Hello from Briggs & Stratton!

David Klaus · Joined: 25 Mar 2009 Posts: 31

I'd like to thank everybody at ekartingnews for giving us a deticated forum in which to share ideas, thoughts, and questions. The passion that we all share for karting is obvious and ekartingnews is a great embassador for our sport.

If there is a question that we can help answer please feel free to ask. While I cannot promise that I can answer every question I can try.

Best regards,

David Klaus
Director - Briggs & Stratton Racing

NJ Marinaro · Joined: 21 Apr 2009 Posts: 1

My son and I have been racing the consession karts at Speed Demons in Florida City and have been at some of the practice sessions at Homestead International. We're hooked. Getting two karts for us is cost prohibitive, considering the spares and all other items required. Is there a single kart that we can both use considering my son is 13 and I'm 35+?

John Matthews · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject:

Hi NJ,

Lots of folks share karts with their kids. The biggest problem usually isn't finding the kart, it's getting it away from the kid Laughing

What I would suggest is looking for a decent used chassis locally. Get something less than 10 years old that isn't beat up and has working brakes. You should be able to locate one for $500 or less, at least that's what I usually sell them for. You may have to buy a new seat that fits you, it's not ideal but you can put padding in for your son (use really dense foam). The LO206 Animal has a minimum advertised price of $509.95 and that's what most dealers sell them for. Lots of us offer package deals with exhaust, motor mount, chain guard, clutch, chain, sprocket, fuel line and cable for around $700. Then it's just a matter of setting it up on your kart any you'll be ready to go. The best thing is with the LO206 Animal you already have the motor you'll need when you (or your son) gets ready to move up.

Give me a call or send a PM if you have any other questions. I have a customer who was in the exact same place you are. They bought a used chassis and got an engine package from me and they were able to make it out to our test at Bondurant Super Kart School on Monday. The kid was faster then he thought he would be, all that indoor karting made it easy for him to step up Very Happy

Cheers,
_________________
John Matthews
Heartbeat Power, LLC.

Paul Williamson · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:03 pm Post subject:

Hi David,

I am wondering a few things about the LO 206 vs. the Animal. Aside from the ignition and the tamper proof seals, are there any other differences? Are all the internal components identical? And, aside from the sealing process, is there any difference in how you assemble the two engines? Are the carburetors the same?

Thus, would the torque and horsepower be the same up to 6100 rpm, assuming they are indeed the same engine, other than the rev limiter?

Thanks,

Happy Animal Sprint Racer...
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My Behavior Does Not Reflect Anything

Jim Derrig · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: One kart, two classes?

John Matthews · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:46 pm Post subject:

Hi Jim,

If the kid is 13 then it's junior 2 with a full size chassis.

Paul,

I'll try and answer your questions, I've had the LO206 apart and run/sold quite a few of them this year.

Yes, the engine is the same inside, the only internal difference is the LO206 doesn't have the fire-ring head gasket. The assembly process is the same for both motors but the LO206 uses matched components to achieve a zero pop-up. They're incredibly well matched running against each other, at least the ones we had out on Monday were. Carbs are the same Walboro PZ22 set-up with the same jets as the regular Animal. And yes, they perform just like a stock (un-blueprinted) Animal on gas. It also comes with a recoil and fuel pump but not the fancy red plastic box....

IMHO it would be great for any club that already has an Animal class going to offer LO206 as a novice class that runs with their regular Stock Animal. Of course if a club didn't have any 2 cycle classes this is a great way to get one started.

Cheers,
_________________
John Matthews
Heartbeat Power, LLC.

mike clements · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:26 pm Post subject:

The Briggs LO-206 is a very well put together package. We have had one running here on one of our karts for the better part of the year, every weekend, hard! It has not skipped a beat yet. We did nothing but bolt it onto the chassis, bolt on a pipe, air filter ad oil and fuel. No top end blue print at all. It runs just as well as any blueprinted top end motor out there.
I hope to build it into a Limited Modified for next year.
Mike

Mitch Wright · Joined: 04 Sep 2001 Posts: 437

Mike,

Did you get a pre production LO 206? I didn't think they were even available until this spring.

