Are you using a NASCAR team for rebuilds? Or is it 2021 now and prices have gone up? Crazy,,,, It's a stinking mower engine LOL. Toss in some Restore and some Slick 50 and you are good to go. Little Motor Honey to slick her up LOL.Is this a Intek V twin or the Vanguard V twin. In the former than you should be good for a few more hours. Some of those will go 800+ hours with proper maintenance. If the Vanguard that engine should go a couple thousand.
Either way you will not find a reparable mower shop that will rebuild either one of those engine due to not being cost effective, and in some cases really isn't much cheaper than replacement of the engine. I don't overhaul engines that can be replaced for less than $2500 because a proper overhaul that requires machine shop work and cylinder boring will cost $1200-1500 after parts and labor
Personally I do the work in house when comes to oversizing the piston bores using one of the below hones and a 1/2" low speed drill (under 300 rpm).Don’t know where you guys go for cutting and boring. The last one I sent out last October to be resized cost me $300. That was for two rebores .010” over, two heads resurfaced, and 2 crank journals cut .010 undersized. Been going to the same shop since the 80’s and only time I had a problem was when the kid in the shop didn’t wash it up properly. Only lasted 10 hours. Yes, being a mean old fart, with good rep, has its advantages.
My local machine shop that bores cylinders charges $100/cylinder. So you are not out of line as far as pricing. The days of $25 cylinder boring are over.Don’t know where you guys go for cutting and boring. The last one I sent out last October to be resized cost me $300. That was for two rebores .010” over, two heads resurfaced, and 2 crank journals cut .010 undersized. Been going to the same shop since the 80’s and only time I had a problem was when the kid in the shop didn’t wash it up properly. Only lasted 10 hours. Yes, being a mean old fart, with good rep, has its advantages.
I'm a hack for sure. Clearly not a professional like most of you guys on here. Bubble gum and bailing wire is all I use. I'm the worst mower person on Earth.Slomo, Apparently you are one those hacks that I had to clean up afterwords. What you are suggest just masks to true problem.Just like those that believes duct tape and JB Weld fixes everything.
And Most Briggs engine only have .020 over available other than standard.My local machine shop that bores cylinders charges $100/cylinder. So you are not out of line as far as pricing. The days of $25 cylinder boring are over.
The last 6 overhauls had over .010 wear before boring which had to be bored .020 over.
No joking about 5 yrs ago I got in a walk behind that the blade was duct taped on. And I got one customer using car tags for deflector.I'm a hack for sure. Clearly not a professional like most of you guys on here. Bubble gum and bailing wire is all I use. I'm the worst mower person on Earth.
slomo
You need to watch Pakistani Truckers on youtube. Want to talk about being creative. Rebuilding big rig batteries, in FLIP FLOPS. No eye protection or skin protection. Dudes are off the hook. Rebuilding big rig truck frames.And Most Briggs engine only have .020 over available other than standard.
No joking about 5 yrs ago I got in a walk behind that the blade was duct taped on. And I got one customer using car tags for deflector.
You need to watch Pakistani Truckers on youtube. Want to talk about being creative. Rebuilding big rig batteries, in FLIP FLOPS. No eye protection or skin protection. Dudes are off the hook. Rebuilding big rig truck frames.
slomo
A new engine through Amazon costs about 16 to 1800 dollars. I had a smaller engine that essentially blew up, oil smoke everywhere. I talked to my small engine mechanic and he said to replace it. Bought one from Amazon and the next time I talked with him he said I paid less than his cost from Briggs & Stratton. If it were me I'd run it until it gave out and buy a new one. No messing around waiting for parts and costs almost as much as a new one.Just bought a 2006 z425 John Deere 48 inch zero turn mower for $1,500. They have 625 hours on the engine. It's not burning oil or smoking, but I'm thinking that 625 hours is probably getting to the end? So should I wait until it breaks or should I rebuild it? How much would it cost to have someone rebuild it? I was born in a mechanic machinist shop and I rebuilt a couple small engines.. but that was 30 years ago... And I don't have some of the tools... Lol
Just bought a 2006 z425 John Deere 48 inch zero turn mower for $1,500. They have 625 hours on the engine. It's not burning oil or smoking, but I'm thinking that 625 hours is probably getting to the end? So should I wait until it breaks or should I rebuild it? How much would it cost to have someone rebuild it? I was born in a mechanic machinist shop and I rebuilt a couple small engines.. but that was 30 years ago... And I don't have some of the tools... Lol
My 2007 riding mower developed a crankcase crack at aboutn1000 hours. Up till then, it ran very well. The crack did her in as far as repairing it. The rest of the mower was in great shape so I looked around online for a short block replacement and found several for around 800 to 1000 dollars. Then I found one on Amazon for $550 and bought it. Replacing the block was a breeze; just taking everything off the old block and putting it all on the new block. Cranked her up after filling with oil and filter and she came to life and works great.A new engine through Amazon costs about 16 to 1800 dollars. I had a smaller engine that essentially blew up, oil smoke everywhere. I talked to my small engine mechanic and he said to replace it. Bought one from Amazon and the next time I talked with him he said I paid less than his cost from Briggs & Stratton. If it were me I'd run it until it gave out and buy a new one. No messing around waiting for parts and costs almost as much as a new one.
