kohler or kaw

[keith@a1 lawn]

which would you go with, i'm pretty much sold on exmark but can't decide which engine to get kohler or the kaw :confused:


thanks, keith

[LoneStarLawn]

I have said this before so I will say it again.

Let's see.

One is made from a company that has a long history in motorcycles, boats, jetski's (alot of small engines things)

The other is a maker of faucets.

You decide.;)

You might want to do a search on this since this has been discussed many times.

[Eric ELM]

From what I've read and seen, I would get a 26 efi if I got a Kohler or the 27 LC Kaw if I got a Kaw.

[leaflawnandlimb]

I have one Kohler 25 and one dihatsu 31 hp, but I hear the kawi liquid cooled 27 is real nice.

[Keith]

I will probably go with the 26 Kohler when I buy a new mower.

[John DiMartino]

Kawi,but if i had to have another Kohler(scarey thought),it would be the 26EFI.

[VINNY MINELLA]

I HAVE A 23 L. C. KAWI ON MY LAZER AND I LOVE IT. KAWI ALL THE WAY.

[Mark]

Last week when i demoed a Scag Walkbehind it had the 17hpKaw which is a good engine,that model of Scag usually comes with the 16hp Vanguard which is my favorite engine but the dealer told me hes going to run the Kawis on them and that the Vanguards by Dihatsu were alittle to pricey and he could get the Kaws cheaper. I really don't know which engine i would take on the Kohler or Kaw,so far ive had no problems with my Kohler and never had a Kaw,but still love the Vanguards. I really do think which ever engine you pick will do well if you do your preventive maintainece on it . Marks Mowing Service

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by LoneStarLawn
I have said this before so I will say it again.

Let's see.

One is made from a company that has a long history in motorcycles, boats, jetski's (alot of small engines things)

The other is a maker of faucets.

You decide.;)

You might want to do a search on this since this has been discussed many times.

That was rude!

BTW Yamaha doesn't make engines for lawn mowers so they are out

And I take a Kohler any day over a Kaw.

Here is a thread to look at.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?
s=&threadid=14537

LGF:blob1:

[dmk395]

I talked to my dealer, he says Kawasaki is the Cadillac of mower engines, thus this choice is easy.

[Eric ELM]

Originally posted by dmk395
I talked to my dealer, he says Kawasaki is the Cadillac of mower engines, thus this choice is easy.

Why isn't there one Kaw engine listed in the 2000 hour club thread that LGF gave the link to in his last post here? I have not heard of any Kaw's going very long. I know a guy that used to use Kaw engines and the most he got out of them was 1400 hours before they blew. A Kohler is just getting broke in good at 1400 hours. ;)

How many hours do you have on your Kaw's?

[LoneStarLawn]

How was my statement rude....I was just stating fact (I even have a winking smilie...WOW some people sure do miss read things). They do make faucets...don't they.
I never stated my opinion in my thread ...I just gave facts.

Here is a link
http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14287

[fdew]

>I have said this before so I will say it again.
>Let's see.
>One is made from a company that has a long history
> in motorcycles, boats, jetski's (alot of small engines things)
>The other is a maker of faucets.

and started making high quality engines before 1920. Many of there engine used in light plants (generators) from the 1920 30s and 40 are still powering lights in remote camps and cottages. They built engines for garden tractors for as long as there have been garden tractors. and they are made in USA.

From the Kaw web site "
Hard work and a dream. That's what established American Kawasaki Motorcycle Corp. way back in March of 1966

Kaw may be a great engine, I don't know, but history I don't think so.


1926 Kohler
1948 Kohler
1965 Kohler
1998 Kohler

Frank

[65hoss]

The kawi motors are ok. But when you have a problem don't expect much help from kawi. And don't be in any hurry to get the right part in. Just be ready to be down a couple of days. I will go back to kohlers next time. I own 3 kawis and only 1 has never had a problem. The others were not BIG problems but took forever to get them back in operation.

[Kent Lawns]

Avoid the Kawi 19-23hp Vertical shaft.

When they come out of the box, it has a tag on it which states "Maintenance free service life 1000 hours"

They're right. We had one fail at 1048 hours - no warranty of course.

The 23hp verticlal shaft (we have 4) seems to have recurring carb problems.

Of the 6 Kohler 23hp we have, they have been totally trouble free.

19hp+ Kawasaki = LC only.
23hp & 26efi Kohler = Great engines.

