You can also pick up a Briggs 550 or Honda GP160 between $290-$350. There is a lot of refinement to be found in these newer donks.
Thus why I've suggested to restorers on this platform to no longer persevere with the old flat head Briggs units, especially if they've got a twin railer and move over to one of these newer style engines that preserve the frames so much more and thus the repair jobs on fatigued units doesn't have to be so in-depth with strengthening gussets.
These newer engines and especially the 3.5hp Briggs unit can be run straight out of the box sitting unattached and it only slightly moves around while the old units will jump around like a cat on a hot tin roof and all that energy is being forced into the chassis, thus why most of them have failed over time.
Years ago bowling clubs bought Electric powered machines to avoid this problem of thumping being passed on into the greens surface but now they can use a petrol powered unit without concern for their ground underneath the machine.
Cheers,
BB.
PS. These new Briggs units (XR / IC / 550's) can be picked up for around $250 if you look hard enough and that's simply a no brainer in my opinion.
