Terry wrote:

Briggs and Strattons generally very sturdy and take abuse and
even modification well!
Our current 3.5 HP about ten/twelve years old now (little
bowlegged due to being left under several feet of snow a few
years back) works fine.
A previous B&S (about 25 years ago) required the seized piston to
be driven out with a hammer and large punch. We fitted a used
piston and it lasted another few years with two hubs piggybacked
on the bottom of the engine shaft to get the blade low enough to
cut grass; until the steel 'pan/deck' of the mower rusted away
(that was the second deck on that mower and it was not dished as
low as the original) hence the two hubs!
If/when our current mower expires I'll probably just replace it.
The price of brand new 3.5 HP absolutely 'bog standard' (no extra
features whatsoever and thereby fewer parts to maintain) has
increased gradually over the past 10 to 15 years.
Our current one cost $129.99 plus approx. 16% sales tax ten years
ago. A few years ago they were around $149 to $169, plus tax.
The best price (not on sale but just regular retail) at beginning
of this summer was $199.00 plus 15% sales tax.
Canadian Dollars/Pounds.
129.99 + 16% = $151 Approx. 67 UK pounds. Circa 1990-93.
149.99 + 15% = $173 Approx. 75 UK pounds. Circa 1996
169.99 + 15% = $196 Approx. 85 UK pounds. Circa 1999
199.99 + 15% = %230 Approx. 100 UK pounds. 2003 (Was either
Canadian Tire or Home Hardware.)
Some companies now use Tecumseh engines but prices are pretty
well identical to B&S models.



I think I was quoted around £130 for a B&S 3.5bhp motor a year or tow ago..


Oh. And by the way. Important.
USE STEEL REINFORCED SAFETY FOOT WEAR WHEN MOWING. One individual
who later worked for me (in an office capacity!) lost two and a
half toes while wearing rubber 'gum boots'/Wellingtons.
There are scars on my steel toed/shank work boats to prove they
have saved me at least once!


When I bought my mower, I bouhght it together with my next door
neighbour - and Irishman of considerable humour.

HE claimed that in Belfast, the hospitals have an urban legend about
someone who came in minus all his finger tips.

He had apparenttly decided to pick the mower up by the baseplate and use
it as a hedge trimmer :-)