Hi Vint_mow,
I totally feel your pain. Those leaking governor shaft seals that just never lasted. If you find a good going one you've hit the jackpot but the rest are simply good for recycling and not much else.
Basically every SB 45 I receive with a Kirby on it ends up with a Chonda put on it and now when you can get these import engines for around $135 delivered to your door, why would you ever waste your time on a Kirby.
The Briggs power plants are far easier to work on and that stupid design of destroying the crank seal when gaining access to the inner workings is just such a stupid concept.
I understand that a SB45 20 inch looks far better with the original Kirby and the large one quart tank mounted on them when restored but the Briggs is just way more reliable.
BTW I've got about 4 Kirby's that are just sitting around doing nothing and aren't good for much else apart from stripping down and using bits and pieces off of to keep other failing units going only for that one to eventually fail as well.
Yes I totally get where you are coming from.
Cheers,
BB.
