Wf has been forced to take a back seat to the hondas for a few reasons. I think the importers assumed it would be an instant hit and didn't market it aggresively enough. The honda had been very well established with some very prominent players and they were quick to decry the new upstart, and it wasn't easy to put the new motor on to an existing two stroke chassis because of the inboard drive. The earlier B&S were not well made and many people could and did remove the limiter, which certainly saw a good few failures. One person (now a self professed expert on the subject) admitted to not actually putting any oil in his to cause his failure!! I personally think it is a shame that it has struggled, especially when the original idea of the agricultural hondas was a cheap level entry start into four stroke karting. Now the engines have all sorts of work done to keep you at the front of the grid which costs alot of money and takes away from the original idea. Briggs themselves have alot to answer for also not finishing their product sufficiently well enough before bringing it to the market. It is only a single cylinder four stroke engine for goodness sake!! This seems typical of some large manufacturers who like us to do their R&D for them. I have run two WFs for a while now, and have not had a problem with either of the engines. I have upgraded the flywheel and use a lighter honda cluch on mine, which really helps the acceleration and the other engine which my son uses is standard. (is lighter than his dad so i don't feel too guilty) I think it will be interesting to see if Saxon finally finish their version of the WF, as they will market it properly and will reintroduce the original concept of level entry karting, and with now alot of WF and other suitable chassies out there, it could finally take hold. Or there again there could be a recession or such like and we will all have to give it up!! Ian.
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