|
Tony C.
|
 |
« on: April 27, 2022, 11:16:27 AM » |
|
The Briggs & Stratton engine on my newly purchased (April 2022) Toro Model 21462 leaked a substantial amount of oil from the OHC gasket on the VERY FIRST use of the mower. I couldn't believe it!  I've just returned the mower to the power equipment dealer at which it was purchased so they can repair it. If I bought it at a big box store, the repair would have been more difficult to manage. I've never liked Briggs & Stratton engines. I wish Toro used a different engine manufacture for their mowers. I probably should have bought the Honda mower. But it was nearly double the price. |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: April 27, 2022, 02:31:59 PM by Tony C. »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
ybnorml
|
|
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2022, 02:19:50 PM » |
|
Briggs & Stratton engines used to be a quality small engine Tony....Maybe not so much any longer.  3 years ago I went shopping for a self propelled mower, and decided on a Honda mower. Hope the dealers can fix or preferably replace your mower, and doesn't feed you the line; "they all do that"..... |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Dan-bury
|
|
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2022, 03:37:30 PM » |
|
Hey Tony, being a TORO dealer I can honestly say that is NOT common. In fact I don't recall seeing that problem on any Briggs.
My guess is a new gasket and cover (that is what I would do if it were here for warranty work) torqued properly will be as good as new.
I will also say after 20 years as a Outdoor Power Equipment Dealer, Briggs is still a favorite of mine over all the other small mower engines.
Just my 2 cents.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
I have spent most my money on Motorcycles and Women, the rest I just wasted.
|
|
|
|
Tony C.
|
|
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2022, 04:00:22 PM » |
|
Hope the dealers can fix or preferably replace your mower, and doesn't feed you the line;
"they all do that".....
The service manager was quite surprised about the leak. I sure they'll fix or replace the mower.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Tony C.
|
|
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2022, 04:26:43 PM » |
|
Hey Tony, being a TORO dealer I can honestly say that is NOT common. In fact I don't recall seeing that problem on any Briggs.
My guess is a new gasket and cover (that is what I would do if it were here for warranty work) torqued properly will be as good as new.
I will also say after 20 years as a Outdoor Power Equipment Dealer, Briggs is still a favorite of mine over all the other small mower engines.
Just my 2 cents.
Hey Dan. I'm glad you weighed in. I value your opinion. I was completely shocked to see oil dripping freely from the OHC area in the front of the engine. As stated in my post, the mower is brand new and this was the first time I used it. So yes it's a warranty repair for sure. I've had two Sear Craftsman mowers with Briggs engines that didn't perform well over time. I had a Honda mower the ran well, but it had repeated choke issues because of Honda's Thermowax temperature sensor used to control the choke. I understand that Honda still uses that technology. The best lawn mower engine I've had was a Subaru 175 cc on a Gravely self-propelled that I just replaced with this new Toro. I only used the Gravely for 5 seasons. The transmission was not robust enough to handle the power from the Subaru engine. After three seasons, the transmission stopped working and I replaced it myself. I'm pretty sure the gears in the transmission were plastic. Parts were about $175. Then two seasons later, I could feel the transmission grinding again. I didn't think the Gravely would make it through this season. Hence the Toro replacement. The Gravely mower overall was poorly designed with a lousy build-quality. That's why they're no longer making walk behind residential mowers. But man that Subaru 175 cc engine was bad-ass. I wish the Toro had that engine. It's got the 163 cc Briggs EXi engine, which is advertised as not needing oil changes. Instead you just add oil as needed. I'll probably still change the oil. I'm sure Briggs engine will get fixed and all will be well. But man it sucks to spend the money on a new mower and see oil leaking out of it on the first use. |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: April 27, 2022, 04:32:08 PM by Tony C. »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
ybnorml
|
|
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2022, 03:38:54 AM » |
|
Tony, I'm surprised you bought a mower with a motor , figuring you as someone that would appreciate an 'old school' push mower   |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Dan-bury
|
|
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2022, 04:20:32 AM » |
|
Tony, you are right about the Subaru small engines. They "were" well built engines but Yamaha bought out the Subaru small engine division. I haven't seen enough to see how they will hold up.
Also you are correct about the Honda choke system, poor design and a pain to work on.
Husqvarna also stopped producing walk mowers. It is difficult to build a good mower and stay within a selling price point mainly because the manufacturers try to build mowers more sophisticated than they need to be.
