Going by how well Briggs powered Victas seem to sell, I'd say repair, don't replace, especially a Qantum which are well regarded and very nice motors. As long as you don't mind pulling it apart.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Here by the time we add parts and labor it is usually just better to replace the engine with a new ones with a long so-call warranty. Most warranties are in such a way that they actually not worth the paper they are printed on.
Plus what a few I have torn down they need OS piston and rings [due cylinder wear] which Briggs probably don't even offer the OS stuff any more. It is the economics that gets in the way too. But I am looking from the profit end.
The world that I was trained in is about 50 yrs ago when it was reasonable to repair engines like these is changing a lot especially with Brigg getting the Chinese to build engine for them.
Along Briggs struggling to pull out the bankruptcy chapter 11 they filed. It took them this last over months to get the 793880 camshafts back in stock. They also took two months to let me know the a carburetor kit that was on back order, is now listed as NLA. The customer didn't like that but I lucky enough to get the individual parts. Now I got a couple oil screens on back order which I afraid might just get the same treatment.
Quantum rings are about $25, 3-5 hours time, new lower main seal, make/buy a sump gasket, just not worth it unless it has a desirable/necessary set up specific for that ariens (weird shaft length, taper, etc)
Have you checked it isn't a dodgy check vent in the valve chest, etc?
A mate found for me last night, brand new GXV 160 motors for $505 so that might be the way to go. Worth putting on an Ariens because the drive is an excellent design
Yeah not worth the effort to re-ring as it's easy to find a good second hand Quantum type engine / mower for $10 to $100.
Originally Posted by NormK
A mate found for me last night, brand new GXV 160 motors for $505 so that might be the way to go. Worth putting on an Ariens because the drive is an excellent design
The Scam sites are $35.99 for the Honda LOL.
The GXV 160 is 4.3 Hp, I've seen the GCV 160 4.4 Hp motor for $390 in Australia .
If it was me I would just use a good second hand motor for a replacement engine on the Ariens mower unless you can sell the Ariens for at least $700 with the new motor.
Hi Max, Hendersons mowers in Ballarat have the GXV160 for $505 so they will be genuine no issue with that. I think that an Ariens with a new Honda motor shoul be worth around the $800 mark. Nothing else out there comes close to the Ariens
Hi AVB, Haven't been too flash for a while but the medications are seeming to work ok now, just hope they continue to work this way. Possum problem returned a few weeks ago and the dog was putting them up a small tree about 3m tall. One night I went our because the dog kept barking and I grabbed a stick and hit one of them on the head as his big beady eyes looked down at me. It fell out of the tree and the dog pounced. Since then have only had one venture into the yard and I was able to hit it with the stick but it didn't fall out of the tree. I guess they have now worked out this is not a possum friendly yard
