Thanks for clearing that up, Brett. From time to time an engine seizes despite sufficient lubrication. In cases of extreme wear, for instance, a piston ring can have become so thin radially that it slips out of the groove in the piston, and jams between piston and cylinder bore. An extraordinary case of "dusting" (running without an air filter, leading to dust being inhaled with the intake air, and then acting as an abrasive between piston and bore) can also cause seizure. So can running with no cooling fan, or with cooling fins blocked by dried grass clippings or wasp nests.
While I don't like those Kirby Lauson engines, I have no complaints about their durability - they last just as long as Briggs or Honda engines. However, in my limited experience with them, it seems even longer than it is. If you get the right Briggs engine, you should be pleased by the change.