[Tony]

I,m a Kawasaki Fan. Smoother and definely quieter. On the Kohler side a good personal friend of mine works for Kohler and he tells me that (the 26 hp EFI has saved them) his words. I like the Kohler engines but I really wish they would work on the NOISE. I haven't really been a fan of the EFI from the begining because of the price ( $900+ ) of the computer on board, Didn't think I'd find on laying around at a dealers if I needed one. I'll try to give Kohler the credit they deserve of trying to take care of their engines and their customers. Kohler 26 EFI, maybe in the future.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Read 2000 hour club
http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14537&perpage=30&pagenumber=1

LGF:blob1:

[keith@a1 lawn]

thanks for the replies, i'm kinda still undecided, but i'm buying something in the next week or so.

thanks again, keith

[Jman]

I've got one more plug for a Kohler. A company in Iowa recently traded in a carpet cleaning unit with a CH25 Kohler. The engine had a documented 7000 hours. The only repair that was done was to replace both ignition modules and a rocker arm kit very early in its life. No overhaul, re ring or any other major work. I know carpet cleaning vans aren't in the dirt, but have you seen were they put the engine and imagine what type of heat factors they may run across. Not bad hours for the "dreaded" 25.:D

[dmk395]

I dont have nearly 2000 hours on my Kawis. Nonetheless when asking any question about any subject I always value the opinion of an expert. To me an expert in this field would be one whom has worked on small engines for the past 25 years.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

As being an expert

Most of us should be experts in small engine repair by now.

But one the other side with all the abuse and stuff IMHO the Kaw. has not been true tested on these new ZTR's and high power hydro walk behinds

Kaw. is still relatively new to the comm. mowing market with their new engines they introduced in the last 2 years. the v-twins

As far as fixing the small engines I have no problem doing that. If all else fails I go to the dealer for service

As far as longevity Kohler has proved theirselves well.

As far as choosing an engine for your mower that's up to the manufacturers to do. I have seen a lot of them not offering choices any more. So soon you will have to choose a mower that comes with the engine you want.

LGF:blob1:

[crazygator]

We use these engines daily, so who is the expert? Someone running an engine 200, 500 or 1000 hours a year? I think so! And yes we do all have various likes and dislikes for engines. Doesn't make 1 right and the other wrong, but the 2000 hours club does speak well for certain brands. With that in mind I'd like an engine which will last. Don't we all? So yes, we are experts because we work on the engines, maintain the engines, and use them in a way that let's us tell others which are good and which are bad.

[vipermanz]

Originally posted by LoneStarLawn
I have said this before so I will say it again.

Let's see.

One is made from a company that has a long history in motorcycles, boats, jetski's (alot of small engines things)

The other is a maker of faucets.

You decide.;)

You might want to do a search on this since this has been discussed many times.

Don't forget toilets!

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Thanks Gator you brought up one other point I forgot.

In my biz it takes less than 2 seasons to put 2000hrs on a machine.

With that said some one give me a Kaw on a mower and I will see if it can do it . Then I may endorse it.

LGF:blob1:

[grassman50]

i would for sure go with the kawasaki. I have a husqvarna with a 25 horse kawasaki and its really strong. I heard that a 23 horse kaw will out power a 25 horse kohler.

[TJLC]

I have both engines and have had problems with both. I think there is good and bad in both, IMHO.

[Andy Lewis]

Hi! My way of thinking I would get the Kolhler. Why? Hydro. Lifters never need adjusting, which means all you do is external stuff(plugs,oil,filters) Kawi needs adjusting every 300 hrs. Plus how many people really totally wear out an engine? NONE! Just something to think about. Andy.

[John DiMartino]

Andy,the lifters on a Kohler may never need adjusting,but they sure do tick like they do.At least with 1/2 hr of time,you could quiet a kawi's lifters,the kohler's only get quiet when they feel like it.Mine feel quiet about 75% of the time,and tick like mad the other 25% of the time.

[General Grounds]

:blob3: i have 12 mowers with kohlers, some with 3000 hrs onn them, most of the 12 gave me little to no problems, i'm also very good w/ mait., air filters weekly and oil every 50 hrs, i also throw a shot of marvels in the tank once a month. i have one kawi, 19 hp on my lazer, though it's a great engine i've had a breather problem, ever since the machine hit 30 hrs, my dealer has received kits from kawi and so on, but kawi seems to feel like they make a flawless product, i quess im trying to say is that im surprised at how poor their support is. T

[GLS]

Although I would choose a Kawasaki engine over a Kohler, I don't think kohler is all that bad. Just because they make faucets, doesn't mean they make bad engines.

[GLS]

Also, kohler makes some big generators. Kawasaki also does, but not the big ones like kohler.

[Kent Lawns]

Who cares what ELSE they make?
I only care about what MY money goes to.

i.e. GE makes the best Jet Engines, but their stereo equipment is sub par.

Kawasaki makes some GREAT engines. Their 15 & 17hp V-shaft twins are fantastic. Their 22, 23 & 27hp LC are super.

Their 19, 21 & 23hp V-shaft twins are problematic: They have carb problems, run rough, start hard, have valve failure problems and do NOT have the life expentency of the same model Kohler.

[Dave]

I have a 23 hp kawi vertical cooled 810 hours no problems''

[Eric ELM]

As I mentioned on another post, my oldest DC has a Kohler and I will be doing the 74th oil change on it Monday. It has 3700 hours on it now.

I've replaced the intake manifold gasket and 2 coils. It still doen't need oil added between oil changes and still runs strong. It's the best gas mower engine I've ever owned. ;)

[plow kid]

If it was my money I would buy the kaw, but the kohler is alright so it is up to you

I have 1345 hours on my 20 hp LC kaw on my deere and still goin stronghttp://members.aol.com/ncls484/smilies/gunner.gif