Sixteen months ago I purchased a Poulan Pro 42" riding mower with a 18.5 Briggs and Stratton engine. The connecting rod snapped at 170 hours. Service center claims no warranty due to "improper maintenance". Technician claims intake tube from air filter to carb dirty causing oil contamination. I have faithfully changed all filters every 50hours and use only B&S parts except the oil (I use a 30W synthetic). If the plastic intake tube to the carb is dirty it's because the B&S air filter allowed it to get there. I believe metal fatigue is the only logical reason for this component to fail at 170 hours.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

Did you check the intake tube yourself (well its what I always do to any engine, rub my hand around it in there and check for dirt) ? Surely it could have (have heard it happen) where it was a bad sealing intake tube from factory...
I'm not thinking its due to metal fatigue (as briggs conrods are well made, vs the many imperfections you may find in a tecumseh) but there are a few duds in a million...

Was this with the intek engine? Single cyl? I'd keep on them about it (if you have any receipts from your replacing the filters and such, use em)

Thebriggsdude Is Right, Keep On Them. But, If It Has Already Been To An Authorized Briggs Dealer, And They Have Inspected It And Said It Is Neglect, Well You Are Pretty Much Out Of Luck. I Do Not Know Where You Are Located, But Go To An Authorized Briggs And Stratton Dealer, And Tell Them You Want The B&s Rep. To Look At Your Engine And Make A Determination Of If It Is Warranty Or Not. If You Went To An Auth. B&s Dealer, Then Tell Them You Want The Rep To Look At It And Call You Himself, Or Herself. Most Of The B&s Reps Have Worked In Small Engine Shops For Quite Some Time And Know There Stuff.

MOWERMAN2468,

Wow, I forgot about my original post (Sep 06) but have a happy ending to report. My warranty was originally rejected by a large National Chain store I purchased the mower from. In frustration I took it to a local mom and pop repair shop in San Antonio, "Mickey's Small Engine Repair". Unknown to me Mickey's is a B&S repair shop. He said B&S redisigned the intake filtration system and I had one of the old style boxes (I have the intek engine, single cyl). He personally petitioned the B&S rep and they honored the engine warranty. I received a brand-new, outta-the-box replacement engine and Mickey's has earned me as a lifetime customer!

Well Perhaps I Found Your Sep 06 Posting By Mistake. I Am New To This And Am Glad To Hear You Had A Good Report. Good Luck In The Future.
Mowerman2468