Hello,
I am looking at 2 mowers which are identically priced and spec'd besides the engine (which doesn't make sense why its the same price).
But either way...
I wanted to ask how important is the "cast iron sleeve' vs the standard alluminium in an engine?
The 850 Series IC is a 190cc has the cast iron insert. This is the 'industrial commercial grade'.
The 875 Series engine 190cc has slightly more power than the 850series (like 8.75 ft/lbs vs 8.5 on the 850 series)- but it does not have the cast iron sleeve.
How important is that insert?
I tried to contact briggs themselves and for whatever reason - I was told the warranty is identical on both engines, both engines will last as long as eachother provided you keep the air cleaner clean and oil clean. The alloy insert is not as forgiving if you neglect to keep things clean while the iron is, but so long as you do keep it maintained, then for all intents and purposes they should last as long as each other.
And on the other hand, whether the engine is 8 or 9 ft/lbs of torque you won't notice the difference in real world scenario.
So what I am getting is, Whether I get the 850 IC or 875... the power difference wont be noticable, the warranty is same,cast iron sleeve or not wont matter either as they will last the same.
Anyone got a differing opinion on this?
Also I do have one other question.
Steel vs Alloy chassis deck.
I went to 1 store,and they told me that I should buy the heavy duty steel deck because it wont crack under rough conditions while alloy will. I then went to another shop and they said they never heard of such nonsense. They told me the pressed steel decks are much thinner than the alloy decks and if anythings going to crack, bend, warp, etc it is the steel deck and not the alloy deck and that is why all the top end hondas, kubotas, etc etc all run alloy decks as they are stronger, they have better tolerances thus cut better and won't rust. Then he gave me an unrealistic scenario to illustrate the point and said if you put pebbles down on the ground, 1 long strip and ran the steel deck mower running on full with blades turned on over the pebbles, then did the same thing with alloy deck, the alloy deck would have chips/scratches but the steel deck would have severe dents, could be bent out of shape and possibly cracked because it is much thinner than the alloy. Then proceeded to say in over 3 years selling mowers to contracting companies that have big landscaping businesses none of them buy the steel deck, they all buy the alloy deck and these are run 4+ hours every day which is far more than the 2 hours every 2-3 weeks I am going to do.
Anyone else want to chime in on this?
I am looking at 2 mowers which are identically priced and spec'd besides the engine (which doesn't make sense why its the same price).
But either way...
I wanted to ask how important is the "cast iron sleeve' vs the standard alluminium in an engine?
The 850 Series IC is a 190cc has the cast iron insert. This is the 'industrial commercial grade'.
The 875 Series engine 190cc has slightly more power than the 850series (like 8.75 ft/lbs vs 8.5 on the 850 series)- but it does not have the cast iron sleeve.
How important is that insert?
I tried to contact briggs themselves and for whatever reason - I was told the warranty is identical on both engines, both engines will last as long as eachother provided you keep the air cleaner clean and oil clean. The alloy insert is not as forgiving if you neglect to keep things clean while the iron is, but so long as you do keep it maintained, then for all intents and purposes they should last as long as each other.
And on the other hand, whether the engine is 8 or 9 ft/lbs of torque you won't notice the difference in real world scenario.
So what I am getting is, Whether I get the 850 IC or 875... the power difference wont be noticable, the warranty is same,cast iron sleeve or not wont matter either as they will last the same.
Anyone got a differing opinion on this?
Also I do have one other question.
Steel vs Alloy chassis deck.
I went to 1 store,and they told me that I should buy the heavy duty steel deck because it wont crack under rough conditions while alloy will. I then went to another shop and they said they never heard of such nonsense. They told me the pressed steel decks are much thinner than the alloy decks and if anythings going to crack, bend, warp, etc it is the steel deck and not the alloy deck and that is why all the top end hondas, kubotas, etc etc all run alloy decks as they are stronger, they have better tolerances thus cut better and won't rust. Then he gave me an unrealistic scenario to illustrate the point and said if you put pebbles down on the ground, 1 long strip and ran the steel deck mower running on full with blades turned on over the pebbles, then did the same thing with alloy deck, the alloy deck would have chips/scratches but the steel deck would have severe dents, could be bent out of shape and possibly cracked because it is much thinner than the alloy. Then proceeded to say in over 3 years selling mowers to contracting companies that have big landscaping businesses none of them buy the steel deck, they all buy the alloy deck and these are run 4+ hours every day which is far more than the 2 hours every 2-3 weeks I am going to do.
Anyone else want to chime in on this?