8 HP Briggs and Stratton Specs
by Alexis Writing
Briggs and Stratton is a manufacturer of small engines for commercial and residential use in outdoor power equipment such as lawn mowers, tractors, chipper shredders and log splitters. The Briggs and Stratton corporation has produced a number of different series of engines in a variety of horsepower sizes and shaft configurations. One of their most recent models, as of 2010, is the Intek series of engines, available in a variety of different horsepowers. The Intek series comes in horizontal and vertical shaft engines--vertical shafts are typically used for lawn tractors, while horizontal shaft engines are often used for snow throwers or chipper shredders and other types of equipment.
Horsepower
The maximum rated horsepower of the Briggs and Stratton 8 horsepower engine is eight horsepower; however, the maximum recommended horsepower of this engine is only about 6.5 horsepower. This represents a difference between how the small engine horsepower is rated without a load versus the rating under operating conditions and under load. The Briggs and Stratton Intek 8 horsepower engine has a maximum governed top revolutions per minute rating of 3600, so the engine cannot be over-revved or overrun by the operator since it is mechanically-governed.
Bore Strokes and Mechanical Specs
The Briggs and Stratton 8 horsepower engine is a single cylinder, L-head style engine with a cast iron sleeve lining the aluminum cylinder bore area for maximum engine life. The engine has a bore of 3.12 inches and a stroke, or maximum movement of the piston, of 2.43 inches. The displacement of this engine is 18.6 cubic inches, or 305 cubic centimeters. It has an internal oil sump that holds 28 ounces of motor oil. In addition to these specifications the Intek 8 horsepower engine has an overhead valve system for cooler operation and reduced emissions, as well as a two year commercial warranty on all of the mechanical parts of the engine.
Horizontal or Vertical Shaft
The Briggs and Stratton 8 horsepower engine is available with either a horizontal or vertical shaft, and with standard mounting bolt locations cast into the base of the engine so that it can be mounted on a variety of different power equipment that utilizes standard mounting holes. The body of the engine is cast aluminum, making it light-weight, but since the cylinder is lined with cast iron, it has a long operating life.
References
Writer Bio
Alexis Writing has many years of freelance writing experience. She has written for a variety of online destinations, including Peternity.com. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication from the University of Rochester.
