SSSSHHH Its a secret!!!!

[AllSeasonsAllReasons]

Well i just heard from a very good source that Toro is going to drop the kohler and go with the kawasaki motors!! I really don't know if its that big of a secret but he did say that they are going to for sure!!! Ps The sources son is a engineer for toro!!!!

[SMB]

Drop Kohler? That'd be like Eric getting a Lazer!

[bob]

I'm glad that you didn't keep that a secret. Sounds like a good move on Toro's part.

[kutnkru]

Thanks for the inside scoop ASAR :)
Kris

[joshua]

still doesn't matter i wouldn't buy a toro, jusr because they have a better engine doesn't mean the cut will be better, or stuff like that. correct me if i'm wrong

[captdevo]

i could think of a few other things to change. I didn't think they had an engine problem.

[Evan528]

Bout time! Ever other mower manufactures has difrent brands of engines available! Toro only uses kohlor! after all the problems with the kohlor 25's i dont think to highly of kohlor! I happen to buy a toro z master with a kohlor 25 2 weeks before I found lawnsite unfortunatly. Lawnsite has educated me not to buy kohlor! I know my next mower will not be another toro unless they offer kawasaki!

[Freetime]

Heard for my local dealer on this.
Kohler can not get rid of the tic in the engines. We run 2 z-master 44" one has kohler 20 command (1999) and new(2000) has 17 kawi.
By advise from my dealer we were told that kohler could not get the problem stright and to buy the kawi and it has been a good choice.

Our kohler still runs fine however, until all the bugs get worked out I would buy kawi for a Zero or larger mower.

[CCLC]

I have quite a few Kohlers on WB's and ZTR's and I have only had one problem with any of them. It was the head gasket issue. I like them and don't see everyones problem I guess.

[65hoss]

All the toro Z's around here have kawis on them. I've never seen a toro z with a kohler.

[Runner]

The problems with the head gasket issues are GONE. They worked all that out with all the new motors, and this year you should hear or see very little of ANY sort of trouble from Kohler (besides the older series). Kawasaki, on the other hand is a different story. When something DOES go wrong, you are going to have a TERRIBLE time trying to get support. I just spoke to my dealer, who sells plenty of Kawi motors, this evening about that and he says Kawi is terrible for support. I'm sorry, but I think this was a step in the wrong direction for Toro. You never need it until you need it.

[AllSeasonsAllReasons]

I guess the only response i have to say is I have heard alot of bad things about kohler motors!!! More than i have heard about kawasaki! I think alot of problems with motors or whatever problem your mower comes down with comes down to your dealer working them out!! I know if my mower is under warranty my dealer will take it and fix it with no problems regardless of what the manufacture says about it just becouse he knows i am a good customer!! I also know that kawasaki motors that are #$%%$ horsepower are smaller and quiter than the same size kohler motor!! Maybe i am just a Kawasaki fan! All to there own i guess

[LScom Addict]

I run the commercial Honda motor on my walk behind's and absolutely love them. I have heard that here locally for those who have the kawasaki motor's, that they will spend up to $500 more per machine for this "upgrade" and it too will be harder and more expensive to get them fixed. I have to say that I am just fortunate enough to have the oil alert on my machine's so hopefully this dilemma should never be a problem.

[HOMER]

Wait until there are 25 kazillion Kawasaki.s in service, then you might change your opinion. Time will tell, and like others have said, when you need it fixed are they gonna be there for you???????????????

My Kohlers run every day, dont see any reason to change.

[Mowman]

I own a Walker w/ a 20 HP Kolher Command, 600+ hours and so far so good, knock on WOOD. Walker does not offer a Kawasaki engine except for their homeowner model that has a 11 HP Kawasaki. They only offer Kolher's on their mowers.
It's like others said, parts are much more expensive to replace on the Kawasaki engines. I would like the choice of another engine, be it a Robin or Kawasaki. I guess engines are like cars, doesn't matter if it's a ford,chevy or dodge there is bad apples for every MFG.
Mowman

[JJ Lawn]

I have Kawasaki engines on my JD 21" mowers. They are 5 years old and they will usually start on the 2 pull. The only problem that I have had with them is with the carburetors. The nylon bushings on the choke shaft wear fast and I have to replace them more often than I want too. I also have a JD with a 17hp water cooled engine. Again 5 years old and have not had any problems with it.

