OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Briggs & Stratton Engines ID help please on uncommon Briggs recoil?

Can anyone tell me the story of these Briggs recoil pull starters from the 60s or 70s? Were they designed as a standalone replacement for people who had earlier wind-up starters which had broken?

As I see it, you could fit them to any "classic" style of Briggs cowl and use them like the standard recoil starter. Was this their purpose?

Or were these made for a specific kind of engine?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

What is interesting about this recoil is the mounting holes look more like they would fit a Tecumseh or Kirby cowl. But the centre is clearly Briggs. I am still none the wiser on this one!

G'day vint_mow,
I'd say that this starter style was original to some of the larger Briggs engines, rather than a retrofit item.

The 1981 version Briggs Repair Manual shows this style of starter as having been fitted to engines in the 140000, 170000, 190000, 250000 and 300000 Model Series; i.e. 14 to 30 cubic inch.

The Impulse/Windup starters were only used on early 6, 8 and 9 cubic inch engines. Briggs used a different cowling for the Recoil Starter on these models, with the starter housing spot welded to it, as usual for their smaller engines.

For example, check the IPL for the Model 81706 engine; http://www.thepowerportal.com/ipls/ipl.htm?md=081706944821_IPLURL_LO.pdf
The 6 in the Model Number denotes the Impulse starter here, but the other types are also shown in this IPL.

Thanks Gadge,

I am wondering if this starter could technically be used on the smaller engines? In theory, would it fit the same clutch?

One thought I had was to cut off a worn out recoil and bolt this one on to the cowl in its place. The legs can be moved in an out to some degree, in order to make a fit.

Do you reckon this would work?

What throwing me off is it is a cast version. I have only seen tin versions until the recent plastic recoils on new engines.

Hi AVB, I agree the working part is cast, which is a bit unusual. I guess when you go back further in time to the rachet windup starters they did have cast wheels inside the winders. The best "guessed" date I can find on these standalone recoils is early to mid 60s.