If they would just remember it just needs to make tall grass into short grass.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
I have spent most my money on Motorcycles and Women, the rest I just wasted.
|
|
|
|
ybnorml
|
|
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2022, 05:15:57 AM » |
|
Tony, you are right about the Subaru small engines. They "were" well built engines but Yamaha bought out the Subaru small engine division. I haven't seen enough to see how they will hold up.
Also you are correct about the Honda choke system, poor design and a pain to work on.
Husqvarna also stopped producing walk mowers. It is difficult to build a good mower and stay within a selling price point mainly because the manufacturers try to build mowers more sophisticated than they need to be.
If they would just remember it just needs to make tall grass into short grass.
It's hard to beat the old school push mowers Dan, no motor / engine / transmission to worry about. Strong legs and a weak mind is all that's necessary...  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Tony C.
|
|
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2022, 06:04:18 AM » |
|
Tony, I'm surprised you bought a mower with a motor , figuring you as someone that would appreciate an 'old school' push mower Come on Terry. Since 2000 I've been riding six cylinder motorcycles. It's pretty clear that I like power and torque. |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: April 28, 2022, 06:32:33 AM by Tony C. »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Tony C.
|
|
« Reply #9 on: April 28, 2022, 06:05:55 AM » |
|
If they would just remember it just needs to make tall grass into short grass.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
ybnorml
|
|
« Reply #10 on: April 28, 2022, 07:25:32 AM » |
|
Tony, I'm surprised you bought a mower with a motor , figuring you as someone that would appreciate an 'old school' push mower Come on Terry. Since 2000 I've been riding six cylinder motorcycles. It's pretty clear that I like power and torque.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Dan-bury
|
|
« Reply #11 on: June 03, 2022, 04:26:10 AM » |
|
Tony, I remember you talked about wanting a new Honda Mower. Check out this clip, it may make you feel better about buying the Toro. I have seen many of her videos and she is usually pretty much on the mark with her repairs and opinions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdaewi75hgQ |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
I have spent most my money on Motorcycles and Women, the rest I just wasted.
|
|
|
|
DragonRdr
|
|
« Reply #12 on: June 03, 2022, 09:21:56 AM » |
|
Thanks for the post Dan-bury. I was thinking about buying one of the new Honda mowers. I won't now. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
2000 Valkyrie Interstate
1994 Goldwing Interstate
|
|
|
|
Tony C.
|
|
« Reply #13 on: June 03, 2022, 04:59:43 PM » |
|
Tony, I remember you talked about wanting a new Honda Mower. Check out this clip, it may make you feel better about buying the Toro. I have seen many of her videos and she is usually pretty much on the mark with her repairs and opinions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdaewi75hgQThanks Dan! Got my Toro mower with the Briggs engine OHV gasket repaired in a little over a week after I dropped it for repair. Everything is working fine and I really like the self propelled Personal Pace feature. It work great! Glad I didn't buy the Honda.  My Toro has a shroud covering the self propelled drive belt. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
ybnorml
|
|
« Reply #14 on: June 04, 2022, 03:07:53 AM » |
|
Tony, I remember you talked about wanting a new Honda Mower. Check out this clip, it may make you feel better about buying the Toro. I have seen many of her videos and she is usually pretty much on the mark with her repairs and opinions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdaewi75hgQThanks Dan! Got my Toro mower with the Briggs engine OHV gasket repaired in a little over a week after I dropped it for repair. Everything is working fine and I really like the self propelled Personal Pace feature. It work great! Glad I didn't buy the Honda. My Toro has a shroud covering the self propelled drive belt. Are you trying to start a Toro vs. Honda mowing competition Tony ?? |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Tony C.
|
|
« Reply #15 on: June 04, 2022, 05:21:18 AM » |
|
Are you trying to start a Toro vs. Honda mowing competition Tony ?? Nope. Just stating the facts as they relate to my particular case. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
holmes
|
|
« Reply #16 on: June 04, 2022, 06:21:09 PM » |
|
Tony, I remember you talked about wanting a new Honda Mower. Check out this clip, it may make you feel better about buying the Toro. I have seen many of her videos and she is usually pretty much on the mark with her repairs and opinions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdaewi75hgQLove it! Great video! She rocks!!!!!!!!!!! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
