Mower Design Flaw

[Pete.S]

I own two mowers with Briggs/Stratton engines. I also walked around stores and looked at other brands with B/S engines. The design geniuses at Briggs have placed the engine air intake and air filter almost directly above the discharge opening in the deck. Any time you mow in dry conditions there is a lot of dust and dry grass clippings flying around and a lot of it gets sucked into the air filter. When I buy a new filter for my B/S engines, I buy two in order to save myself a trip to the store in a few weeks. It really doesn't matter if you mulch, discharge or bag the clippings. There is always more dust flying out on the right side of the deck than anywhere else. And that's where the brain trust at Briggs put the engine air intake. Kudos and congrats on good thinking guys.

 

[ILENGINE]

the engine has been set up like that since the early 60's. Not any major changes since then.

 

[Pete.S]

That doesn't make it right. Tecumseh has the air intake on the opposite side of the engine from the intake. Honda also has the intake on the opposite side of the deck from the deck discharge. Briggs needs to move into the new century.

 

[benski]

That doesn't make it right. Tecumseh has the air intake on the opposite side of the engine from the intake. Honda also has the intake on the opposite side of the deck from the deck discharge. Briggs needs to move into the new century.

I'm certainly not going to hold my breath. This design "feature" ensures that they will probably wear out more quickly, and they can sell more engines...:ashamed::frown:

 

[jamesslcx]

Hi everyone, I never thought about this before you guys mentioned it, another reason is so maybe we would buy their air filters a lot more often, just my opinion!? No matter I am amazed an engine so simple could last so long with minimal upkeep.:thumbsup:

 

[Duffer72]

Briggs dosen't design the mower or build it, it is the mower mfg that you want to complain about

 

[JDgreen]

Briggs dosen't design the mower or build it, it is the mower mfg that you want to complain about

:confused2: :confused2: Whoever builds the mower is forced to accept the design Briggs builds into the engines it produces, and has anybody EVER seen a mower with the discharge on the opposite side of the deck??

And to OP, exactly how much do you mow that you need to replace the air filter on your Briggs every few weeks? My Brute mower, powered by a 190cc Briggs, still has the OEM air filter after about 65 hours of use, and it still looks really good. But then, I rarely have to mow in dusty conditions.

 

[Duffer72]

The mfg could rotate the engine on the deck to mount it anyway they wish,

 

[JDgreen]

The mfg could rotate the engine on the deck to mount it anyway they wish,

Very good point!!! :thumbsup: