Founded in 1908, Briggs and Stratton is a result of a partnership between Stephen Foster Briggs and Harold M. Stratton. The company is a large-scale manufacturer of pressure washers, electrical generators, go-karts, lawnmowers, and small gas-powered engines. With promising sales figures and a century worth of experience, Briggs and Stratton has grown to be a major player in the global small gas-powered engine market.
Even though Briggs and Stratton has produced tried and true small engines for years now, that doesn’t mean they don’t need maintenance. As a result, if you are looking to buy a B&S product anytime soon, we would highly recommend getting a Briggs and Stratton repair manual first. They are pretty affordable and will save you a lot of time and money on future repairs.
And since B&S has manufacturing plants all over the world, several models built for different markets may slightly differ from each other, sometimes complicating the maintenance process. But does Briggs and Stratton make its engines in China? And does it also mean they are any less reliable? Well, it depends; like several major engine manufacturers in the continental US, Briggs, and Stratton also has manufacturing units in China — however, that’s only part of the answer.
Let’s delve a little deeper!
Briggs and Stratton’s relation with China
Currently, the American giant has over 13 production plants in the US alone, and 8 more spread across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, and you guessed it — China.
The Chinese government has been a long-term partner of the Wisconsin-based company. So much so, the B&S Chongqing plant was initially planned to be set up in the Sichuan province as a joint venture. The plant would specialize in manufacturing single-cylinder gasoline engines and become one of the biggest production hubs in the eastern market. Low labor costs, state-of-the-art infrastructure, quick transportation, and a location at the heart of an urban powerhouse like Chongqing proved tempting to the American company.
However, several developments in the early 2000s changed the fate of this plant. Due to financial difficulties, the Chinese government was unable to provide the desired manufacturing site and forced B&S Chongqing to rent a much smaller site. Currently, the new site manufactures only smaller aluminum engines while gasoline unit manufacturing has shifted to the Philippines.
Nonetheless, Briggs and Stratton also has a foothold in another Chinese economic powerhouse — Shanghai. The Briggs & Stratton (Shanghai) International Trading Co., Ltd. was founded in 2003 and is now a major wholesale distributor of electrical apparatus and wiring supplies. Furthermore, the plant is also home to gas-powered and self-propelled lawnmowers. Both plants play an immense role in meeting the demands in Asia and Africa.
Are B&S engines made in the USA?
Briggs and Stratton has left no stones unturned in capturing its home market. Only a few other manufacturers like Honda can brag about being at par with B&S in terms of overall sales. With the growing demand for American-made products worldwide, especially in its home market, B&S has shifted most of its small engine production to the USA.
Currently, more than 80% of B&S engines are made in American plants located in Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, and Missouri. In fact, the Kentucky plant alone has produced more than 70 million engines, while the Georgia factory is already well above the 20 million mark.
The recent emphasis on homegrown products comes after a higher number of Americans voted for domestically made engines. According to a survey by the US Department of Commerce, nearly 8 in 10 American consumers say they would buy a product made on their soil over an imported one. Being an all-American company, Briggs and Stratton is at the forefront of this movement, aiming to create more employment opportunities and bring revenues back to its home country.
Put simply, if you live in the US, it’s very likely that the B&S engine in your new lawnmower is made in the US — Chinese ones are mostly reserved for the Asian market.
What makes B&S products a good buy?
Buying a Briggs and Stratton-powered mower is one of the best decisions you could make. They are reliable, power-efficient, and require less maintenance than most. But of course, you don’t have to take my word for it — we have listed some of the features that make B&S lawnmowers worth your hard-earned money below.
You be the judge!
Reliability
Briggs and Stratton is the largest producer of small gasoline engines for outdoor equipment, especially lawnmowers. The company offers a wide range of engine alternatives, all catering to different needs and budgets. As a result, it doesn’t come as a surprise to see that its engines have already been adopted by several manufacturers, including Husqvarna, Masport, Yard Force, Snapper, Toro, and Altoz, only to name a few.
Most come with at least a two-year warranty and have reasonable maintenance costs. B&S also makes sure to incorporate the latest technology into its products so you can have a hassle-free experience — on the other hand, it also makes them slightly more complicated to repair.
Consequently, it is always a good practice to inspect your mower every time you use it. There’s no denying it; regular inspection is one of the most important steps to ensure your B&S engine lasts as long as possible.
Of course, even with all the care in the world, your lawnmower will still eventually break down at some point. But don’t worry; you can easily repair it using your trustworthy Briggs & Stratton repair manual. These manuals come with a ton of helpful information, including troubleshooting, repair and replacement procedures, torque specifications, exploded views, and wiring diagrams—no need to say that those procedures will save you both time, money, and frustration.
Don’t know where to find one? Take a look at eManualOnline — their manuals are the same used by professional technicians and cost a lot less than a visit to the repair shop.
Quality
Be it a powerful tractor engine or a small lawnmower engine, B&S never compromises on quality. The company’s engines are at par with industry-leading Honda but have lower maintenance costs compared to its Japanese rival.
Most B&S lawnmowers can easily provide up to 8-10 years of service. Larger mowers with a bigger and more powerful engine can even last longer. However, with a Briggs and Stratton service manual guiding you along the way, you can make them last even longer than that. Remember, a well-looked after, carefully maintained mower is the best way to keep repair bills at bay.
Maintenance Tips
Not only does a well-put-together Briggs and Stratton workshop manual help you maintain your vehicle, but it also makes you more knowledgeable about your equipment in general — no matter whether it was produced in China or on American soil.
You’ll also find countless maintenance tips in there, and those are worth every penny. For instance, cleaning the air filter every 50 hours of service is highly recommended, and regularly inspecting the drive belt and cleaning spark plugs should definitely be on top of your list.
Last Words
Briggs and Stratton is a huge company and has a notable presence overseas. Apart from cheap labor costs in China, the Asian market is quite significant for the American manufacturer. However, that’s nothing to worry about — most of its engines sold in the US are actually made in the US. And even if you were to get your hands on a Chinese-made model, it still wouldn’t worry me too much. B&S’ reputation for reliability is already well-established, and the quality of its products never disappoints. Still, always keep in mind that, no matter where an engine is produced or how big or small it is, preventive maintenance is always your best bet.