Briggs and Kohler have different "lines" of engines. The Kohler Courage that they put in big box lawn mowers ain't your Daddy's Kohler engine. Its made in China, and I have heard that Kohler cheaped out on them big time. Probably the same with Briggs.
Top of the two lines is Briggs Vanguard and Kohler Command....I think. Everyone says Honda is the best but I have never owned one.
I have a Briggs on a Troy-bilt tiller that is 30 years old and starts on the first or second pull and runs strong. Only work ever done on it has been a ring job and it has had the snot worked out of it. I used it this weekend. I seriously doubt that they make them like they used to.
