Grasshopper 718 Predator 22HP Swap Complete

[Auto Doc's]

As hard as it is for many people to face, the majority of modern small engines are built by Asian companies. Many of these engines are just copies of each other with different color tin covers and stickers.

Product labels have little value these days, but the retailers like to present the illusion that you are buying a "traditional product" that out grandparents actually owned years ago.

 

[beeev]

What was the rpm at when she tossed the rod? Ever put a tach on her to monitor rpm's?

Curious a Vanguard made in Japan tossing a rod. Guess anything is possible.

My 29 HP Vanguard on my 2016 729 BT6 broke a rod @ around 500 hrs in 2020. Surprised me as I always had assumed it was a great power choice.
I don't cut commercially, just do my 5-acre yard, and my daughter's property a few times a year when needed.
Was more surprised that both Grasshopper and Briggs turned me down cold for any support or help as it was over 3 yrs old, regardless of only being 500 hrs. I see their side but man that sucked!
Engine was clean as a pin inside, but I had to repower with a short block as when the rod broke it windowed the block.
Never did find a reason or cause for the failure. Chalked it up to just a part failure...happens.
I have about 500 hours into this repair and have had no further issue.
Still haunts me.
Rpm was verified. it's something I do when performing annual tune ups.
Routine maintenance was always done earlier than schedule.