Kommander Review

[Retired Iron Peddler]

To my understanding Briggs is now manufactured in China which is why there are a lot of quality complaints now. I am like you though, I have owned several power equipment with briggs engines over the years and have not had a breakdown yet. I would however prefer another engine in anything I buy in the future.

The 27-hp. V-twin Briggs & Stratton in my JD Z655 has "Made in USA" on it. I have 6 different power machines equipped with B&S engines that I use regularly and one is over 30 years old. I haven't had a problem with any of them. They get regular maintenance using the lowest priced lubricants and are fed no-ethanol fuel. I don't have a problem buying B&S engines.

I recently purchased an accessory directly from B&S and had a problem with it. I contacted B&S and they promptly contacted me. The B&S warranty personnel went far beyond the normal return and replace to correct the problem.

Bill

 

[cletus99]

Well, I stand corrected. Not sure where I read they were made in china. But did a quick search and found this on their website.

"Over 90% of our engines and products are manufactured in the USA.

The only exception would be the Vanguard horizontal shaft, V-Twin and 3-cylinder liquid cooled engines (All Vanguard vertical shaft single cylinder engines are made in the USA). The Vanguard horizontal shaft and V-twin engines have many of its components made in the USA and are assembled in Japan.

All Vanguard engines are engineered in the USA.

We design, engineer, and assemble the vast majority of our generator and pressure washer products in the United States. Please refer to the packing label for a specific country of origin information."

 

[The Alchemist]

Anyone know the bolt size for the blade spindle? I caught a dog bone that I didn't see and it put a small ding in the end of the blade. It's larger than a 1", which is the largest socket I have, so I need to pick up a set of large sockets, but don't know if it's SAE or metric.

 

[94BULLITT]

Anyone know the bolt size for the blade spindle? I caught a dog bone that I didn't see and it put a small ding in the end of the blade. It's larger than a 1", which is the largest socket I have, so I need to pick up a set of large sockets, but don't know if it's SAE or metric.

Measure the bolt with a tape measure.

 

[The Alchemist]

Measure the bolt with a tape measure.

Seriously? Is that the kind of board this is that people respond to a simple question with an answer like that? I'm not an idiot, and a tape measure isn't even remotely accurate to tell me if it's metric or sae. Oh well. Thanks for your thoughtful insite.

 

[94BULLITT]

Seriously? Is that the kind of board this is that people respond to a simple question with an answer like that? I'm not an idiot, and a tape measure isn't even remotely accurate to tell me if it's metric or sae. Oh well. Thanks for your thoughtful insite.

Yeah seriously. If it is over a 1" it is not going to matter if it metric on standard that much. If the bolt head is 1 1/4" on the tape then that is what you need.

 

[The Alchemist]

Yeah seriously. If it is over a 1" it is not going to matter if it metric on standard that much. If the bolt head is 1 1/4" on the tape then that is what you need.

I hear what you're saying, I know it's not as critical when the bolt sizes get this large due to the amount of contact area, but I prefer to use the right tool for the right job mentality. On the other side of the argument, it's probably a good thing to use a slightly larger socket since the bolt head with have some buildup of grass on it, enlarging it's size.

Sorry, I'm just a scientist as well as a gear head, so I usually subscribe to the right tool for the job mentality. I cringe when I see guys use a pair of channel locks on a bolt, then wonder why it got stripped.

 

[94BULLITT]

At about 3/4 they are interchangeable. 3/4 is 19mm and 13/16 is 21mm.

 

[The Alchemist]

At about 3/4 they are interchangeable. 3/4 is 19mm and 13/16 is 21mm.

To be accurate, 3/4 is actually 19.05mm, and while a 3/4" socket would work on a 19mm bolt, a 19mm socket might not work on a 3/4 nut, and a 13/16" is actually 20.6375mm, so a 21mm socket would work on a 13/16 nut, but a 13/16" socket might not fit over a 21mm nut. I know it's splitting hairs, but again, the right tool for the right job.

I'll just buy both metric and sae and find one that fits.

 

[94BULLITT]

To be accurate, 3/4 is actually 19.05mm, and while a 3/4" socket would work on a 19mm bolt, a 19mm socket might not work on a 3/4 nut, and a 13/16" is actually 20.6375mm, so a 21mm socket would work on a 13/16 nut, but a 13/16" socket might not fit over a 21mm nut. I know it's splitting hairs, but again, the right tool for the right job.

I'll just buy both metric and sae and find one that fits.

I bet you won't notice much difference. I have a socket for removing wheel nuts. One side is 19mm the other 21mm. I use it all the time to take off 3/4 and 13/16 wheel nuts.