what?? No dipstick?

I had an 8 HP Briggs I/C Horizontal Flathead on a walk behind blower that I don't think had a dipstick. I didn't pay much attention to it because it came with a snowblower I bought and I just resold it. I did check the oil once and it just had a plastic plug low on the crankcase where the fill was. Actually, my generator has a "14.50 gross torque" Briggs Horizontal OHV and I believe that is the same setup, just the little plastic plug low on the crankcase. My guess is that design is cheaper to make and less likely to be overfilled.

I have a Mitsubishi on a power washer and a Greyhound/Lifan/Honda clone on another snow blower that are the same. They just have the little plug on the bottom that you fill up to the top of the hole and put the cap back on.

The Briggs on my push mower has a dipstick as does a couple other Tecumseh snow engines I have.

As for his idea for the oil, I have seen plenty of youtube videos saying to do that to measure the old oil so you know how much to add. My guess it is easier than the method I usually end up using which is pour a little, check, pour some more, check, pour some more...

Found this on Briggs & Stratton Website:
http://www.briggsandstratton.com/en... on my engine - Why is there no dipstick.aspx

Do NOT remove/use the white plug to fill the engine with oil. The white plug is only there to take the place of a dipstick tube.

Either of the yellow oil fills may be used to fill the engine with oil as they both lead to crankcase. Add oil until it reaches the top threads of the oil fill hole.

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IHcubguy said:

I know what you guys are talking about, Normally on smaller hp engines, on push mowers and such...I'm talking about 8 hp vert shalf. typically on a LT or RER. I have 3 Briggs 8hp engines, 2 verts and one horz, i rebuilt not long ago, dated back to 73'-77' sitting on a shelf, all have dipsticks.

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I have an 8 hp B&S verticle in a cub cadet 282 hydro (1982) and it has no dipstick either. Some of the models do some dont have them. My other 8 Hp B&S on a JD R72 I belive, has a dipstick and both engines look almost the same.

Now the part i don't understand from Briggs is, why make some models (8 hp verts and horz for example) came with a dipstick, and then some without...like i mentioned before, i have rebuilt engines from the 70's at my shop, and all of them have dipsticks, and some made around the same time came without.. doesn't make much sense considering they are both on typical RERs and on LTs .

IHcubguy said:

Ok i have to get something clear here.
Someone came in today, older fella, and asked how much oil should a older 8 hp Briggs take. I told him, normally a full qt. his reply: oh yeah..really?! Mine:.....yeah...really!! He said....he thought it should only get a half a qt. Becaaause..now get this....he drained the oil, and then poured it into a empty qt....and said it read a 1/2 qt. so he figure thats how much oil it needed. I probably had the "stupid" look on my face:fing20:. First time i have ever heard that, so it took me by suprise. So i suggested checking the oil level by using the.....Dipstick? He told me...the engine never came with one... I told him it has to have one, if it doesn't, check the dipstick tube, because some dipsticks have a screw holding it on the cap, and i've seen these come loose. he said it was clear.... I'm i wrong here? did Briggs make an engine without a dipstick?

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Yes Sir they sure did, my dad bought a rototiller from Mongomery Wards back in the day (about 76) and his had a 8 horse Briggs on it and it had no dipstick.

Fast forward to 1979 and my uncle after seeing my dads rototiller decided he just had to have one (dontcha just love competition between brothers ?) same model same 8 horse Briggs but his had a dipstick ?
So my dad went to our local Briggs dealer (Heat Engineering) and bought just the stick, I think it was about $2.99.

Weird little thing was about 3 inches long and replaced the oil fill cap.

And as I and my brother recall the only difference between the two was the dipstick and color, dads was light brown and my uncles was red.

IHcubguy said:

Now the part i don't understand from Briggs is, why make some models (8 hp verts and horz for example) came with a dipstick, and then some without...like i mentioned before, i have rebuilt engines from the 70's at my shop, and all of them have dipsticks, and some made around the same time came without.. doesn't make much sense considering they are both on typical RERs and on LTs .

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http://www.briggsandstratton.com/en... on my engine - Why is there no dipstick.aspx

Many of our engines include dipstick assemblies. However, for certain applications, an equipment manufacturer may order an engine without one. There are several reasons why a dipstick is not included with your engine (ex. dipstick does not physically fit or is in the way of equipment).

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Both myy 8hp and 10hp Cast Iron B&S in my Allis Chalmers have Dipsticks located on the output end of the engine.
Terrible photo but the Dip stick unscrews from just inside the rear end of the Generator.