Briggs Engine life?
- Thread starter beyoungsr
- Start date
Scott Miller
Member
Hello. Texas
I have an old 12.5 HP Briggs V-Twin w/ 115v gen on a Hotsy hot water machine circa 1993 that has over 1780 hours and still runs stong with yearly tune up and regular oil changes I think that this is pretty good considering most people told me the 12.5 was junk lol.
my 2000 16 HP Briggs V-Twin on my landa hot water w/115v gen has almost 700 hours and has never had any repairs other then scheduled maintenance.
I thing alot has to do with oil changes and filters and keeping the engines from the elements such as dirt, water, heat ect.
I have had (4) 12.5-18-18-16 HP Briggs v-twins and loved them all.
Scott Miller
Vent-Techs Restaurant and Industrial Services
Port Huron, Michigan 48060
810-982-1329
I have an old 12.5 HP Briggs V-Twin w/ 115v gen on a Hotsy hot water machine circa 1993 that has over 1780 hours and still runs stong with yearly tune up and regular oil changes I think that this is pretty good considering most people told me the 12.5 was junk lol.
my 2000 16 HP Briggs V-Twin on my landa hot water w/115v gen has almost 700 hours and has never had any repairs other then scheduled maintenance.
I thing alot has to do with oil changes and filters and keeping the engines from the elements such as dirt, water, heat ect.
I have had (4) 12.5-18-18-16 HP Briggs v-twins and loved them all.
Scott Miller
Vent-Techs Restaurant and Industrial Services
Port Huron, Michigan 48060
810-982-1329
Scott,
Thanks for the reply.
I consider that 12.5 hp to be low hours. I used a claculation of 8.0 hours per day x 365=2920 hours per year.
I know that is what everybody would like to average. Maybe extreme.
Anyway no doubt you will get good life doing the service.
I would like to know how many hours Briggs says the engine is designed for.
Some used equipment has caught my attention.
Thanks again. You obviously maintain your equipment well!
Thanks for the reply.
I consider that 12.5 hp to be low hours. I used a claculation of 8.0 hours per day x 365=2920 hours per year.
I know that is what everybody would like to average. Maybe extreme.
Anyway no doubt you will get good life doing the service.
I would like to know how many hours Briggs says the engine is designed for.
Some used equipment has caught my attention.
Thanks again. You obviously maintain your equipment well!
DetroitMI CKEC
New member
Don't be afraid of used machines. A couple of years ago we scooped up 3 1/2 skids for $5000.00. A couple of new Briggs engines later we are going strong. If you want to save even more money buy short blocks and strip your trashed engines heads, carburators, starters, etc..
Keep up the good work in Port Huron Scott. The coffee is still hot in the metro area if you ever get this way and have a moment.
Keep up the good work in Port Huron Scott. The coffee is still hot in the metro area if you ever get this way and have a moment.
Scott Miller
Member
Happy New Years Shawn.
My offer still stands for coffee, lunch, Drinks or whatever when your up in this neck of the woods.
AS LONG AS YOUR NOT COLD CALLING LOL. I might have a few ideas to help keep you from going through so many cranks and cam shafts as your other post mentioned. I put a new truck on the road last month that is just the way I always wanted one!.
It's a GMC W-4 with a diesel, and a 16 foot fully self contained propane heated and insulated box, with machine vented into a custom made stack with closing damper to keep out cold air when not in use. Now I don't even have to open the doors, no more noise problems, it sounds like a honda accord at idle from outside of the truck and it sure makes these winter jobs so much easier not having to keep everything from freezing up.
Best wishes for the New Year!
Scott Miller Owner/Operator
Vent-Techs Restaurant and Industrial Services
Port Huron, Michigan 48060
810-982-1329
My offer still stands for coffee, lunch, Drinks or whatever when your up in this neck of the woods.
AS LONG AS YOUR NOT COLD CALLING LOL. I might have a few ideas to help keep you from going through so many cranks and cam shafts as your other post mentioned. I put a new truck on the road last month that is just the way I always wanted one!.
It's a GMC W-4 with a diesel, and a 16 foot fully self contained propane heated and insulated box, with machine vented into a custom made stack with closing damper to keep out cold air when not in use. Now I don't even have to open the doors, no more noise problems, it sounds like a honda accord at idle from outside of the truck and it sure makes these winter jobs so much easier not having to keep everything from freezing up.
Best wishes for the New Year!
Scott Miller Owner/Operator
Vent-Techs Restaurant and Industrial Services
Port Huron, Michigan 48060
810-982-1329
Mike Hughes
Former Board Administrator
Scott,
I'd like to see pictures of that truck...........do you have a digital camera?
I'd like to see pictures of that truck...........do you have a digital camera?
