Briggs & Stratton 23 hp Vanguard

[bo dawg 516]

Curious how good and trusting is the B&S Vanguard?

[Achto 27,571]

1 hour ago, bo dawg said:

Curious how good and trusting is the B&S Vanguard?

 

With regularly scheduled oil & filter changes, using a quality synthetic oil they are a good engine that will last a long time. If you neglect the regular oil changes, they will retaliate by throwing a rod at you.  Just to remind you of what you have done, or not done.

 

I know of a few that are on bedding choppers (close to the worst conditions for an engine in the world) Despite the neglect of every thing else the oil & filter is changed on schedule and these engines have hundreds of hours on them.

Edited May 31, 2022 by Achto

[JoeM 7,874]

The Vanguards I  had were real good strong engines, seems well built and ran smooth.Those were the smaller 16HP Twins.  

[kpinnc 12,025]

I love Vanguards. One of the few engines (horizontal shaft only) that still use ball bearings on the PTO side of the crank.

 

I have several v-twins from 14 to 23 hp. Good solid performers. You will have to make a 3/4 mounting plate to get the PTO shaft to the correct height. They have a different bolt pattern too, but the mounting plate can correct it.

 

 

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

@kpinnc so you did a trailer hub swap on the front wheels/ spindles ?

[kpinnc 12,025]

1 hour ago, Horse Newbie said:

@kpinnc so you did a trailer hub swap on the front wheels/ spindles ?

 

Yes sir. That was the only way to get those bigger front tires to look right, at least look right to me anyway. The wheels were over an inch wider than stock 520 wheels.

 

I turned 1 inch locking collars down to the same size as the inner hub seals to make them work right.

 

 

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

@kpinnc… where did you get the hubs ?… Northern Tool ?

[kpinnc 12,025]

1 hour ago, Horse Newbie said:

Northern Tool ?

 

Yes sir. 5 on 4.5.

[RED-Z06 2,221]

Vanguards used to be made in Japan by Mitsubishi Hvy, but Briggs ended that deal a few years ago, those engines were bulletproof, 3500+hr engines.  Now..when the big blocks came to exist, and production ramped up domestically...quality went down pretty sharply...i personally have a 16 and 18 vanguard on my generators and love them...20 year old runners

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

On 6/1/2022 at 8:38 PM, kpinnc said:

 

Yes sir. 5 on 4.5.

5 inch on a 4.5 inch spindle ?…

naw I’m kidding… 5 lugs on a 4.5 inch pattern…

[kpinnc 12,025]

On 6/3/2022 at 12:47 AM, RED-Z06 said:

Vanguards used to be made in Japan by Mitsubishi Hvy, but Briggs ended that deal a few years ago, those engines were bulletproof, 3500+hr engines.  Now..when the big blocks came to exist, and production ramped up domestically...quality went down pretty sharply...i personally have a 16 and 18 vanguard on my generators and love them...20 year old runners

 

The small block v-twins are still made in Japan. Or I should say the blocks are still cast there. They still have "Japan" embossed on the bearing plates.

 

And yes sir, they are great engines. I have four 14, one 16, a 23, and my only big block is a 26 vertical. So far, they are all excellent. The 14s in particular are bulletproof. 

[Lee1977 6,659]

Here is my C-120 with a 18 Vanguard. It's a tight fit with no room to spare.

[Jrain 276]

I have 3 B&S V twins laying around pulled them from Generac generators ,all have very low hours on them also have 2  1.2 inline Nissan  engines also pulled from Generac , keep pulling them but never use them. 

[bds1984 1,429]

2100+ hours on an 18HP in a John Deere with nothing but regular maintenance so I'd say they're a decent choice.

[RED-Z06 2,221]

On 6/9/2022 at 10:59 PM, Jrain said:

I have 3 B&S V twins laying around pulled them from Generac generators ,all have very low hours on them also have 2  1.2 inline Nissan  engines also pulled from Generac , keep pulling them but never use them. 

That ohvi 1liter twin has been the bane of my existence, after a hurricane im inundated with calls from people explaining their generator just blew up in epic fashion...always the same story, ran fine...blew up, or let go on start up.  The electronic servo controlled governor is too laggy, ive seen them hit 4800 on cold start before the governor could react...i always push the choke in nice and slow...gives it time.  Mechanically a fantastic engine, but seeing a line of Guardian 15,000/22,500 units with rods hanging out was miserable..all because they didnt want to use a tried and trued Mechanical governor