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Why Did Briggs Stop Making The Flathead Engine?

INSIDE HOUSE GARAGE

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Thanks for watching. Why would Briggs and Stratton get rid of their flathead engine? I think I have a few idea.

This video is meant as entertainment, always practice safety.

20 Comments

@richb.4374 3 years ago

I have a 30+ year old flathead 3hp Briggs that was originally on an edger. The engine outlasted the edger and runs so well I couldn't bring myself to throw it away. I put it on an old school mini bike for the grand kid and he loves it. The engine has never been apart in over 30 years, doesn't smoke and still has good compression. That engine may outlast me!

@JCT442 3 years ago

My sarcasm tells me they saw the Quantum lasted so long they lost out on sales so they made cheap engines (with lots of plastic parts) and eventually said "never change oil" to absolutely guarantee continued sales... call me cynical.

@thompsona10625 3 years ago

We had a “motor blow” contest at a stag party and had 3 flatties to run. With the throttles pinned over (bypassing the Governor) they just ran and ram and wouldn’t quit. The pulse jet carburetor is quite an amazing thing as well. It was so simple that it was genius.

@JDASH250 3 years ago

I once found a push mower with a flathead out in a field. The tank was surprisingly clean. Replaced the rusted-away muffler, added fuel and it started and ran. Went through the carb and used that mower several seasons before parking it. I’m sure it would run again if I needed it.

@jbz2079 3 years ago (edited)

I have dug 1970s flatheads out of barns and sheds and got them running easily and relatively cheaply.
One thing to remember is the oldies do not like ethanol fuels, even the new engines need totally drained for more than a few weeks storage.
Otherwise a carb strip and clean will be required to get the engine to start and run properly.

@trailduster6bt 3 years ago

A briggs sales rep once told me that old machines were designed around their flathead engines but alot of newer machines are designed around honda engines. Certain applications, unlike a push mower, are not exactly tight, but others might have to be designed around the dimensions of a Briggs flathead or a Honda GX. Therefore Briggs redesigned their motors to share the same dimensions as the GX series in order to fit the same applications.

@mikefennema5561 3 years ago

My flat head has now been in service for 41 years. I change the oil and clean the air filter once a year. I drain all the gas out at seasons end. I did upgrade the carberator as the old plastic one was warn out and upgraded to electronic ignition. It still runs great and doesn't use more oil than when new.

@ironman49able 3 years ago

Very good video. The good old days are dying slowly. I could not imagine restoring a plastic carburated Briggs 20 years down the road. Thanks for making some very good comparisons (before and after) and revealing the facts.

@Ratkill9000 3 years ago

I remember for a few years during the OHV/OHC engine phase in, you could find a lot of the "economy" mowers with L-head/flat head engines. It bugs me that my Troy Bilt mower doesn't have a drain plug. Either flip the whole thing over or use a fluid transfer pump to change oil. Older mowers just seem to run forever. Accidentally seize it? Give it a few hours to cool down and you might have a chance of it starting back up.

@ethanmiller3935 3 years ago

I haven't used a new style, but the flatheads are pretty tough. Pulled one out of a barn, it was used for 25-30 years, sat for another 25-30 years, and within a day of working on it l had it running.

@blacksquirrel4008 3 years ago

The new ones also use a lot less fuel. My 18 year old OHV B&S just died due to the main seal failing but had been bulletproof before that.

@WalterKnox 3 years ago

The only good thing I have to say about those new engines is that the carburetor is pretty easy to open up, remove the jets and clean, you really don't even have to remove it from the mower in some cases, and the drain plug on the bottom of most of them is a nice touch. You will certainly need it as these things always get gummed up after sitting for more than a few weeks.

@Super-225 3 years ago

I collect and restore old briggs flatheads. Currently restoring a 2.5 hp horizontal shaft from 1973. Have one of them on a minibike. Absolutely love'em. Can't kill them.

@covishen 3 years ago (edited)

You are dead on with your assessment. As for the oil change issue, check out a channel called "Teryl Fixes All" He did a video explaining why Briggs went to the "no oil change" engines. I unhappily own an Intek engine, and am in the process of replacing it with a Vanguard on my JD lawn tractor. For the question of what I prefer, I personally prefer the old flathead engines.

@christophermarshall5765 3 years ago

I like the older Briggs engines. Simple design, & easy to look after. The biggest I had was on a Pace forward mower. These mowers were a true work of art. They were a self propelled mower, but had no rear wheels. The gearbox drove 2 rollers, yet the discharge chute was at the rear, & very big. This thing was built to mow huge areas. Excellent mower.

@bigsonslawncare 3 years ago

"So foolish" Nailed it ✔️💯💪🏽

@chrisssmallengines7163 3 years ago

The new engine blocks are very thin metal in the sump and the carbonators are jetted so lean that if the gas is old it will not run , it will in the flat head . Quality is not a priority only after profit only .

@jasonbrown7258 3 years ago

One thing I've noticed compared old vs new is the old flathead motors especially the cast-iron motors with the cast-iron flywheel ran smoother and quieter.

@DevonFerguson. 3 years ago

I have a Briggs lawnmower from 1976 with a flathead, the original ignition coil went bad last year so I put a newer coil on and still runs. Compared to a new flathead Briggs engine they never really changed anything on it except the carb

@brianmatthews9697 2 years ago

I have a Briggs 6BH from 1958. My dad bought it used when I was 5, I'm 62. Lapped the valves, found a NOS coil, and it's a beauty. My dad passed in 2010 and his one request was I never get rid of the mower. Well, I still have it. He'd haunt me if something happened to it.