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Briggs and Stratton vs Honda Engine

By Jeff Mercer · Updated May 26, 2022 · 5 min read
Briggs and Stratton vs Honda Engine
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While there have been arguments on which engine is better, it should be known that both the Briggs and Stratton engines vs Honda engines are efficient and have remarkable features.

Briggs and Stratton vs Honda Engine
Briggs and Stratton vs Honda Engine

Despite this, there are many advantages of the Honda engine over the Briggs and Stratton engine which cannot be left out. Here are some of these advantages:

Are you thinking of buying any of these engines?  Since the two engines have amazing features, you may want to compare the two engines before you make your decision.

In this article, we have made it easier with features you should know about these two engines.

Briggs and Stratton vs Honda Engine

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Honda’s Mower Quality Shines

Currently, there are three multipurpose engine lines from Honda and these lines can run lawnmowers efficiently. They include:

  • the GVC160/190 series,
  • the GSV190 series, and
  • the GXV160.

Common advantages of these lines are that they have impressive compactness and are very reliable.

The GVC160/190 series:

This series has both the GCV160 and GCV 190 combined

Features

  • This series has a pair of lightweight Overhead Camshaft (OHC) motors that incorporate a “uniblock” build to reduce the usage of fuel.
  • They have a resin camshaft to reduce noise levels. This means they can be used at any time of the day and are environmentally-friendly engines

The GVX160 line:

Basically, the GVX160 is ideal for commercial purposes although it can be used as a residential mower motor because it has amazing noise reduction technology.

This engine can handle tough jobs with less than 0.4 gallons of gas effectively

The GSV190 line:

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The GSV190 is very durable and can be used by experts in landscaping work and for other commercial purposes. However, the small footprint of this engine makes it ideal for residential use and it has a remarkable noise reduction technology.

A recommended model is the Honda 663020 21 in GCV170 Engine Smart Drive Variable Speed 3-in-1 Self Propelled Lawn Mower with Auto Choke. Not only is this model affordable, but it can also handle your lawn needs very well.

Among the biggest engine manufacturing companies, Briggs and Stratton is a popular name. It operates from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and has continually improved and enhanced its features in the last 113 years.

Honda is famous in the engine world for producing different engines for machines like generators, pumps, and so on. In comparison, Briggs focuses mainly on the manufacture of engines for lawn mowers.

Although Briggs and Stratton makes engines for pressure washers and generators, lawn mower engines are its major focus.

History of Briggs and Stratton

Briggs and Stratton is one of the most popular brands that produce engines for the best lawn mowers available in the market.

The company has a total of 21 engines for walk-behind mowers and 12 engines for riding mowers that best suit the different needs and preferences of users.

This company started as an engine building outfit by inventor Stephen Foster Briggs and businessman Harold M. Stratton who joined forces in 1908.

To start off their journey in the engine world, they produced a six-cylinder 2-stroke engine that powered the Briggs and Stratton flyer. Briggs and Stratton were also involved in agricultural and military space.

In addition, the efforts of Briggs and Stratton in the next decades were quite impressive as they delved into full-on car manufacturing and this enabled the company to specialize in engine building.

In the 1950s, the small engine design of engines by Briggs and Stratton gained a lot of interest. This involves an air-cooled aluminum engine that makes the engine more reliable and also ergonomic for lawn mowers.

With the use of aluminum in the manufacture of these engines, the mowers were now lighter and easier to move.

In the 1970s, the Clean Air Act slowly surfaced and the company moved into electric motors and hybrid technology. Their pure combustion engines were still worked on but with more advanced technology to prevent unforeseen hazard

Which Is Better, Honda Or Briggs & Stratton?

Honda and Briggs & Stratton are both leading manufacturers in the world of small engines. This is all thanks to their ability to continually and constantly adapt to changes in the environment and landscape.

Due to personal preference, one brand is preferred over another but they both are backed up by rich history and pedigree.

Briggs and Stratton provide users with several engine options which other brands like the Honda cannot offer.

As such, getting a model that suits all your needs and that of your lawn may be a lot easier without you compromising or skipping any feature that is important to you.

On the other hand, the reliability and efficiency provided by Honda are unmatched. These engines have a compact design and will be even smaller in the near future. Their OHC technology also remains the best in the industry.

The features of Honda engines (including their noise and emission reduction technology) add to the cost of these engines. They are more expensive than their Briggs and Stratton counterparts.

Advantages of the Briggs and Stratton engines

  • Simple design
  • They are durable.
  • Effective
  • Easy-to-use

Final Thoughts

The Honda and the Briggs and Stratton mowers are very remarkable. They have proven to be efficient, durable, and also reliable. However, there are some advantages of the Honda over the Briggs and Stratton.

These advantages are in terms of the durability, functionality, and also design of the Honda mowers which are quite advanced when compared to Briggs and Stratton.

The price of the Honda mowers is the major downside although it is definitely value for money. For people who can afford it, the Honda is the best option.

Regardless, a great alternative is the Briggs and Stratton mowers as it is more affordable and offers similar features.

It is also very durable and remains one of the most popular mowers.

 

Before you start the repairWe are not certified small-engine technicians. Before any repair, pull the spark plug wire and let the engine cool. Anything involving blades under a raised machine, fuel system leaks or transmission internals — if you're not sure, have a dealer or small-engine shop look at it.

Written by

Jeff Mercer

Jeff Mercer writes GardenTooly's answers to the questions people type into a search bar while standing next to a machine that won't behave: why the deck shakes, why the mower dies when it warms up, whether a bent blade shaft can be straightened, what the difference between two transmissions really means for you, and which fuel additive is worth the shelf space.

Each answer starts with the cause that is most likely and cheapest to check. Where it comes from the owner's manual, a service bulletin or what owners report, it says so, and anything involving blades, fuel, a jacked-up machine or a hydrostatic transmission gets a plain "take it to a shop" when that's the right call.

A note on our names: GardenTooly is written by a small team under pen names, one name for each job, and Jeff Mercer is the name on our mower and small-engine guides. We are not certified small-engine technicians, and we don't sell equipment.