Quick Aerator question

[jay]

I'm looking at buying a areator this year and will probaly only be using it one or two months a year. My question is should I go with a briggs engine or Honda. Right now I would like to save the extra money if possible. I never buy briggs anymore only honda but will I be alright with running it only a few times a year.How many years have you had your briggs areators and how much usage.

Thanks for the help

[Edited by jay on 02-03-2001 at 01:45 AM]

[Eric ELM]

B&S motors are not that bad now. Back in the 80's they had valve seat problems, but now they are fine. I have several B&S motors and I'm having no problems with them.

[Craig Turf Management]

Finished my third season in November using a Ryan Lawnaire V with the Briggs engine. I have done 50-80 lawns per season with zero engine problems. I've replaced the drive chains due to normal wear, but that's the only problem so far. I wouldn't try to talk you out of buying the Honda either. I paid for my aerator in less than a month, so if you decided to spend the extra money for the Honda, you would make it back easily. Briggs or Honda, take care of your equipment,it will take care of you.

Bill

[awm]

My experience is with small briggs
14 and under.I put a premium on maintenance.
I can honestly say ive never wore one out
if I bought it new.Mowing since ,a long time.
Thats why i have a hard time understanding
how all these homeowner briggs wear out.
Cant under stand how a homeowner can kill
one in 5-10 years.There use to be 5 different
grades of briggs motor.probably different now.
MAKE SURE YOU GET THE INDUSTRIAL HARD CYL
SLEEVE.They may not even makeum without it
anymore.

[lakegastonla]

A bit of common sense applied here goes a long way. An aerator is an item, as you stated, that you will ONLY use for a couple of months a year. I would not spend the extra money on the honda engine because this is going to be a low use item anyway. Take care of it during the downtime, and it will last a long, long time. Kind of like using a blowtorch to light a Marlboro with. It will get the job done, but "it sure aint' necessary."

[Greenkeepers]

We've been running briggs for a while now on some of our equipment. The commercial grade engines are much better than the K-Mart specials. As long as you do routine maintenance they are fine...

[captdevo]

If you take care of it, it should out live you. If you're only going to use it occasionally, winterize it when it's going to sit for a while.

[MOW ED]

As long as its not a TECUMSH%T your alright.

I have a Briggs that is 25 years old on a Rototiller. She smokes a little upon first starting but it still shakes my fillings out cutting thru this hard clay.

I have to vent about Tecumseh for personal reasons, that company has some serious problems, their customer service absolutely sucks.

Good Luck, thanks for the vent.

[bob]

MOWED, I feel the same way about Tecums*** engines. I had one freeze up that had less than 10 hours on it. As for an aerator engine, if the Honda option is less than a $100 dollars I'd go with that. If you ever want to sell it ,and you have the Honda option, that will be an asset.

[Craig Jones]

I have an Hahn aerator which is close to 8 years old and it has a Briggs 3.5 I/C Engine with no problems so far.

Also have a Bluebird dethatcher which is about 10 years old and had to replace the engine (bought used.) Put on an 8 year old Briggs 3.5 I/C and no problems. Have a 95 Bluebird seeder with 5 hp Briggs, no problems.

I find the Honda Engines run smoother but have been happy with the Briggs.

We basically use these machines a little in the spring and for about a month in the fall, so the engine upgrade to a Honda did not make economic sense to us.