Briggs Vanguard 18 hp

[mulerrich]

I have finally pulled the motor and removed the flywheel to access the ring gear on the new Vanguard that i installed two years ago. Have about 80 hours on the motor when the starter hung up and shredded the teeth on the aluminum ring gear. Engine is a 294447-0445-01 18 Hp Vanguard. Looking up a replacement gear shows no longer available. Any suggestions on a replacement gear. Hard to believe that a 2 year old engine is discontinued. Was hoping to find a steel ring gear since the steel pinion gear really destroyed the aluminum ring. Thanks

[john hall]

Originally Posted by mulerrich

I have finally pulled the motor and removed the flywheel to access the ring gear on the new Vanguard that i installed two years ago. Have about 80 hours on the motor when the starter hung up and shredded the teeth on the aluminum ring gear. Engine is a 294447-0445-01 18 Hp Vanguard. Looking up a replacement gear shows no longer available. Any suggestions on a replacement gear. Hard to believe that a 2 year old engine is discontinued. Was hoping to find a steel ring gear since the steel pinion gear really destroyed the aluminum ring. Thanks

2 years old and parts not available--that certainly doesn't sound right. I'd call a Briggs dealer and see what they say, maybe you are missing a substitution part #--I hope so anyway.

[Sam Mac]

This looks like what you need.

https://www.amazon.com/Briggs-Stratt...tton+ring+gear

[Sam Mac]

Here is some more of what I looked up.

294447-0445-01

BS-808770

https://www.partswarehouse.com/29444...-s/232366.htm#

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stens-150-4...AAAOSwpoJXEAgu

[Sam Mac]

I went through the same issue a couple years ago. Found a used flywheel, removed the ring gear and swapped it to my flywheel. Drilled out the rivets then drilled and tapped the flywheel and used some socket head button screws I had. Think they were 1/4-20 but not sure. Anyway they just fit nicely into the recess on the ring gear.

[mulerrich]

Thank you, thank you. I found the 808 number but it was listed as not available. I saw those ring gears but i wasn't sure they would fit. I was hoping to find a steel gear since the pinion gear chewed up the aluminum. Do you think that there is plastic pinion gear to replace the steel gear on the starter motor? I would like to change to that in case the starter drive hangs up in the future. Lot easier to change out the starter gear than the ring gear.

[mulerrich]

Well the date on the operators manual that came with the engine is dated 2014, so i know that the engine is pretty new. I bought it from Small Engine Warehouse and had it installed about 3 years ago. When i go to the Briggs site, it says flywheel not available, and doesn't list a separate ring gear, so go figure. Just seems odd that they would discontinue the part on that new of an engine and not even offer some parts support on an item that should be replaceable.

[Sam Mac]

I would talk to who ever you are planning on buying from to make sure you are getting something that will work. Wouldn't hurt to call the place you bought the engine from or Vanguard. Google Vanguard Engines.