Siezed Briggs 16hp Vanguard... buy new or rebuild?

[fastEd]

I'm still working on my 1998 MAX IV restoration. We had it all done and seemed to be running good.

The max had sat for a few years and wouldn't start when i bought it 4 months ago.
we replaced the fuel lines, rebuilt carb, new fuel pump, oil, etc and it was running great.

I had it out today and all of a sudden at basically idle speed barely moving something broke loose in the engine, just a small rattle sound not a loud bang or knock at first i thought the belt or clutch was hitting something, it was still running but i killed it once i realized the engine had a rattle.

when i tried to restart it, locked up....damn... cant get it to turn over with the pull cord either.

what would you do? something like this Cheap and easy:

DuroMax 16 Hp., 1'' Shaft, Recoil/Electric Start Engine - XP16HPE XP16HPE

take it a part and try a rebuild
785-290 Overhaul Kit for Briggs & Stratton 400400, 400700, 401400, 402707, 404700, 422400 and 422700; for 16 and 18 HP standard engines

Or should i take this as an opportunity to go with something more powerful than 16hp

[jpswift1]

This is a shot in the dark, but Briggs Vanguard pushrods are commonly culprits for internal engine issues. I personally would stick with a Briggs Vanguard rather than the DuroMax engine. I think you'd get better performance out of it. OR save up some money and put it toward a larger V twin Briggs or Kohler. Sometimes they come up cheap online. Just some thoughts to consider.

[fastEd]

Any experience rebuilding one?

[jpswift1]

I never had to do any internal work on a Briggs Vanguard, but maybe some others that have can chime in. I'd get the factory service manual. They're usually on ebay at a good price. Also, Al Hodge at Performance V Twins would be an excellent man to consult. Performance V-Twins

[racerone3]

Pull the flywheel, remove the nut/ bolt/ pebble.... whatever got behind it and wedged. replace the flywheel if it killed any magnets, stator if it got killed.... keep playing! This is just my guess, but it's fairly common

[Bazooo guy]

First thing i would check is the pushrods and valves.
Pull the valve covers and look for a bent pushrod or stuck valve or broken spring.
Try turning the flywheel backwards and see if it moves.

[fastEd]

I will check the valves and if they look good I'll pull the flywheel....

thx appreciate the input

anyone know where i can get a service manual for the motor..... I haven't built a small engine since junior high shop class (granted it wasn't a V-Twin) but i have built a few jeeps and muscle cars over the years so i have some pretty good basic knowledge of the internal combustion engine.....
this thing cant be any harder than rebuilding the big block in a '69 firebird. OHV maybe a little more advanced but still.

If i could locate a good Briggs vanguard manual i may just change the crank out and make it a 20hp... hehehe

[JohnF]

That's the spirit!

[Bazooo guy]

Try this link
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12502267/B%2...ylinderOHV.pdf

[fastEd]

thanks bazoo.... at first glance that looks like exactly what i need.

anyone know of any good parts suppliers if i do decide to swap out the crank and increase HP? and is increasing HP going to give me sprocket, axle and tranny problems by overpowering and old machine?