OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Briggs & Stratton Engines Short shaft Briggs

I have ended up with a 158cc Briggs that has done very little work because it was mounted on a pressure washer. It has a 35mm long shaft that is no good for a mower so I am at a loss as to what I could use it on. Pity because it is a good motor

Hi Norm,
not a problem, put it on a Victa base, facing east/west (like the early Briggs on Victa's) without the spacer ring. Depending on which boss you use, you may have to put it on some 5mm spacers to bring the blade up a little.
Alternately, if you don't want it i'd gladly take it off your hands.
Cheers, Ted

Thanks bigted, I did look at putting it on a Victa base but tried it in the normal later type position but as you would know without the spacer ring the fuel tank will not fit. I hadn't considered turning the motor sideways and it would look a little odd seeing this motor has the curved plastic cowl top. I will see if it will fit on one of the early Rover Rapid side throws I have here. They seem fairly shallow and not having the catcher chute the tank should not foul the tank

If it runs, you MUST find a use. It's the law!

Runs as new, I doubt the oil has been changed, clean as like new.

Let us know how you go. Sounds too good to scrap if it has so much of it's design life to go.

You can buy shaft extenders on places like e-bad. But I'm not sure of their specs or if they would even be suitable for use on mowers??? They certainly have industry standard applications.

The problem with any shaft extender is how you could bolt the blade carrier on

Yes Norm, I've wondered about that myself. I had the same problem some years ago and looked at shaft extenders. Ended up shaking my head in frustration. It all seemed too hard and probably was. I recall many years ago a local farmer extended an engine shaft by welding an extra piece on to it. But he was a very competent welder and everybody for miles around took things to him to get welded. So I guess this is possible, but of course requires that the whole engine be pulled down to remove the crankshaft, otherwise the heat will melt the oil seal and potentially melt or warp the nearby casing. Reducing a shaft is problem enough, unless installing a spacer as a simple fix, but extending a mower shaft is not an easy task and seldom achievable.

I have done it before but the hours involved make it not worth the effort. Cutting the keyway with a file is not fun. I have a mate who can cut the keyway but for a mower it just isn't a worthwhile cost effort

I cut a keyway with a file one time. Took me hours. Very slow process and next day my arm was aching something terrible.

Norm, just put it sideways on a victa and remove the plastic cowl. It will look entirely normal that way.

Thanks bigted, my only issue with that is it puts the pull start across the mower not along the length of it.

Trust me, you don't want that. I bought a Victa VC160 that was set up like that and it kept tipping toward me. I don't know how the previous owner thought that was a good idea.

Hi Norm and MF, I've done a few, just drill out the 3 rivets and rotate the starter 90 degrees, then rivet it back in, make sure you use 3/16" or 5mm rivets.