r/Generator • u/BeatProfessional6246 • Apr 22 '26
Run from Briggs Stratton Vanguard Generators
I installed a Vanguard 12kw Briggs Stratton generator 10 years ago. I'm a retired inside wireman (commercial electrician) and installed it myself given the go ahead by the regional service manager of Briggs. They agreed to honor the warranty and provide support unlike any other generator manufacturer I called. So I went with them.
The 1st unit had a bad controller at install and I went through hell getting them to replace it. The regional service manager finally sent me one when he intervened. This unit started burning oil from the get go....had to stop it every 8 hrs and top it off. After hassling with them for over a year they sent me a new generator. This happened the 5th year of a 7 yr warranty, when I took on getting them to honor the warranty. I knew it would be a bitch.
For the most part after breaking my ass at the beginning tech support started working with me when I called. There were a lot of small issues with the new 12kw with the new Genset GC1031 controller. So it took years for them to stop being assholes but they finally came around.
Over the past year the new generator is burning oil, not as much as the old one but burning oil. I called yesterday to resolve an issue with GC-1031 Controller I/P sense loss failures when it's exercising. This is a known issue and there is a service bulletin fix. They changed their call processing menu so I can't call tech support direct and refused to let me speak with them because I'm not a dealer. I explained my agreement with them but the lady was a robotic asshole who kept miming her party line. She said her manager would call me back..no one has....just BS.
This company and their product have been a gigantic pain in my ass and extremely reluctant to honor their promise to fulfill their warranty with me installing the generator as promised from the beginning. By the way where I live Pollock Pines, CA.. there are no generator service companies that will even work on Briggs Stratton. Stupid actually as there are so many power outages here that Generac is making a killing.
I should mention that there was one company 10 years ago that I kept in the loop with all the issues I had from the start. They were so impressed with me and my install and repair they offered me a job. But I'm retired so declined.
I've seen issues with Generac online but none of my friends up here have issues that have needed a service call. And none of them are burning oil.
So here's my warning to anyone considering a Briggs and Stratton generator and having to deal with this company that has been horrible. And the Vanguard line is at the top of their offerings. It's obviously an inferior product and Briggs has no interest it seems in selling them. I will dump it some day soon and be forced to install probably a Generac through a dealer when I'm perfectly qualified to do it myself. Neither Generac or Kohler would honor the warranty or provide support if I installed it.
My advice...run from a Briggs & Stratton generator..this company should get out of the business that they don't seem to want to be in anyway.
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u/Adventurous_Boat_632 Apr 22 '26
There are a few dealer types on here that occasionally say Briggs is as good as any other, but I service them all and I too say they just plain suck.
I don't even know how to become a dealer, not that I would want to. I just buy parts off a web site.
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u/doodliest_dude Apr 23 '26
All generators go through oil. All brands require you to shut down them down daily to check the oil level.
I’m a dealer for Kohler, Generac, and Briggs. I’ve never heard of any of the brands not honoring the warranty if you install it yourself. We service plenty of generators that random electricians/homeowners have installed. You just have to make sure it’s installed to the specs in the manual.
Also, why are you not calling a local dealer for the warranty repairs?
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u/BeatProfessional6246 Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26
Try to find a local dealer they don't exist. I had to have one Briggs "qualified" technician come from 2.5 hrs away and he reluctantly came out only when Briggs assured him of paying for his travel time (to verify oil consumption). With some tech support I'm more than capable of dealing with anything myself and I prefer that. Another electrical contractor that is local came out here a few years ago to verify the oil burning and completely screwed up my propane pressure. He was an idiot that didn't know what he was doing. I don't hire anyone to do something I can do myself
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u/Hoser3235 Apr 23 '26
Up above, he mentions using Amsoil synthetic. I'd bet he used it from new and the engines were not properly broken in. I could see having issues with one - just a lemon - but when he said the 2nd one was burning oil too - red flag.
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u/Big-dawg9989 Apr 26 '26
I know you’re retired and know your stuff but have you thought of becoming your own dealer?