John Matthews · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:06 am Post subject:

Hey Mitch,

I got one from Dave when they first came out and I've been running it hard for the better part of the year. The support Briggs gives to their engine programs is just phenomenal IMHO and Mike is in very tight with them so it's possible he may have gotten one even earlier than I did.

I've also been selling the LO206 since February and haven't heard of any problems so far. Not just the ones I've sold but I really haven't heard of problems with any of them other than the guy who tried cutting the crankshaft so he could tweak the cam before they added the second seal. It's not suprising though since the Animal has been tested and improved on as a race engine by the factory for all these years.

I know you've got your honda program running up there in Utah but have you had the chance to try a Briggs LO206? It ought to have a little more punch than a GX200 and for only $509.95 it's probably cheaper than a prepped genuine honda too Very Happy

Cheers,
_________________
John Matthews
Heartbeat Power, LLC.

Wayne ONeil · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:27 am Post subject:

John Matthews · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:00 am Post subject:

The first run of LO206's only had one seal installed so some rocket scientist suposedly figured out a way he could get the sump cover off without breaking the seal by cutting the crank. I guess he was somehow able to get a new crank installed after doing his dirty work, or maybe he just welded it back together. Laughing

It might also have just been somebody talking about how they might possibly be able to cheat the shortblock. Regardless of if it happened or not Briggs issued a recal and put an additional seal on it to make sure this didn't happen.

You'll see it a little bit on here from some of the guys but over on Bob's 4cycle there are a number of folks who will do whatever they can to try and drag down Briggs. I'm not really sure why, maybe they have a competing business interest or maybe they're just still pi$$ed that the Raptor was discontinued but Dave Klauss stays pretty busy putting out fires and dispelling "rumers" (sic).

Simple fact is though, Briggs is the only kart engine manufacturer you'll see posting info or responding to any of the stuff on the forums. They've really dropped the ceiling on entry level engines with this LO206 and if the sprint tracks (and retailers) take notice we just might be able to have some decent fields again once the economy starts back up.

The LO206 either as/is or with a restrictor for Jr. class racing actually provides a simple, cheap and dead-uts equal racing experience for just over $500. I sell and modify all kinds of engines and there isn't a better value and I doubt anyone out there can make a rational case for one.

JMHO....

Cheers,
_________________
John Matthews
Heartbeat Power, LLC.

mike clements · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:47 pm Post subject:

I got my first LO-206 at Kartfest at the end of Jan. Just a few weeks after that I ordered them from my local distributor. The customers have been tickled to death with them. One customer came in and bought two new karts with the LO-206 motors already bolted on and race ready. All he had to do was pull the rope and race. He and his son logged many races and are now stepping up to the Bandoleros. Very Happy

Greg Nelson · Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 1712

Not to be completely stupid (i'm a shifter guy) but I assume the LO206 is the ohv 206cc that WF, Animals, etc. are based?
What makes this motor different, etc. what are the majow features?
The $510 price sound interesting to me for a 2nd kart to mess with (and get real track time)
What would I need to mount it to a chassis?
Motor mount
Clutch (recommended one? 6', over 200lb driver)
Pipe?
Airbox or filter?
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Motohead

John Matthews · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 2:46 pm Post subject:

Hi Greg,

The LO206 is a sealed (botom end only) Briggs Animal. The only difference between it and the regular Animal is a coil that limits it to 6100rpm and it comes with a fuel pump and pull start.

It's a solid, reliable design that IMHO is more fun for us big guys than a similar powered 2 stroke because of the torque curve.

If you have an extra chassis I would highly recommend getting one and trying it out. You'll need a 4 cycle mount, drum clutch, chain guard, air filter and pipe but all together it'll come to less than $700.

The worst that will happen is you'll hate it and have to sell it but there are tons of oval track racers who will snap up a used LO206 in a heartbeat.

Good luck, and let us know if you have any questions.
_________________
John Matthews
Heartbeat Power, LLC.