Briggs & Stratton Corporation files chap 11

[Robert]

Briggs & Stratton Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of small gasoline engines with headquarters in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, filed petitions on Monday morning for a court-supervised voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11, along with plans to sell "all the company's assets" to KPS Capital Partners.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/worlds-largest-producer-gasoline-engines-files-bankruptcy


Here Is The Avalanche Of Bankruptcies Unleashed By Coronavirus

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/biblical-default-wave-arrives-here-avalanche-bankruptcies-unleashed-coronavirus


We are starting to see the real cost of the Covid 19 and the false response. For all those that said it was justified I hope we can all say that a year from now.

[cookiedough]

yet another company going down the tubes in WI.  Feel sorry for the employees since when the local Oscar Mayer plant in Madison closed down affected nearly everyone HUGE OLD plant gone employing 1000's.  Same can be said when the GM Janesville WI plant closed down in 2008, affecting the entire local communities within say 1 hour drive.  So many families destroyed, am sure both good employers with decent pay and benefits.  Then there is HD in Milwaukee next? 

I guess go buy that HONDA engine next for lawnmowers or a Kawi motor more common?  I guess there is always a Kohler motor as well? 

When Evinrude motors shut down after being in business forever that threw me for a spin was totally caught off guard now B&S..   

[Reb]

No surprise,

After working with them for the past 4 years, they don't compare in quality to their competitors.

The Vanguard line of engines is the only thing worth keeping alive...

[Challenger]

Hate to see any American company go but after 44 years with Deere, I concur with Reb. They were a throw away engine before it was a throw away world.

[h13man]

Never had a B&S fail me ever or any other brand including Tecumseh and Honda. Had 21 yrs. on a 18 hp. twin cyl. Diamond Plus side valve. Used a 1/2 quart per mowing season.

[Wizzard]

No surprise,

After working with them for the past 4 years, they don't compare in quality to their competitors.

The Vanguard line of engines is the only thing worth keeping alive...

I was in the lawn business for years and that is a very true statement.

[Patrick]

I grew up liking/using B&S. Now, I think they are junk. I've never seen more bad head gaskets and valves. I can't recommend anyone buying one. I don't know the reason behind it.

[cookiedough]

Never had a B&S fail me ever or any other brand including Tecumseh and Honda. Had 21 yrs. on a 18 hp. twin cyl. Diamond Plus side valve. Used a 1/2 quart per mowing season.

agree,  we must be the lucky one then?  I have heard from all that Tecumseh is junk but have had 2 engines of theirs not really any issues either.  I guess got lucky the past 30 years or so?

does not surprise me anymore NO companies are safe from closing down bankruptcy in todays world.  We just got in at work a 3.1 million dollar JC Penney's check and probably not be too many more of those either.   Bottom line,  all companies are hurting, or at least around me anyways.  Been thru 3 companies closing their doors in my 30 or so years working, not fun....     The last unexpected closing office was about 4 years ago and when they escorted me out the door I just laughed...  even though I was pissed deep down.    

What irks me even more is when companies like where my wife works outsources cheap labor jobs which is NOT cheap LONG term ruining their company sending basic 16-19 hr jobs to overseas to people who cannot speak English and have no training and financially devistate the company messing up 10x's worse than it is now in basic accounting/office roles, not just mfg. jobs.

My STIHL roto tiller carb I think went bad this spring.  I took it apart and said on the dinky carb was MADE IN CHINA.  I ordered thru amazon.com another one recently since stealer wanted 3x's the price and also says made in CHINA thinking the OEM one was going to be made NOT in china since Stihl is made in USA correct?    My point, not only are parts outsourced, but cheaper labor is as well which can totally ruin a company already hurting.  Mgmt. and higher ups need to wake up and realize this sitting behind their desks making millions.

[Reb]

Briggs won't be going anywhere,

They may have to sell off some other sides of the business they own ie... Ferris, Simplicity, etc.

[F6Dave]

I wonder if the growth of Li-Ion powered equipment is a factor.  I bought a Ryobi string trimmer and small chainsaw.  They work extremely well and I'd never go back to gasoline power for smaller yard tools.

[Reb]

I grew up liking/using B&S. Now, I think they are junk. I've never seen more bad head gaskets and valves. I can't recommend anyone buying one. I don't know the reason behind it.

4 out of 5 times, the valve covers or heads were removed at the Briggs factory to make a repair and half a$$ sealed back up. We reject hundreds of engines a month at Deere for the same issue.

[Patrick]

I grew up liking/using B&S. Now, I think they are junk. I've never seen more bad head gaskets and valves. I can't recommend anyone buying one. I don't know the reason behind it.

4 out of 5 times, the valve covers or heads were removed at the Briggs factory to make a repair and half a$$ sealed back up. We reject hundreds of engines a month at Deere for the same issue.

Boy, what a shame. How can anyone stay in business with problems like that. No wonder they're going under. How can that happen, they've been making engines almost forever.

[oldsmokey]

Just a bit of re organizing. kinda like GM, United Airlines and hundreds of others.

How about the government getting involved with 30% of YRC trucking? A 700 million dollar lifeline????