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

   / What's it cost to have a Briggs 8 hp engine overhauled? #11  
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.
 
   / What's it cost to have a Briggs 8 hp engine overhauled? #12  
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?
 
   / What's it cost to have a Briggs 8 hp engine overhauled? #13  
   / What's it cost to have a Briggs 8 hp engine overhauled? #14  
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.
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2004 JOHN DEERE 5205 TRACTOR (A51406)
2004 JOHN DEERE...
Unused Rhino ER10 Hay Rake (A50515)
Unused Rhino ER10...
Toro Z Master Mower (A50324)
Toro Z Master...
1981 CASE 580D BACKHOE (A51242)
1981 CASE 580D...
2021 John Deere 5045E  Only 86 Hours, Loader Ready, 2WD, Canopy (A51039)
2021 John Deere...
2017 JLG Skytrak 6036 6,000LB 4x4 Rough Terrain Telehandler (A50322)
2017 JLG Skytrak...
 
Top