And then the manufacturers complain that dealers are not selling enough equipment/engines, etc. Has been for years that you could purchase a new push mower from a box store cheaper than the dealer could buy the engine. Generac has been known to sell on Amazon with free shipping below dealer cost on the same portable generator. Got a flyer for Poulan Pro products a few years back from my distributor, and the dealer pricing/profit was reasonable. The problem was Rural King was selling the same product for $200 under dealer cost.A new engine through Amazon costs about 16 to 1800 dollars. I had a smaller engine that essentially blew up, oil smoke everywhere. I talked to my small engine mechanic and he said to replace it. Bought one from Amazon and the next time I talked with him he said I paid less than his cost from Briggs & Stratton. If it were me I'd run it until it gave out and buy a new one. No messing around waiting for parts and costs almost as much as a new one.
I suppose I'm a bit of a hack,too. Unless one is using the equipment professionally where downtime is money lost,run it till it drops dead,then replace it with an 'all parts totally new' engine. All this saying keeping up good maintenance,oil changes,air filters,etc. There is that school of thought that it is much faster to replace with new,rather than wait for going the rebuild route,especeilly if there are clients to contend with. Have a replacement on the shelf, and have time to get the original one tended to This,of course ,does not apply to rare one of a kind or special engines.I'm a hack for sure. Clearly not a professional like most of you guys on here. Bubble gum and bailing wire is all I use. I'm the worst mower person on Earth.
slomo
Imagine if you will,an engine for your rider that had removeable wet (oil or ooolant contact) cylinder liners,replaceable tri-metal rod bearings(Cevite 77?) ,forged piston(s)and a full cast iron block and heads. Might be expensive to start with,but you'd only buy it once.Only thing I don't do in house is 2 stroke rebores & crank grinding .
But back to the OP
A set of new rings can extend the life of the engine for quite a while but you do need the ridge reamer .
A job that most familiar with tools can comfortably do for around $ 200 Aus .
Like the others here I have 6 cubic meters of motors that need a full rebuild that I keep telling myself I will do come day.
But I make twice the profit in 1/4 the time by fitting a new engine and then warranty is not on my head.
I could say that engines are way too cheap now days but every one would howl me down.
But the reason why the planet is in such a bad shape is because we have allowed big business to rape & pillage third world countries so everything we use is cheaper to replace than repair.
Then people with Phd's in manipulating your mind create advertising campaigns that convince us we have to buy new despite most can actually tell it is rubbish compared to what it is replacing.
And would weight like 4000lbs too. These new 0-turns already weigh like 1500+ pounds without the 350lb diabetes driver on board. They rut the snot out of your turf. Guys with hard clay soil should take notice if you want a nice "looking" yard. And cutting it like 17 times to get rid of the clippings on every mow doesn't help nor save time either.Imagine if you will,an engine for your rider that had removeable wet (oil or ooolant contact) cylinder liners,replaceable tri-metal rod bearings(Cevite 77?) ,forged piston(s)and a full cast iron block and heads. Might be expensive to start with,but you'd only buy it once.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.Just bought a 2006 z425 John Deere 48 inch zero turn mower for $1,500. They have 625 hours on the engine. It's not burning oil or smoking, but I'm thinking that 625 hours is probably getting to the end? So should I wait until it breaks or should I rebuild it? How much would it cost to have someone rebuild it? I was born in a mechanic machinist shop and I rebuilt a couple small engines.. but that was 30 years ago... And I don't have some of the tools... Lol
I'd bet it would weigh more than that! LOL! The weight difference between my 18hp opposed and my 19 hp Intek is amazing. It's hard enough to not tear up the big yard with the 19hp Intek light weight on the ZTR. The opposed is on the Snapper and the Snapper is a bit kinder on turf,so I use it in the little front yardAnd would weight like 4000lbs too. These new 0-turns already weigh like 1500+ pounds without the 350lb diabetes driver on board. They rut the snot out of your turf. Guys with hard clay soil should take notice if you want a nice "looking" yard. And cutting it like 17 times to get rid of the clippings on every mow doesn't help nor save time either.
Not a school of thought, an economic reality.I suppose I'm a bit of a hack,too. Unless one is using the equipment professionally where downtime is money lost,run it till it drops dead,then replace it with an 'all parts totally new' engine. All this saying keeping up good maintenance,oil changes,air filters,etc. There is that school of thought that it is much faster to replace with new,rather than wait for going the rebuild route,especeilly if there are clients to contend with. Have a replacement on the shelf, and have time to get the original one tended to This,of course ,does not apply to rare one of a kind or special engines.
