbsup:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_grHmGj3TS8 ........ one of several videos

THANK YOU FOR THE REPLIES AND INFO. I am pretty sure that I am going to order a short block to match the 18hp engine. (The short block I found that matches my engine number and the 'new' engine number is less that 1/2 the cost of a brand new engine) I will keep and probably eventually repair the block that is removed. **I do not know the extent of the damage to the engine yet -- it is still on tractor and up on a lift in a friend's garage. There is healthy spark!!! (1st hand--right hand to be exact! -- experience. It still hurts thinking about it.) There is absolutely no compression in the one cylinder. The crack on top is right next to the top "bearing" -- and yes, the sucker pumps oil!!! I have access to a pretty good professional welder who can reattach the broken part --- he welded an aluminum hydro tranny case for me that worked really well. Next time I am over there, I will take some photos and share them.

[rayg]

You can also email Briggs directly and give them the exact model of your engine and they will inform you of what currently manufactured engine will fit as the closest replacement. You must remember that these engines are not all manufactured with the same engine speed from the factory. This will certainly change how the machine runs. I have a Vanguard 18 in my eXmark that has the highest factory set RPM I have every seen on a v-twin mower engine and the only suitable replacement is a 23hp Vanguard. Depending on what you have now, a new Vanguard engine may only set you back $700-1000. In cases like mine, it's more like $1700; which would mean a new mower!!! Good Luck!