You could start by removing the head to confirm your suspicions. Usually this is a lack of lube type failure so look closely at the gasket/ gasket area in between the cylinder and the valley when the head is yanked. You don't know the rest until you pull it down. Wouldn't it be nice to buy it a little more time with only a new rod and gaskets and giving the crank a bath? I don't know how likley that is, but it sounds like the labor is the right price...

No problem with valves etc, you will need to disconnect the exhaust and handier by disconnecting the carb manifold.

I am sorry to hear about your friend, the sad truth is that most common cause of this is people either running low on oil OR leaking carb float needle leaking gas into intake and thru cylinder into oil, gas contaminated oil is not a good lube. An unfortunate number of people do not check their oil or if they do and it is high, they think all is well.

You need to disassemble the engine to asses damage. You got maybe 20% chance of being able to salvage, repair. Send pictures of crankshaft and cylinder wall, look for hole in block, often behind the starter.

Walt Conner

Here's the videos I put together guys:

http://www.youtube.com/user/BriggsRepair?feature=mhum

Here is a link that might be useful: Briggs Engine Repair 19.5 HP John Deere LA 115

Nice looking machine. Video really doesn't tell anything. Has a nice spark, the least likely problem he has. Unfortunately, as I indicated above, when these engines throw a rod, they pretty well wipe everything else out so we are back to you need to tear the engine down. I have one of those in parts, don't recall if the crank is good or not.

Walt Conner

Check out Vids 5-8 now, using the above link.

Thanks