I've got a Briggs Intek 22hp that broke both connecting rods. After quite a bit of research, both with Briggs and a local supplier, nobody can figure out why I need to purchase a crankshaft set to get these connecting rods. The date code on the valve cover reads 001204YH. The model is a 407777-0121-E5. Judging by the qualifiers, this engine requires a crank to get the rods and nobody can determine WHY, or if the standard rods will work.
This occurred in early versions of the engine and some speculate that a large batch of connection rods were manufactured which were slightly out of spec and rather that scrap them, crankshafts were machined to enable use of these rods OR
I think more likely, it could be the opposite, a large number of off spec cranks were made then rods to match. Rods could be bought for later engines and I have done that. Of course, B&S would be reluctant to admit this.
If I were faced with this problem, I would buy a ,020" under size rod and machine to fit as I am equipped to do that, Know a machinest or have a s school offering machinist classes who might do it as a project?
This brings me to my next question, I just discovered this last night taking another look at the block. Is this skirt damaged too high to be useable? If it's toast I'm just gonna scrap the motor and try to find a cheap used one.
Depending on how far down the piston skirt comes down when the crank rotates, it could be an issue with damaging the new piston and causing a repeat of the current issue.