Dumpster dive find.. B&S 5hp

[frostyflammable]

So I was with my buddy at his apartment complex helping him move a few things (one of the downsides of having a truck lol) and we went by the dumpster to drop off a few things and I saw this thing chilling on the bottom. So I did what ever normal human being would do and jump into the dumpster and retrieve the prize. From a quick look its a 5hp B&S and the shaft is straight and keyed. Quick pull of the rope and it has compression and turns over freely. Did not try to start want to open and make sure all is good and find out why it was junked.

Anywhoo, does anyone know much about this engine, or even better a parts/service manual? All I find online is I have to pay to get the service manual, and I will if I have to but before I spend the $$$ figured I ask if anyone has a service manual for it.

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[KartFab]

i did not look up the manual or engien model, but it is probably your standard 5 hp aluminum bore briggs flathead that doesnt have bearings on the crank. The more sought after ones are the 5 hpI/C engines that have a dual bearing crank, and a cast iron bore.

Nothing wrong with this one though, should rev up to 5800 rpm with governor bypass... not that anyone would do that

From the looks of it, you might actually have a newer 5 hp block, and it doesnt look like it is in horrible shape either. Maybe even built in the 90's, which is new for the briggs flathead haha.

I have an emotional attachment to these little flathead engines, and if I didnt, i would part it out and sell it. Those gas tanks, cranks, carbs, and air boxes are worth something on ebay. Thats not as fun as putting it on something and running it though.

 

[frostyflammable]

From my research its a 1994 model. Looking on B&S website and decoding the "Code" field of 9403172D, the first two are the year, followed by month followed by day of manufacture and finally the assembly line. So should be a March 17th, 1994 manufacturing date unless I am completely wrong, which is highly possible.

Mainly I want to restore it, maybe put on something in the future. No matter to me how sought after it is or not, it deserves to live another day .

--Daniel

 

[anickode]

The later ones like this had aluminum bore and ball bearing crank I believe.

 

[Denny]

I would try to fire it up before I did anything it is the only way to really tell the condition.


Denny

 

[landuse]

You probably find the carb is just gummed up and the previous owner didn't know what to do with it and then just threw it away. Before you open it up, try start it. Clean carb etc first. I wouldn't open it up first before trying to get it started

 

[itsid]

I partly disagree on the fire it up thing..

I'd remove the sprak pluf and try to turn it over, yes...
remove the valve spring cover on the side to observe if the valves are openening and closing.
remove all liquids from the engine (hopefully just oil in the crankcase, and no water in the cylinder)
refill with oil and only then try to fire it up.

If that poor thing sat outside for too long, chances are it's slightly seized (maybe water trapped inside the cylinder,
the valves cought some rust and seized etc.

firing it up in such unknown state can make slight issues worse
(bend a valve stem, crack a bearing surface, a hydrolocked piston can crack the conrod...)

So without removing the crank case cover or cylinder head,
I'd check everything that can be checked, and first turn it over by hand just to be sure things are moving.

'sid

 

[Joe-405]

At least drain the oil and make sure there isn’t any shavings in it.........like a broken governor gear or something. Could make it worse not opening it up.