..nobody’s perfect..
as a manufacturer with service center servicing ALL makes of pressure washers,
and engines for almost 30 years,
and being involve in hundred if not thousands of troubleshooting ventures along the way..
and having sold thousands on new systems, of almost ALL makes of American and Japanese engines..
I can say this.. Tecumseh is LongGone.. it was the engines-example of crap manufacturing for cheap.
Since then, nobody seems to really have big perpetuating issues since, except for minor stuff..
Honda13hp motors had mufflers falling off..
..back in about 1998 .. they used cheaper studs, and they broke frequently, and didn't honor much of the warranty work we did.
At the same time.. I notice new replacement pushRods were thinner than before, and noticeably bend easier..
ALSO.. the valveRockers got thinner and crack easier. I haven't seen much of this, but still..
..When you look at a part that is thinner than before, I don't expect it to have the same partNumber. Eh?
I just HATE Honda for the way they treated me during those days.. Like I was a Liar.
..so Honda is a 9 on the scale of 1-10 ..
..and There is no 10 simply because Honda "dropped that off" back in the 90's
.. with the muffler studs, pushRods, and RockerArm incidents
By the way.. since they lost their patent on the smaller GX versions.. and the Chinese have every afterMarketPart for you..
Those new models you're buying do not use the sameOldParts as before. KEEP YOUR OLD ONE !!
Generac came out with a great priced, very strong 7 and 15hp engines, back in 2000..
..but the fuel tanks leaked and mufflers failed on every one, almost putting us out of business,
as they sent us identical replacements, allowing more engines to catch fire, etc. on the 235 engines we purchased in that year.
..once they were "done with us" .. they stopped selling those.
..so I'm skeptical of ALL engines..
Subaru.. came out of the gate strong.. quality, overhead cam efficiency on the single cylinder models,
..and prices lowEough to get our attention quick.. as many other mfrs.
..but I was skeptical, and watched'emLikeAhawk !
..problems.. goofy shipping errors, and an idiot rep for a while, but users are happy.
Parts pricing is a separate issue.. they are highest on parts pricing,
..but if you don't bash-Into-It with something, they don't break.
..and airFilters are coming down a bit in price because of an aftermarket supplier.
Failures.. out of a several hundred I've sold between 7hp, 9hp, 14hp, and the 28hpEFI..
I have one 28EFI down for a valveGuide issue..
..they say it was overheated, but it is with a group of 3.. all on one open-air trailer.. lots of space between.
..otherwise flawless.. and it looks like I'm eating it for the customer.
Was it an anomaly ? .. looks like it.. I'll keep you posted.
..will I continue to push them ? ..Yes, WITH explanation..
They are selling the 28hp Fuel injected engine at $1000 less than the competition.
..and fuel injection at 30% fuel savings, pays for itself every year Easily..
..The engine becomes a "sacrificial component" when purchase price is that low.
The customer with the failed unit.. said "no big deal, get me a spare" ..plus ordered another machine with the same motor.
Subaru still gets a 7.5 rating. Good, but others are better.
Briggs and Stratton VanGuard engines.. have had no "common problems" until the past few years with one small issue..
..the 23hp engine has a crankcase-pressure anomaly where it doesn't really want to actuate the pulse-type fuelPumps like they should.
..so If you mount the engine up above the fuelTank, more than a footOrTwo.. the fuelPump fails..
..and replacing with the beefier Mikuni version doesn't work either.
..we go to the aftermarket electricFuelPumps.. problem solved.. for less than $100. (our complete kit)
Briggs is an 9.0 on the scale of 1-10
..but I easiest to get parts for, with low cost and interchangeably.
Kohler.. is another 9.0 rating out of 10..
Stout, well engineered, fairly easy to service,
very reliable EXCEPT..
Having the keySwitches live INSIDE the fanShroud causes them to fail more often, as cool damp air is compressed INTO your switch.
..Remember when it wouldn't stay running in early-morning hours,
..then later (and warmer) in the day, the serviceGuy couldn'tFind the problem ??
..corrosion in the switch becomes a conductor when it's wet. They like to sell switches.
How about those terminals on the voltage regulator.. eaten away by the aboveMentioned moisture leakingOut from the fanShroud.
They like to sell VoltageRegulators.
Then there's the ignition modules..
You need to find a tester to diagnose which component is bad, then wait
..for the specialOrderPart to come, ..because they are all different, and nobody stocks'em.
If they weren't SO rugged.. I'd giveThem an 8.0 ..but a 9.0 is right.
Of all, I like the Briggs the best, for overall reliability,
great partsPricing and easyAccess to any Parts you need.. serviceCenters are everywhere,
many part are interchangeable so they are available and less expensive,
and that cannotBe overlooked for "The Rapid Elimination OF downtime".