Huskee 22 ton vibration

Anybody have any experience with excessive vibration from a Briggs engine on a 22 Huskee (tsc) splitter?
The tabs where the blower housing bolts to the engine (by the cylinder head) have broken off . The bolts stay tight but the metal around them fractures. I replaced the housing once and had the same thing happened again. The engine is tight to the frame, the coupling to the pump looks ok when it is running. Called Briggs and they said to take it to a dealer to find out what is causing the vib. Talked to a good dealer and he didn't have any immediate fixes. Will probably take it there Mon.

Scotty Overkill said:

Do you feel excessive vibration when its running or does.it feel like its shaking harder than it should? Sounds like a classic bent crank to me, did you stress it out at all recently?

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It doesn't seem excessive when running. Hasn't been over stressed to my knowledge. It's about 3-4 years old. Can't remember what it was like when it was newer. Looking at the coupling when it is running doesn't seem to show any vib or wobble but I'm not sure if you could see that anyway. I guess maybe disconnecting the pump and checking the crank is the way to go.

This mounts directly to the pump.

turbo885 said:

Most likely it broke from trying to start it in the cold [thick oil hard to pull] I went thru 3 or 4 then just changed to horizontal shaft motor. It really vibrates when those tabs are broke.It took awhile for me to realize that is what broke them never had one break in the summer. Next thing you will see it leaking oil from the tank where the spindles are welded on that thin tank. BILL

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I don't see how pulling the starter rope could break the tabs. I bolted everything back together using washers to secure the housing where the tabs were broken. It doesn't seem to vibrate excessively when everything is tight.

jeff_t said:

blel, mine is the exact same way, rattling apart. And the same vintage. I bought it in August 08.

I'm not screwing around with the throwaway motor, though. When it fall apart completely, I'll put a Honda on it.

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Which Honda? Approx how much are they?

After putting mine back together using washers to resemble the tabs, I took it to a local shop and asked their opinion, which Briggs had told me to do. The shop said there was really nothing wrong with the engine, no bent crank, etc, but that they have seen this situation before.

Got back home and called Briggs again and told them what the shop said. Asked them if I'm supposed to buy a new blower housing every year or 2. The girl referred my case to someone further up the food chain and said they would call me. I told her that the next person up probably won't admit it, but I'm 100% positive he has heard of this problem before.

I don't expect much from them but figured I would try anyway.