Imagine if you will,an engine for your rider that had removeable wet (oil or ooolant contact) cylinder liners,replaceable tri-metal rod bearings(Cevite 77?) ,forged piston(s)and a full cast iron block and heads. Might be expensive to start with,but you'd only buy it once.
My grandfather had a stationary gasoline engine that he used around the farm in the 1930's,'40's and up into the 1950's. He got it from his father who had purchased it who knows when,but it was a very long time ago,early 1900's or maybe even earlier. My 'little brother,(65+yo) lives on the farm now and has it. It still runs fine! I don't remember the make,but it weighed a bunch,though.Big business and in particular the money managers ( pension funds/ hedge funds / investment funds etc ) would never allow such an engine to be made.
And in any case it is not warranted for small engines as it is very resource wasteful.
We used to make engines that run forever , remember names like Generac, Wisconsin, Villiers & BSA or even Honda for that matter ?
However the public has been brainwashed by the money men into believing that every thing we want can be made for a lower price just as good so quality engine makers went broke because YOU would not pay $ 200 for an engine which would run for 50 years over an engine that is only good for 10 years .
The money moungers make no money if you repair your old whatever but they make a lot if you buy a new one and it costs a lot to maintain their fleet of Gulf Streams & private luxury ships .
IDK about less cost to repair. You can't buy just the rods for most of the Briggs engines,you have to buy a 'crank set',including the rods and a fitted crankshaft. Couple that cost with any other parts,valves,gaskets,etc,and you're way past the cost of a replacement engine. It isn't easy staying in business for the small business owner these days.Not a school of thought, an economic reality.
A production line with 20 workers pumps out better than 1000 engines a day
That is 50 engines per worker in 8 hours
Which is 6.5 engines an hour
To pull down diagnose the problem order parts & rebuild the engine is 10 hours work in which time the production line worker has made 65 engines.
The profit margin on complete engines is higher than for individual replacement parts .
So from a pure most profit / least cost basis it is always cheaper to replace major parts like engines or hydros than it is to repair them .
From the owners point of view the cost is almost the same, what they save on repair time labour they loose on the extra price of a whole engine over just the broken parts .
The biggie for the owner is less down time & the entire new engine has a new warranty .
If you are the mechanic & doing it in your free time then the least cost will be to repair because your labour time is effectively free .
From an environmental point of view repairing the old is always the better path to travel but when the environment is up against big business profits, the environment always looses which is why the planet is on it's last legs right now .
Big business make the most profit by selling you a complete new engine.
Sam,IDK about less cost to repair. You can't buy just the rods for most of the Briggs engines,you have to buy a 'crank set',including the rods and a fitted crankshaft. Couple that cost with any other parts,valves,gaskets,etc,and you're way past the cost of a replacement engine. It isn't easy staying in business for the small business owner these days.
Every year on every small engine.This reminds me, that I need to blow the grass out of the cooling fins on my 26 hp Briggs tomorrow.
I have kinda neglected that. It smelled a little hot the other day. I was working it real hard, but I'll bet that is why. I am taking the shroud off and blowing it out before I use it this afternoon. Thanks slomo.Every year on every small engine.
I had well over 1000 hours before my lawn tractor engine developed serious problems. And, even then, those problems were not normal ones but ones that were caused by poor engine design and never would have happened to a well-designed engine. I am talking about the Kohler Courage 20hp engine, otherwise known as the "bucket engine". The problem is the "bucket" design of the crankcase that is its weakness. With age, it develops a crack in the crankcase sidewall that isn't repairable.If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
They only crack if the bolts come looseI had well over 1000 hours before my lawn tractor engine developed serious problems. And, even then, those problems were not normal ones but ones that were caused by poor engine design and never would have happened to a well-designed engine. I am talking about the Kohler Courage 20hp engine, otherwise known as the "bucket engine". The problem is the "bucket" design of the crankcase that is its weakness. With age, it develops a crack in the crankcase sidewall that isn't repairable.
I have and did use the same equipment above. At my age, I no longer do work. IF it ain't broke, don't fix it.Personally I do the work in house when comes to oversizing the piston bores using one of the below hones and a 1/2" low speed drill (under 300 rpm).
View attachment 57712
15000 Small Cylinder Hone Full 2" to 7" Range (50.8 - 177.8mm).
16000 Small Cylinder Hone. For 1 3/4" to 2" Range (44.5 mm to 69.9 mm)
Of course you must the correct stones and racks too.
Hey Walt....don't know if you remember me, bought a bunch of Dixon parts from you years ago. You'd be happy to know I restore both of the 3304's I acquired using a lot of the inventory you shipped to me. I sold one and restored the other one as a keeper. I use it to tow around a spray rig. I love those ole mechanical marvels!! bartles, LouisianaI have and did use the same equipment above. At my age, I no longer do work. IF it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Walt Conner