Briggs & Stratton Model K Questions

[Robt.]

I have a B&S Model K here with a gear reduction drive. It is missing most of the small parts and has one "toe" broken off the base. How easy/hard is it to find the parts to rebuild this engine, or am I better to sell/part it out? Has the heavy cast shroud etc. Thanks all! PS: what is the normal RPM of these motors at the crank and at the reduction output shaft?

[Peter Ruffle]

Restoring/parting out is your choice but in answer to your PS...
Briggs Repairman's Handbook lists operating speed range of 2300-2700 rpm, standard speed setting with no load of 2700rpm and no load idle speed of 1400rpm. Those are crankshaft rpm, output shaft rpm will be based on your gear reduction ratio, common is 6 to 1 so you would divide crank rpm by 6 to get pto rpm. Hope this helps.
Peter

[Tom Schaech]

The model "K" is becoming quite rare. As your engine has gear reduction, that makes it that much more appealing for restoration! (Personally, I hate to see any engine parted out unless there is absolutely no other way to restore it!)
Parts are still fairly easy to find; I have a "K" with similar issues (lug on mounting base), and found a nice replacement for $5 on eBay some time ago.
Good luck!

[Robt.]

Thank you gentlemen! Sentimentalist that I am I didn't take much convincing not to part it out

Now of course I need to find the parts to restore it... Is the base common to any other Briggs models? There is no plate (or SN that I can find) so I am guessing it to be a model K from appearance. What do you think?

Where should I look (other than engineads!) for the missing parts?

Thanks again!

[Robt.]

Looks like this is a Model B rather thank K. Thanks for the information! Would like to hear from anyone who has parts: carb, gas tank, valve cover, points etc.

[Robt.]

Date marks on the flywheel are "K" and "46", so again, obviously not a Model K since they were only made until 1940.