How would you rate these engines, from best to worst

[Huck]

:D Just curious as to how you would rate these engines in order of best to not so good,taking into consideration performance,maintenance,durability,etc.(Kaw,Kohler,Honda,B&S,),any others?.Just curious.:)

[slabpile]

Honda(by far)
koler
kaw
b&s

im guessing the only difference you will see is between the kaw and koler.

[Richard Martin]

In my opinion the Kaw, Koh and Honda are comparable except that the Honda has parts availability issues. B&S engines show up for a gunfight with a knife.

[awm]

ive had all but honda . kohler is my choice but not by much.
good service out of every one you mentioned.you didnt mention
the only one i dont use so i wont either.

[MowForReal]

I have equipment with all brand engines...
Kohler 15HP, Kawasaki 12.5hp, 14hp, 23hp, honda 5hp, briggs 9hp, 16hp. Personally, the 16hp briggs vanguard is my favorite. It is extremely smooth. It's a pull-start and it's easier to pull than every engine I have ever pulled. The sound of it too is very smooth and steady. I think the vanguard is a great engine. Has anyone consistantly had problems with theirs? I know that many people come across the lower standard briggs engines and have problems with those. I won't put the brands in order from best to worst because I don't believe I have had enough experience with them. I haven't had more than problem and that was with a 23hp kawi and my dealer said that mine was the unlucky one out of the bunch.

[John DiMartino]

If you are talking commercial OHV engines only,I like Honda,B&S Vanguard,kawi,kohler.I have a lot of honda and kawi's,but never have needed any parts ,other than maintance,so Im not sure how hard parts are to get yet.

[kris]

Honda #1

[Cleve]

Honda seems to be the best but I have a 6 H.P. Wisconsin/Robin that was purchased about 10 years ago for a log splitter. It started on the first pull right out of the box and has done so on each start since then. Can't believe how smooth and quiet it is at about any speed.

[Eric ELM]

I personally like Yanmar diesels. I have had 3 of them and still have 2 of them. Kohler has been a great engine for me too. I've had several of them and next to no problems. I have over 3,400 hours on one and I've never gotten that many hours out of any other air cooled engine.

I've considered getting a Honda on my next Chopper, but Honda said they don't have enough oil pressure to add the Amsoil filter and also Honda won't let DC use the Donaldson air filter. To me, those are two things that will add longevity to a unit, so I might go with a Kohler again.

[Guido]

In my opinion.....


Honda
Kawi
Kohler
briggs

[Eric ELM]

This is interesting that a lot are saying HONDA. Why is this? Are you getting a lot of hours out of them? If so, how many?

The reason I am asking is, I need to make an engine choice and I thought Honda would be my choice too, but if they have low oil pressure, how do they hold up? Can anyone tell me?

[plow kid]

honda
briggs
kawasaki
kohler

[Guido]

My first experience with Honda small engines was years ago when a neighbor bought a new Honda lawnmower. Quiet, strong, tough and low maintenance.

Since then, I've worked with much small equipment powered by honda:

Concrete Screeds, Vibratory plate tampers, Pavement crack routers, etc and they out perform any other ones we have. I'll be the first to admit that the correct schedueled maintenance hardly ever takes lace on our equipment and we put it beyond industrial use and back. It takes a good beating. The honda engines are probobly the only ones that never need tinkering with to start after a long period of sitting, even out in the rain or out all winter. And thats treating them like crap! I'm sure if you took good care of it, like I know you will, it will last you your lifetime!

Good Luck!

[LAWNGODFATHER]

In my opinion

Honda for everything but mowers

Kohler for for everything i'm getting 3,500 to 4,000 hrs out of them

Kawasaki ok

B&S leave it at the store. Don't buy it if you want too use it for a long time

[Kent Lawns]

IT DEPENDS ON THE MODEL!

Sure, you could summerize: 1.) Honda 2.) Kawasaki 3.)Kohler and 4.) B&S.

But what about B&S Vanguard and the other B&S Japanese engines- they're as good as any.

Certainly the 7.5hp Kawasaki was a lemon.

And the 18 & 20hp Hondas are inferior to their own single cylinder 4.0 - 13.0 hp GX series.

The 1995-1998 25hp Kohler had it's problems, but the 1999-2001 23hp is flawless.

You can GENERALIZE about brand names, but you'd better know the specifics if you're going to earn your living with them.

[LoneStarLawn]

1. <b>Kaw</b>
2. <b>Honda</b>
3. (tie)<b>Kohler</b>(there engines not faucets..LOL) & <b>B&S</b>

[65hoss]

Honda
Kohler
Kawi
B&S


Given the choice I would pay a little extra to get the honda motor. I did on my aerator.

[John DiMartino]

Eric,I built my own home,and tinker in light construction,and excavating.All the rental equipment have honda's.Everything I rented or used had honda GX on it-everything.They are abused and still run great.I have a GX 5.5,6.5,8,9,11, and 13HP.Myself and a few friends also bought 7 commercial go-carts with 5.5's on them.I have never,ever had one single problem with one of the honda's.Those go-carts are 9 yrs old,nad they were run every day,all day,they still run strong.We unhooked the governors,and run them to 5000 RPm's no problems.They are easy starters too,always fire right up anmd run quitely.I just love them since I never have to wrench them,they keep the oil clean,dont burn any,and my help can start them every time.

[sdwally]

Kohler (cast iron series)
Kawaski
Honda (parts to expensive)
B&S

[grassyfras]

Whats so good about the Kohler? My dealer told me that the kaw is better. What makes an engine good?

[eskals]

Never met a Honda I didn't like.

Haven't used many Kohlers or Kawasaki's so I can't comment on them.

The B&S the we are required to run on the SAE mini Baja car was a true POS. It had about 40 somewhat hard hours on it, and we changed the oil frequently with Mobil One. When we took it apart, you could use your hand and rock the piston back and forth in the cylinder, as well as the crank.

This is the engine we use: http://www.briggsracing.com/racing_engines/sae_intek.html

Eric

[Mark]

I would have to say that the Briggs Vanguard is the best, then Robin,Kaw,then Kohler. I have a Vanguard with over 4400hrs and never had one problem yet. Also have the Robins and there about the same as the Vanguard. Ive got the 25hp Kohler but have only put 400hrs so far, so don't know how good this engine is. Marks Mowing Service

[awm]

somebody ask what makes an engine good. one that does what its suppose to do ,when its suppose to do it ,day in an day out.also outlast the machine its running.a tall order
thats what i call a good engine. course you got to do your part as to maintenance.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

an engine is only as good as you mantain it and most air cleaners suck

i have kohler on my mowers with cyclonic air filers and have been using them for years and try to keep every thing looking good as well as running good

most of my other equipment has honda,kohler, or diesel

so keep it clean change the oil,spark plug(s) and it should do good for you

[Fine Lines Lawn]

I have had good luck with all of these engines. The newest is a Honda with just under 200 hours on it and I like it a lot. I've had a long history with Kohlers and they have served me well. If I had to rate one badly, it would be Briggs & Stratton, primarily because of their warranty. Their warranty has so many exclusions, that you might as well not have one.
If you run any B&S engines, be sure and keep the cylinder cooling fins blown out well. They are a little closer together and collect a lot of debris.