STIHL Zero-Turn

[5030]

Briggs and Staton engine for Stihl zeroturn mower , are they made in China or USA

Good question. I know some Briggs engines are made in China today, but all, I don't know. I would prefer a Kawasaki myself as I have 2 on my ZTR's and both are basically trouble free (except valve adjustments).

 

[skipmarcy]

My Kawasaki FR730V on my Country Clipper has hydraulic lifters and no valve adjustment - no provision for adjustment at all. I found this out AFTER removing the valve covers. The Kawasaki manual that came with the mower gave a valve lash spec but failed to tell that it was non-adjustable. I had already bought the gaskets ...

 

[jyoutz]

Briggs and Staton engine for Stihl zeroturn mower , are they made in China or USA

USA: see 2017 press release:

“Briggs & Stratton Corp. is moving production from Japan to its existing facilities in the southern United States, the Wauwatosa-based company announced Monday in a news release.

Production will go to the company's manufacturing facilities in Statesboro, Ga., and Auburn, Ala. Currently, its V-Twin Vanguard engines are made in Japan. Briggs & Stratton will create 50 new jobs at each facility, according to the release.”

 

[5030]

That, in my view, is a good deal. My Kawasaki don't and valve adjustment is critical to cold starts as the exhaust valves actuate the compression release so proper adjustment is always required to get a cold engine started. Little buggers have lots of compression and marginal starters.

My rocker covers have no gaskets either, never have. I just apply some sealer to the cover flange and install them. I do the valves every spring when I change the oil and oil filter prior to mowing season. Marginally messy job too.

 

[jyoutz]

USA: see 2017 press release:

“Briggs & Stratton Corp. is moving production from Japan to its existing facilities in the southern United States, the Wauwatosa-based company announced Monday in a news release.

Production will go to the company's manufacturing facilities in Statesboro, Ga., and Auburn, Ala. Currently, its V-Twin Vanguard engines are made in Japan. Briggs & Stratton will create 50 new jobs at each facility, according to the release.”

The twin vanguard engines are what are in the Stihl zero turn mowers. Because I have one.

 

[5030]

USA

One thing for certain and that is, they aren't made in Milwaukee, Wisconsin today as the factory is closed except for engineering. No production there and hasn't been for years. I believe high labor cost and suffocating union rule cause them to close up shop there.

Sadly, I see the same fate for domestic automakers still based in greater Detroit. With a looming UAW strike and what I consider insane demands, what is left of the not so big 3 will be moving out to greener pastures.

Auto makers are in a bad spot today. Lower profits, higher materials costs, insane union demands and a weak market will drive the move.

 

[ddbackhoe]

they need to quit going in debt with the shaky economy and increasing interest rates.

Why? Just put it all on visa and mastercard then ignore the phone calls.

 

[jyoutz]

One thing for certain and that is, they aren't made in Milwaukee, Wisconsin today as the factory is closed except for engineering. No production there and hasn't been for years. I believe high labor cost and suffocating union rule cause them to close up shop there.

Sadly, I see the same fate for domestic automakers still based in greater Detroit. With a looming UAW strike and what I consider insane demands, what is left of the not so big 3 will be moving out to greener pastures.

Auto makers are in a bad spot today. Lower profits, higher materials costs, insane union demands and a weak market will drive the move.

I believe the Stihl and Ferris mowers are built in either their VA or NC plants. The motor says USA, but I’m not sure where they’re built.

 

[5030]

The twin vanguard engines are what are in the Stihl zero turn mowers. Because I have one.

All RTW states and basically non union I might add. I have no issue with unions, heck I was a Teamster for decades and believe me, I disliked paying union dues and really getting nothing in return and finally quit the union job and went to work for a non union outfit and I'm glad I did actually. My Teamster retirement is peanuts compared to my 'scab' employer's retirement and every year it's less because the Teamsters retirement fund is going broke.

 

[jyoutz]

Wherever the Stihl ZT mowers are built, the 4 wheel suspension makes them awesome for mowing. A very smooth ride.

 

[5030]

Why? Just put it all on visa and mastercard then ignore the phone calls.

Works for a while until the repo man shows up and you loose the equipment...lol

Read somewhere that Harley Davidson has so many repo's they cannot hire enough repo agents to repo all of them. That in itself bodes bad for them as repo bikes aren't worth anywhere near what a new one costs and the profit margin isn't there either.

If I was gonna buy a Harley, I'd buy a repo one, not that I would as I already own 3 bikes.

Bad financial attitude will only get you bad credit in the end and you won't be able to buy any big ticket items, let alone have a credit card and if you can get financing, the interest rate will always reflect you ability or inability to pay.

 

[walnutman]

My Kawasaki FR730V on my Country Clipper has hydraulic lifters and no valve adjustment - no provision for adjustment at all. I found this out AFTER removing the valve covers. The Kawasaki manual that came with the mower gave a valve lash spec but failed to tell that it was non-adjustable. I had already bought the gaskets ...

Looks like the rocker bolt is eccentric....

 

[ddbackhoe]

Works for a while until the repo man shows up and you loose the equipment...lol

bankruptcy court seems to be a wonderful protector. Run up the bills, hire a lawyer, dont pay bills and buy all new stuff, cry to the judge, get forgiven keep your 401k assets and your new stuff. After penalty time expires go buy new 5000 sqft house, then have a pool installed, new deck and patio. Life must be good

 

[5030]

With a cumulative credit score of almost 790, I don't play that way and never have but then I'm old school when it comes to debt incurred. Most of the big ticket items I buy (tractors and large implements) I do on a handshake because the vendors we deal with already know we are responsible adults. It's a 'concept' thing. Took a long time to get where we are today and we are not about to destroy that. We get constant offers for plastic and they all get landfilled. We have just one credit card and the financial institution is domestic based. I don't much care for dealing with some offshore call center where the 'representatives' cannot speak the King's language.....

I believe you and I both know what credit card that is....

 

[DK35vince]

Looks like the rocker bolt is eccentric....

Some are.
I know my 2013 Kawasaki 1000v has the jam nut/set screw setup.

 

[skipmarcy]

Looks like the rocker bolt is eccentric....

I don't youtube but it looks like I need to pop the valve covers and take another look... I definitely like to keep the valves adjusted on anything that can be. I've got right at 490 hrs. on this engine.