OOPS....I didn't check in here before I started posting. :ashamed:
Anyway, I picked up a IS 700Z with a 61" deck and the Briggs Commercial Turf 27hp in December (end of year sale), and I'm anxious to get going!! I have about 5-6 acres with 29 duplex units on it, so I'm confident this will be a good mower for the properties. I've seen all the Briggs bashing all over the internet, but I don't believe most, or any, of it. The dealer really like the new Briggs motor, and with proper maintenance, it should give me a lot of years of good service. The dealer also says the cyclonic filter is doing an amazing job too, which will add life to the engine.
Nothing wrong with the briggs,,,I have been running briggs for years ,,Keep the oil changed and the air filter clean, See if you can find gas with no ethanol in it, ,I have run the old Briggs engine's for years ,They had NO oil pumps or oil filters (old splash system) to lub inner working ,,,You will get more negative talk on the Briggs because there are thousands more engines out here that the others,,,More people get killed with 22 rim fire guns,,,,Why? Because there is more of them, Not because they are a powerful bullet .Also if you ever need parts or repair it will be a lot cheaper than the Rice runners , PS Let your engine idle for about 5 minutes before you cut it off ,after a hard and long run of cutting ,This lets the engine cool down a bit before you cut it off hot,,,,,The new commercial Briggs have a pressurized oil system,,,,cast iron sleeves, oil filter,,, and the new cyclonic air filter.... One tuff mean grass eating machine ,, (smile O! and Yes GOD and Ferris don't make no junk