Must replace Bigfoot engine

[komoka]

Hello everyone. This is my first posting. My 18hp vanguard died yesterday. Any thoughts on new engine, should I replace it with another 18hp vanguard or the 23hp vanquard or my other choice is the Honda gx620. The Honda also has a 20 volt charging system but not 20/50amp like the vanguards. My grandkids are coming for a visit so I have to make a quick decission. I pulled the motor today and would like to order a replacement tomorrow. Thanks for any help.

[rm25x]

How did it die? They are not that hard to rebuild, unless a rod is sticking outside of the block or something.

[komoka]

bigfoot engine

I had replaced crank seal a year ago and the crank was sloppy. The engine ran so so since but started to do a few funny things. Smoke and loose power than it would run fine. Yesterday I was going out for a run the machine was working fine but something let go and after much noise I shut it off and when I pulled on the pull cord the pistons aren't moving put the machine rolls over with no resistance. I asked my mechanic to have a look and he said I would be crazy not to buy a new engine, do to mainly riding along back in the boonies. Also my banker (wife) says to get a new one. I also wait forever for parts and I need it running quickly.Thanks.

[atvrider93]

i would probably replace it with something basically the same
were you happy with the power? if so, same, want more power, get the 23
i would get at least same brand and also same type(ie. vanguard) just for ease of installation.
do you know what happened to the old one? unless it really just BLEW you should rebuild it and use it

[Roger S]

I'd do a vangard just so the swap is easy. They are good engines, even if it says briggs on it. (designed in Japan)

The 23 with 20-50 charge is what everyone would want. The heads are different, and your current exhaust won't bolt up without modifying the header pipes. I don't know if the different 23's come in larger than 1" dia crank, but that's the one you'd want. Richard Clark supposedly sells a muffler to fit, for $300 Before I did that I'd have a professional build something with decent length header tubes.

A 20hp would fit without problems.. it's an 18hp engine with a 2bbl carb. There's also a 21, not sure what it's made of (18-23 parts). The 20 and 21 horizontal are not as common as the vertical crankshaft engines for mowers, etc.