8 horse briggs!!

[Bluethunder3320]

the largest motor ive rode on was a 43cc 2 stroke on my home made bike so far.

i want to build a go kart

so i stopped by my hardware store, and asked for anything they might have i can use.

they have blower tires, 40 mowers, 20 weedwackers, other crap.......... and oh a horizontal briggs.

the guy said its been sitting on that same shelf for over 2 years now. he is willing to sell it and he said he thinks it came from a tiller. he has no clue the year or if it runs, and i said id come back next week when he decides how much he wants for it.

how much is one of these 8 horse briggs worth?
looked to me at least 10 yrs old.

thanks, matt

 

[fowler]

if it runs perfectly $100
if it wont run talk him to $40

 

[Bluethunder3320]

awesome. the guy at the shop said he never got to taking a look at it for me, and i said id just look myself and see if i wanted it. it was missing the pull start assembly and air filter. its a 1994 briggs 8 horse horizontal. never got to run it for long today because it was missing the fuel lines. a few squirts of gas in the carb and i started it up by yanking a rope around the belt drives. it screams. the engine came with gas tank and all the covers i just took them off too see the guts.

$50 bucks to get it off the shelf.

 

[anderkart]

Hey nice score Bluethunder, I see a ring gear on your flywheel so that means that engine most likely came equipped with an electric starter. Looks like the starter motor is missing now but the good news is its probably still got the charging coil that might come in handy if you ever wanted to run lights on your kart.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

yeah i looked at it, didnt see anything. if there is a mount im definitely not going to buy a pull start but an electric starter, i do have a key switch and a solenoid. i gotta do some research, and see if there are screw holes for a starter mount. i dont get why a flywheel with teeth would be on a pull start engine.

 

[r97]

why is it that every one else around here is getting running briggs 8hp engines, race karts for like 20 bucks, free motor cycle engines, old "vintage" style karts for 30 bucks with engine, and the best i can find is an old briggs that doesn't run advertised for 140!

 

[Bluethunder3320]

@r97 LOL i remember it was a few years ago i had nothing of motors and always thought of building a go kart and getting an engine was huge to me, and now that im 14 finally im finding my sources!

go to a local hardware store or repair shop and ask if they have any old/unwanted engines.

usually they do because they get broken power equipment and take the motor off it for parts.

 

[redsox985]

That's where I've found good tires from lawn tractors. I have 8.5x8 inch rims from a golf kart and 9.5x8 is common rim on tractors. The tires work and quite often they will be thrown into a recycle bin with excellent tread left on them.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

yeah so true once i really missed out. i went to a true value and the guy said a few hours ago he got rid of a perfectly good snapper because no one wanted it. can u believe that?!

 

[redsox985]

That's a parts jackpot. Especially if it was going to be junked. You could have gotten a free mower.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

yeah i guess i have to stick to that old honda harmony......LOL

well today i found out a redneck method to start it up. its got so much kick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPQ8B2McN60

 

[r97]

@r97 LOL i remember it was a few years ago i had nothing of motors and always thought of building a go kart and getting an engine was huge to me, and now that im 14 finally im finding my sources!

go to a local hardware store or repair shop and ask if they have any old/unwanted engines.

usually they do because they get broken power equipment and take the motor off it for parts.

yea, i have no problem finding parts, there is a lawn mower shop down the street that i have been meaning to go to, hardware store, forget it! its just im happy to find a $40 5hp flatty that needs work, while other people are getting race karts for 20 bucks!

 

[Bluethunder3320]

yeah wtf is with those i am in desperate need of a cart at the moment my briggs is in the back yard with a bucket over it.

you see im only 14 and i obviously dont have a job... i cant get any money at all.

i cant afford a welding machine, i cant afford a metal grinder, i cant afford a drill press, and there is not one junk yard around within 100 miles at least.

lifes tough but what am i gonna do. it seems impossible right now i have so many restrictions. dont forget i have parents too who dont want me doing anything dangerous.

ughhhh....

 

[Jerryburger]

My first engine was a rope-start B/S 6B.... 2hp I think. You're WAY ahead of the game!

 

[r97]

depending on what state you live in you can get non "dangerous" jobs at 14. unfortunately stuff like fixing mowers, welding, ect are considered dangerous in ma, can't wait till i'm 14!

 

[fowler]

cant they test you on your skill not your age
i was talking to somone at work the othr day and they couldnt describe the basic workings of a desil engine even though they were the admin side of the mechanic workshop.
im sure u can fix a mower better than the average person of any age

 

[r97]

yea, the people who would hire me would like to, but its totally illegal because the state of Massachusetts considers it dangerous to minors.
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=elwdterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Workers+and+Unions&L2=Wage+and+Employment+Related+Programs&L3=Youth+Employment+Information&sid=Elwd&b=terminalcontent&f=dos_youth_summary_of_laws&csid=Elwd
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=elwdsubtopic&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Workers+and+Unions&L2=Wage+and+Employment+Related+Programs&L3=Youth+Employment+Information&sid=Elwd

 

[Bluethunder3320]

well this summer i was a counseler in training at flaming farm ct, next year im eligible to make money if i apply, i might... but danm those kids get annoying!!! LOL

my first motor was a ryobi 31cc..... so yeah. what ever happened to rope start? they are the best in my opinion because theres nothing to break.

today i began cleaning up the 8hp briggs. snapped a head bolt XD. well that sucks i cant get it out. i re painted the tin and got most of the rust off, but the stupid updraft carb is pissing me off, i cant open it up!

 

[Bluethunder3320]

hahaha r97 youre out of luck it says you cant operate a microwave oven!

 

[redsox985]

Cause no 14 year old has the ability to handle a microwave. For God sakes, it warms food through the air!