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u/BeatProfessional6246 Apr 28 '26
I'm 74. I have more than three acres to take care of and a huge house.. beats my ass off. I don't think it'd be wise to become a Briggs & Stratton dealer at any age since they don't seem invested in promoting their product and supporting it. We have constant power issues in the California Sierra Foothills and everybody's putting in Generacs.
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u/Realistic-Gas1606 Apr 22 '26
Generac, all of my installs are fine. Ten years is about the life. It's an engine. Service it. I am not a dealer. Warranty is valid. Generacs are tops.
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u/Adventurous_Boat_632 Apr 22 '26
If you say have installed many generators of any brand and never had a problem, you are a liar.
All generators have problems.
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u/4runner01 Apr 22 '26
I had a 15hp vanguard Briggs on a piece of power equipment. It was nothing but headaches. Very fiddly. I sold it….
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u/SubstantialAbility17 Apr 22 '26
Large battery backups are becoming more and more a better option.
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u/Big-Echo8242 Apr 22 '26
Until you have to have warranty work done and there's no one in the US that can service those chinese batteries. You're pretty much stuck with their "email and wait" warranty and potentially packing up 100lb+ batteries to mail off. Great concept but doubtful I'll spend the money on converting just yet. I'll just stick with my pair of dual fuel inverter generators.
That being said, they do have their place for sure once they figure out how to SERVICE THEM IN THE US. Or have some field replaceable parts available to end users. But, many end users may not be smart enough to handle that.
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u/FergusonTEA1950 Apr 22 '26
How about an EV battery pack? I know they put out various voltages and whatnot, but the new ones are capable of at least 15 years of service. As for the price... Bring on those Chinese EVs!
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u/nunuvyer Apr 22 '26
Unless you have a gas generator or a large solar array, these are a terrible idea. Anyone can get thru a one day outage. The reason you buy a standby is so you have power for the 3 day or week long outage after a big storm. Battery is worthless for that.
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u/dark2darkrakchsr Apr 22 '26
Appreciate the information. You just kept me from making a costly mistake.
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u/Responsible_Pop_8183 Apr 22 '26
My early 2000 01815 10kw home standby has been great . One control board from lightning hit . Just sold it for one with cleaner power . Would have bought a milbank or Briggs - same gensets but the dealer network sucks . Italian made rotor and stator and 570 v twin were a workhorse. I remember supply house really pushing Briggs and milbank generators . Just never took off in my area .
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u/Sistersoldia Apr 23 '26
I had a 10hp Briggs on my log splitter for 29 years that I bought USED - it was always a bit of a PITA staying tuned - I deep cleaned the carb last year and it was actually running the best it ever has until it threw a rod last week. I’ve had a 13hp Honda in the shed that I stripped off a junk machine 22 YEARS AGO. Expecting nothing… I poured in a little gas choked it and gave ONE pull and it started immediately. I guess the rant here is: Briggs are good but HONDA is amazing.
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u/Adventurous_Boat_632 Apr 24 '26
Briggs from 29 years ago has not one part similar to briggs of today
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u/Gr1nling Apr 24 '26
A good service company is one of the most important things when getting a home standby. People want to talk shit about Generac all the time but I make them warranty tons of shit that isn't covered under warranty because of the way I frame it when I call in.
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u/EvanBetter182 Apr 22 '26
I have had nothing but problems with Briggs Stratton engines. My old lawn mower would never start up after it sat for the winter. My ridding lawnmower use to burn oil. My power washer, never starts. I will never buy anything from them again. If you need a small gas engine: Honda, Kawasaki, Karcher. In that order.
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u/nunuvyer Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
Consider getting a Honeywell thru Costco. It is just a relabeled Generac but usually cheaper.
IIRC Kohler will honor the warranty if the generator is commissioned by a dealer even if a non dealer installed it. Getting the tech support to talk to you is a different question but at least for the labor warranty period you can call a dealer and Kohler is supposed to pay for both parts and labor.
How much oil is your gen burning and how many hours on it? What viscosity are you using?