This is the second warranty call I have placed on this motor. Its a 26hp B&S ELS and its just worthless from the crappy starter to the plastic intake. The mower build itself is great, stout and sturdy, but the motor is just way over its head. I have had to clean the carb several times on my own just to keep it running decent, and it doesnt even have 500 hrs on it yet! I'm fuming I lost 3 jobs this week. Was on one Wednesday morning cutting a 4 acre homestead, smooth grounds, no hazards and the grass wasnt too thick. All is well the first couple of hours, had about 30 min left of mowing and POW! So I get off, look around, put my hand on the cylinder heads, 1 is cooling down the other is still hot to the touch. Running rough and vibrating like crazy. Dang. Did a compression test, zero compression on cylinder one the other was borderline. I swear this motor has been nothing but problems. So now I get to lose out on more jobs til I get this fixed. Either that or take more of the poison ivy infested brush clearing jobs.

For a 5k mower they could have at least put a Vanguard on there.

 

Get yourself a 25 Kawasaki and be done with it... Mine M60 Tank has a little over 900 hours with not one of them spent in the shop..

I've been hearing a lot of problems with the Briggs. Sad

 

Had a 24hp kohler that was run to death on a generator. Really think they are a good engine.Even an american co.

 

Unfortunately Ive been seeing kawasaki have issues around here cincy, but I do know they have a great rep for the most part.

If you look at the bad boy website one day at the new zt 6000 you will notice it now has a 27hp Kohler on it with about 15 more ft lb than the 26hp bs.

What also gets me is the 23hp Vanguard is available for the same price, but you cant order them, they are just what is given to certain places. I know the Vanguard is a much better motor wonder if I can coax them to slap a new one of those on there instead of another els. My luck it will get rebuilt and i will have to go through it again.

 

Whats even worse is this B&S engine makes the mower look bad, the Bad Boy itself is a great build, I cant stress that enough, its been nothing but engine issues. Put a decent motor on it and it would be in business.

 

Get a Kohler and be done with it.....

 

One thing I noticed that is missing is a high guard canister air filter. Was this not a option for the Briggs? Those filters play a major roll in keeping the engine cool and free of the smallest particles. Especially while mowing in dusty conditions. Just a thought

 

Yea it comes with a intek like flat filter, not good at all as like I said I am constantly cleaning the carb. The Vanguard has the canister filter and is a much more reliable engine.

 

Not to dog the Bad Boy but that shroud surrounding the engine sure isn't helping with the heat displacement.

 

Put a 4BT on it and you can mow trees.

 

Lol no I couldnt, I'd be popping a wheelie all day long !!!!

Cincy I came to the same conclusion about the shroud, and since I had to pull the carb so many times I never put it back on, its been off for a few months.