Tutorial: Replacing a B&S engine with a Honda engine on a Roque et Lecœur RL 206 lawnmower
The Roque et Lecœur RL 206 mower/scythe is offered with two optional 190cc engines: the Briggs & Stratton quantum 675 and the Honda GSV 190.
The Honda engine is more expensive but uses newer technology, including an overhead camshaft.
After 5 years of service, my Briggs & Stratton engine was nearing the end of its life, and I opted for a replacement. This tutorial will explain how to switch from a Briggs & Stratton to a Honda engine.
Several questions may arise:
Q. Why change the engine rather than repairing my current engine?
R. A repair often costs more than a new engine (bought from Mag Moteur Direct): one part is replaced but other parts of the engine may fail; the price of spare parts is high.
Q. It is more environmentally friendly to repair an engine than to replace it.
R. An old engine pollutes more than a new engine; the old engine can be recycled or resold for parts.
Q. Can a Honda engine be fitted to my lawnmower?
R. The mounting plate and the shaft are standardized. A 22x80 shaft means that the shaft diameter is 22mm and its length – measured from the mounting plate to the very end of the tree – is 80mm.
After removing the cover and disconnecting the cables, unscrew the three bolts that hold the B&S motor to the chassis. When reassembling, do not use the longest bolt but replace it with two identical bolts, making four in total.
Since the distance between the crankcase and the end of the shaft is greater on the Honda engine, replace the output shaft spacer on the Briggs & Stratton (ref. 207084) with a wider spacer (ref. 207012), available from Roque et Lecoeur. See the exploded view:
http://www.roquesetlecoeur.com/index.php/eclate-manuel/viewcategory/9-rl206
On the Honda engine, the groove receiving the key is shallower; I had to sand it down with sandpaper on a marble slab on two (parallel) faces by about 0.3 mm. mm in total until a smooth sliding motion is achieved in the hub supporting the blade.
Throttle control: the B&S was equipped with an automatic choke, a flywheel brake combined with a grounding for stopping, all controlled by a safety handle: releasing the handle stops the engine.
The Honda GSV 190 that I bought did not have a steering wheel brake and automatic choke, so I had to add a lever on the handlebar to put the mower in idle, full throttle, choke or off, special attention must be paid to safety when approaching the mower while it is running.
Conclusion: I am very satisfied with this replacement, the Honda GSV 190 engine is very efficient with plenty of torque; my only regret is not having done it sooner, a repair done on the old engine only lasted 15 hours and for that at a higher price than this exchange.
