What's it cost to have a Briggs 8 hp engine overhauled?

[dfkrug]

Has been a good generator, would like to have it overhauled and put back to use.

Since it is an OHV (only 4yo), it is probably the exhaust valve is not closing all the way. Very easy to adjust, but this is a maintenance item that is needed with the modern small OHV thumpers. Not so much the old flatheads.

I will bet the engine got hard to pull-start first, as the decompression mech was no longer working. If the valve is not burned, you may be able to fix it, but you will likely not like what a shop is gonna charge you, and the wait time involved.

Tom is correct that genny engines use a tapered crank (PTO), so you can't just substitute a new motor.

 

[MossRoad]

Since it is an OHV (only 4yo), it is probably the exhaust valve is not closing all the way. Very easy to adjust, but this is a maintenance item that is needed with the modern small OHV thumpers. Not so much the old flatheads.

I will bet the engine got hard to pull-start first, as the decompression mech was no longer working. If the valve is not burned, you may be able to fix it, but you will likely not like what a shop is gonna charge you, and the wait time involved.

Tom is correct that genny engines use a tapered crank (PTO), so you can't just substitute a new motor.

Hmmm.... learn something new every day.

Why do they do that?

 

[fried1765]

Hmmm.... learn something new every day.

Why do they do that?

I did not know that either!

 

[dfkrug]

Why do they use a tapered-shaft crank?

My guess is cuz the alternator part of the generator is very long and heavy, requiring an extra-secure mounting. So they use a very long bolt and a taped shaft. There is a bit of a trick to get them apart. The flywheel on the other side is typically installed on a tapered keyed shaft as well.

I recently salvaged a Honda GX340 off of a dead Multiquip 6000kW generator (Honda industrial, $$$$). I took out the crank and turned down the taper to 1" so I could use it to repower my old WWGrinder chipper. The steel was not hard. After I did it, I noticed you can just buy a new aftermarket crank for only $50.

 

[msb1766]

Take a look at the new Vanguard Briggs repower motors.
They make it easy with multiple ways to accept the throttle linkage.

Single-Cylinder Engine Advantage | Vanguard® Commercial Power