I have 2 Walkers, one with a 25hp Kohler and the other with the new 26hp Kohler. I had the head gasket problem with the 25hp. When the head gasket blew at 200 hrs and caused scoring of the cylinder walls, Kohler gave me a brand new engine. Haven't had a problem since. ( Been two years) I can't complain about that kind of service. The 26hp only has 17 hrs on it so can't really give a opinion on it yet.

There are two major reason why I have had good luck with these engines, IMO.

1. I change the oil and all filters every month, whether they need it or not. I keep the dirt blown off the engine every day, and especially off the cooling fins.(That's what the little covers on the blower housing on the Kohler's are for.) I just plain take good care of them.

2. I have a dealer that will replace a part or engine that is under warranty without batting an eye, or arguing about it. They don't cut corners and give a quick fix. They just do it and they do it right. That's what the warranty is for. They also have or can get by the next day, parts for both Kawasaki and Kohler engines if needed. I have a GOOD dealer.

Guess another big thing is, you either like apples or oranges. Everyone has their favorite. I happen to like both. :)

Jim... sitting here wishing it would quit raining so I can get to work.

[Kevin]

Got my exmark 2001 book yesterday in the mail and noticed on more models the kohler engine is NOT an option. I use kohler engines and like them, I do like the looks of the 31 Daihatsu though!!

[Mid Rivers]

Kevin,
I've heard the Daihatsu isn't that good of a machine. A dealer told me this. Something about high reving and low torque. Just what I've heard

[Eric ELM]

I sure have had good luck with Kohler. I feel that over 3,200 hours on one and it still runs great, it can't be to bad of an engine.

I do have one Kaw engine on my 21" JD mower. It has electric start, or it did have, until the starter went out the second time. The first time was under warranty, the second time it wasn't. I went to the dealer to get one and they said, $189.00 plus tax. I told them to keep it, I'll pull the rope.

DC has several options now, but they only put the Kaw on the homeowner models. The number one engine sold on a DC is the 25 HP Kohler. They also now have Honda 24 HP this year and they have had the Yanmar diesel for a few years now. At least you can have a choice. One of those brands of motors has to be the right choice for some at least.

[65hoss]

I may switch to kohlers from now on. I have had to many little bs problems with new kawis and the support was TERRIBLE!!!!!! Not just from the dealer but also kawi!

[RNH]

I'll stick with my kohler engines on my big stuff for now, hell I've had good luck with the NEW and I mean NEW 12 hp. Comm. briggs motors, they work great on my 32" mowers. Plus if the worse did happen I can go to any Tractor Supply store and buy one off the shelf that day.

[KirbysLawn]

I read somewhere, can't remember where, they were coming out with a walk behind with pistol grips instead of the T-Bar, what are they thinking? Take one step forward, 2 steps back...

[ron]

WOW Thanks for the info,,,

[BobR]

they are making both systems, probably looking at luring some of the X folks over to T.

Bob

[Hunter Landscape]

well i can't say which engine is better, but i can say that i am glad to see some positives regarding kohler! my ztr has a kohler eng. and until i saw this site i thought it was unstoppable. so far it has been a great motor and i am glad to hear of other people that have had long term success with theirs as well. (eric :))

hopefully we can keep em cuttin.

[lawrence stone]

Pistol grips on Toros are not new. All Toro walkbehinds up to the 1984 model had pistol grips.

[Runner]

Who was it here, was it you, Hoss, that had such a bad time with the support from Kawi? Someone had a thread just a couple of weeks ago. It was the carburetor problem. I told my dealer about this, and he acknowledged this and said that this is what they are finding out about Kawi. In his words, he said when it comes to support, "they were terrible." I hope this isn't the shape of things to come, because this could be VERY liable to affect the sales of Exmark and any other machines that use these motors in the future as more of these engines get out there and more people have this same kind of service experience. Are you LISTENING, Exmark?

[65hoss]

Yep, it was me that had all the problems. Gas in the crankcase and no help from kawi. I also had a muffler problem with my 23 kawi, and 3 weeks of trying to get one in from kawi it would not fit. It was made to small.