Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): changing engines, craftsman gt5000, briggs and stratton

Question
I just bought a craftsman GT5000 tractor It don't have a engine, it says 25hp 48in cut on the tractor.I have a good 20hp briggs and stratton engine. can i used my 20hp engine if so how. please help! Thanks

Answer
Rusty:

First we need to find out what kind of engine was originally in the tractor.  Once you get that info you need to compare crankshaft and electrical diagrams.   You should not have any problem putting this 20 hp engine into a tractor, providing you understand its not plug and play.  You will most likely have issues with carb linkage, choke linkage, Muffler configuration, electrical charging system, etc,  It can be done, but you have to do your home work first.

Happy wrenching