Douglas Hicks
Member
how about more info on the self-closing damper? I have often worried about my coil freezing when the cold weather finally gets here. Tonight it is about 2 F above.
Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc
Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc
DetroitMI CKEC
New member
I'm really curious about your new set-up Scott. We vent our machines burners through the roof and engine exhaust through the floors. The problem we have had occurs when the doors are closed and the engines are starved of air to cool them, the oil gets thinned out and the engines fail.
See you soon, keep the coffee hot !
See you soon, keep the coffee hot !
Scott Miller
Member
Mike, Douglas and Shawn.
Mike, my digital camera just broke! It is a 2.3 mp Toshiba. It took good pictures, but will cost more to fix then what it's worth. So I am shopping for a new one. 5 million pixel or more! Anyone have one they are really happy with? Let me know. I will post pictures as soon as I get a new one.
Douglas, the damper is not automatic, cool thought though. It is more like a manual slide that works kind of like a tool box drawer.
The duct is of boxed heavy gauge steel, vented through the roof. Exhaust from machine is also vented into the duct.
Shawn, I found that roof vents like you would find in a R.V., are a must to let heat off the ceiling. Also that you must crack a window or have a make up air vent to let the machine's engine breathe. I would like to wrap my exhaust pipe with racing tape and the stack with a heat rated duct wrap like Fire King etc... Thus cutting down on interior heat. I am lucky because my box also is air conditioned, with a Carrier unit that can also work as an air makeup system.
Mike, my digital camera just broke! It is a 2.3 mp Toshiba. It took good pictures, but will cost more to fix then what it's worth. So I am shopping for a new one. 5 million pixel or more! Anyone have one they are really happy with? Let me know. I will post pictures as soon as I get a new one.
Douglas, the damper is not automatic, cool thought though. It is more like a manual slide that works kind of like a tool box drawer.
The duct is of boxed heavy gauge steel, vented through the roof. Exhaust from machine is also vented into the duct.
Shawn, I found that roof vents like you would find in a R.V., are a must to let heat off the ceiling. Also that you must crack a window or have a make up air vent to let the machine's engine breathe. I would like to wrap my exhaust pipe with racing tape and the stack with a heat rated duct wrap like Fire King etc... Thus cutting down on interior heat. I am lucky because my box also is air conditioned, with a Carrier unit that can also work as an air makeup system.
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Mike Hughes
Former Board Administrator
Scott Miller said:
The thing that would worry me about that is whether or not my employees would remember to open up the vent.........I could see them firing up the machine and start working without venting it.........then you have exhaust and heat all over inside the truck..... Can't there be a system like you see on the smoke stacks of some old 18 wheelers? (that little cap that just flips up when the exhaust blows out). Or maybe a kill switch for the machine's ignition mounted right next to the control for the roof vent...........that way they're forced to check if the vent is open......... ?
Michael Cappa
Member
Mike, my van is vented through the roof with an rv style plastic vent cap. It was windy a while ago while I was cleaing at night and the cap blew shut. Needless to say the only thing you then have to worry about is scraping the melted plastic off the roof of the van then replacing the plastic piece. Looked pretty cool though, lol.
Scott Miller
Member
Hi Mike.
Was thinking of putting a pin style kill switch in place that would not let the engine start if the damper was closed, so far it's not been a problem, I did label a reminder next to the key start to open vent before starting! An onboard carbon monoxide detector will go off within about 15 seconds if the vent is left closed, I know because I tried it.
I have always made it policy that the one to start machine stays on the truck a minute or two to check machine for any problems of operation. It seems that remembering to close it is actually harder to remember.
Hey hows your box van coming? I dont recall seeing much on this lately. If I remember correctly you had bought a Ford E450. I use to have a couple of E350s and they served me well.
Feel free to move this post as it seems we have strayed of the original subject sorry.
Was thinking of putting a pin style kill switch in place that would not let the engine start if the damper was closed, so far it's not been a problem, I did label a reminder next to the key start to open vent before starting! An onboard carbon monoxide detector will go off within about 15 seconds if the vent is left closed, I know because I tried it.
I have always made it policy that the one to start machine stays on the truck a minute or two to check machine for any problems of operation. It seems that remembering to close it is actually harder to remember.
Hey hows your box van coming? I dont recall seeing much on this lately. If I remember correctly you had bought a Ford E450. I use to have a couple of E350s and they served me well.
Feel free to move this post as it seems we have strayed of the original subject sorry.
Scott Miller
Member
Michael.
I have had that happen in the past when I use to vent my machine out that kind of vent. They use to make an all metal RV vent, but I could not find one anywhere recently. If any one knows where to buy a crank up style all metal one, please let me know thanks.
