Replacement Small Engine

kaiser715

kaiser715

Doing hard time
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Location
7, Pocket, NC
I had carb problems on my pressure washer yesterday. It's an old '70s or '80s vintage Briggs 11hp I/C engine w/electric start. Carb problem isn't a big deal...fuel filter ruptured and let all the old crap it was holding run straight into the carb (thanks, Advance Auto!).

While I had it up on the workbench, I was gonna change the oil. Full of metal filings. :( Don't think it's worth the time and money for a rebuild.

So, looking at 11-13hp (420-ish CC) replacement motors. Basic choices are Honda, Kohler from Northern, at about $850 each, or the crap-matic Predator from HF...but it has good ratings and is only $350.

The Northern Powerhouse motors are decent, 1000hr rated, but their 420cc bare engine does not have electric start available.

So....Honda, Kohler, Predator, or what???

Thanks,

DP
 
Keep running the original until it dies. Never mind the metal shavings


My dad had a small snapper riding mower with an old Briggs that developed some small shavings in the oil and had a slight smoke to it. Mechanic said it wouldn't likely last 6 more months. 7 years later it was still going strong when I sold it to a buddy that used it for another 4 years until the deck just gave out finally.

Briggs motors last. Keep using it or replace with another.
 
Of you insist on swapping, just get the predator. They're tough as hell, cheap to fix, and pretty much what everybody else is selling for twice as much. It's a Honda clone, and Kohler has even jumped on the bandwagon. They're selling a Chinese clone with the Kohler badge. Physically identical to the predator. I have 2 of the 6.5 hp motors and have installed the 3.5 on a bicycle. All have been fantastic.
 
Something else to consider; How much Do you use the washer? Probably not that many hours. I used to mow an acre of grass, at least once a week, during the growing season, mulching leaves, & pushing/pulling junk cars,around the yard. Averaged 50 hours a year. I think that's equal to a 3000mi oil change. Now days, I doubt I put over 12 hours a year on my pressure washer. That could add up to a lot of years!
 
Buy what's cheapest.they all come off the same Chinese assembly line.
 
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