I have had that happen in the past when I use to vent my machine out that kind of vent. They use to make an all metal RV vent, but I could not find one anywhere recently. If any one knows where to buy a crank up style all metal one, please let me know thanks.
Michael Cappa
Member
I agree, I used to forget to close mine all the time. It would close itself when I started driving though. I remove the hand crank.
oneness
Member
Scott:
Just got a Kodak 4530, and I love it. 5 megapixels, 3x zoom, 32mb internal drive and uses SD cards. You can get a screw on telephoto lens (2x or 3x, not sure) for about $50.00, as well as wide angle and close-up lenses. Cost $300.00. Takes great pics. Depending on what you're going to be doing with it will determine if you need that many Mpixels. For the web/screen viewing, and printing 4x6 prints, 3 should be more than enough.
The camera I really want is the Nikon D1x or D100...a true SLR that accepts standard Nikon AF lenses. Those run between $1500 and $3500 depending on the model. Someday....
I've looked at quite a few 5MP cameras, and the Kodak seems to have the best features for the money. They also make a 4.3MP with a 10x zoom that sells for around $500.00
You can get a 3 mp pretty cheap these days, under $200.00
Just got a Kodak 4530, and I love it. 5 megapixels, 3x zoom, 32mb internal drive and uses SD cards. You can get a screw on telephoto lens (2x or 3x, not sure) for about $50.00, as well as wide angle and close-up lenses. Cost $300.00. Takes great pics. Depending on what you're going to be doing with it will determine if you need that many Mpixels. For the web/screen viewing, and printing 4x6 prints, 3 should be more than enough.
The camera I really want is the Nikon D1x or D100...a true SLR that accepts standard Nikon AF lenses. Those run between $1500 and $3500 depending on the model. Someday....
I've looked at quite a few 5MP cameras, and the Kodak seems to have the best features for the money. They also make a 4.3MP with a 10x zoom that sells for around $500.00
You can get a 3 mp pretty cheap these days, under $200.00
Install an rv vent cover over the vent.
You can than leave the vent open all year round if the weather is good.
No rain can get in and you don't have to worry about closing it before getting on the highway.
You would naturaly close it when you get home if it is cold.
Cost approximatly $25.00 and 30 minutes to install.
You can than leave the vent open all year round if the weather is good.
No rain can get in and you don't have to worry about closing it before getting on the highway.
You would naturaly close it when you get home if it is cold.
Cost approximatly $25.00 and 30 minutes to install.
Scott Miller
Member
Mike.
Thanks for the reply, I will check out that Kodac model. Do you have a docking station for yours? Not sure if they make one for this model. It's 5:00 A.M. and I just got in from a Hood job, my eyes, mind and typing skills are not good! Will post more later today. Please send up some warm Florida Weather we could use it. Also your trailers lettering job looks really nice!
Thanks for the reply, I will check out that Kodac model. Do you have a docking station for yours? Not sure if they make one for this model. It's 5:00 A.M. and I just got in from a Hood job, my eyes, mind and typing skills are not good! Will post more later today. Please send up some warm Florida Weather we could use it. Also your trailers lettering job looks really nice!
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oneness
Member
Yes, I got the docking station, makes things a lot easier, and automatically recharges the battery while it is sitting there. The Kodak docking station should fit all the Kodak Easyshare cameras. The software is easy to use also. It was a gift, so I don't know what the docking station costs, but if I recall correctly, it is around $50.00. One touch downloading is nice.
Warm FL weather? Supposed to be 29 here tonight! BRRRRRRR.
Warm FL weather? Supposed to be 29 here tonight! BRRRRRRR.
Scott Miller
Member
Mike.
While on my job last night the restaurants owner had that Kodac 4530 model camera, He showed me all the features and I was impressed. He's also very happy with it. Think i'll go shopping!
My brother said he just saw a Sony w/8mg for $999.00 hard to keep up with the technology these days.
I would still take your 29 degrees. Last nights job it was 10 degrees with a windchill -7
While on my job last night the restaurants owner had that Kodac 4530 model camera, He showed me all the features and I was impressed. He's also very happy with it. Think i'll go shopping!
My brother said he just saw a Sony w/8mg for $999.00 hard to keep up with the technology these days.
I would still take your 29 degrees. Last nights job it was 10 degrees with a windchill -7
oneness
Member
Wow, that's not bad, 8MP for $999.00. Unless you're having poster sized prints made, or shooting things that will need to be cropped quite a bit and need a lot of detail, I don't see the need for it. 5MP is probably more than I'll need, but it is nice to have.
www.tigerdirect.com has a 3mp for under $100.00, if I recall correctly. It is a no-name brand, but probably works just fine for snapshots.
www.tigerdirect.com has a 3mp for under $100.00, if I recall correctly. It is a no-name brand, but probably works just fine for snapshots.