Kohler of Kawasaki

[blairbuc]

Well around the 25 horse catagory I would be interested in user comments between these two engines. Torgue, longevity, getting parts,tech assistance, cost of parts or anything else that made you take one over the other.

[Tvov]

Although I don't have those particular 25hp engines, I do have Kohler and Kawasaki engines. I've found Kohler engines to be hard to start, run rough, vibrate, and are loud. My Kawasaki engines start easier, run smoothly, and are quieter. My Kawasaki engines are also much easier to do maintenance on.

Hope this helps.

[LeoS818]

Tvov We have big kolhers and kaws. I would say the way you described the small ones can be said for the larger ones also.

[ohiolawnguy]

this is just from my personal experience.
never had a problem with a single kawasaki engine. anywhere from 10hp up to 23HP. once we did have a 12.5 kawasaki motor die, but it was over 12 years old at the time.

Kohler, we have had two kohler engines(22Hp, and 25HP), and although they run decent, im just not too crazy about them. the 22HP ran well until the 2000 hour mark, then it dropped a cylinder. we sold this mower shortly after that. the 25HP currently has 600 hours, and we just had to replace the starter.$250.00-OUCH(operator fault, not manufacturer-delbert left the key with the starter going while the engine was running) it doesn't seem to like to start in cold weather, but other than that, it runs decent.

Overall i prefer the kawasaki, but that is just my opinion. Kohler seems to have what i refer to as a chevy 350 tick. it always sounds like the motor is ticking, but that is just how they sound. just like a chevy motor back in the day :)

[Dennis E.]

I've used both of the "larger" motors and have had far less problems with the Kaw.
The 23K on my Viper is a great engine. Plenty of power and very few problems.
They are both good engines though. Tough choice.:o

[blairbuc]

Ohiolawnguy, now that you mention the 350 chevy tick, what the heck is that. My Chevy has that also and it got to the point were I would listen to others wondering if it was just my 350. My guess is either piston slap or the lifters. If you know the answer, please let me know.

As far a the Kohler vs Kaw. you have not made my day, since my Hustler has a Kohler 25. Well, better next time.

[Mowingman]

I run Kohler 20, 22, 23, and 25hp engines. I have found that if you can live with, and get through the problems they always seem to have in the first 100hrs, they are great engines. I guess they don't have any quality control at the factory. After I get the initial bugs worked out they are dependable and inexpensive to repair. I have found Kawasaki engines to be very troublesome about carb. problems. I have used double fuel filters on some and still have frequent carb. problems. Also, when repairs to the Kawasaki are needed, parts and labor always seem to cost a lot more than on Kohler repairs.:)

[blairbuc]

mowingman: thanks for the come back on the Kohler,which is what I put on the Hustler for the same reasons you put down. One thing you might check on the Kawasaki "carburater problem" is what I posted before. Kaw. wants the heads pulled and ports cleaned every 350 hours. I don't have a clue why and I think it is extreme, but they fear carbon build-up which may be your problem, I thought with the new formulation of gasolines and additives on the market, those days were over. My Hustler dealer said I'll order any way you want, Kohler or Kaw, but they sited the 350 hour head pull and the parts and costs issue and said most guys want Kaw. but they felt over the long haul of parts availability and cost I would like the Kohler more. They also ran the two in their tall fields of Bridgewater CT and felt the Kohler had a slight edge on torque. Even on cold nights when they start everything and put it in away, the mechanic said the Kohlers start better, but again, he said 16 out of 20 guys will go Kawasaki and ignor what they say.

[ohiolawnguy]

blairbuc, all my hardcore chevy friends tell me that it is just the lifters making
that ticking sound. they claim there isn't much you can do about it short of a major overhaul on the engine, and replacing a bunch of internal parts.(i'm not a mechanic, so i gotta trust what they say) my first car was a nova with a 350, and it ticked like crazy.

the ticking sound is supposedly completely normal as long as you aren't using an excessive amount of oil, and the engine is running smooth.

[scottb]

Ive would like to know where you guy's found Kawasaki motor that were easy to start. I have never found one to start better than a Kohler. I always figured thay couldnt build a decent motorcycle for off road use they couldnt build adecent lawnmower engine.

[Plowguy99]

Have a smaller Kaw which is very hard to start when the temperature goes below 50, but with regular maintenance, I haven't had any problems. I have 25 Kohler in my Lazer and love it. I was considering an Exmark walkbehind before I purchased the Lazer. I talked with the mechanic that works on the lawn equipment. I worked with him in the shop before I went out on my own doing lawn care so he wasn't b-sing me. As far as the 23 Kohler vs. the 23 Kaw he said the Kohler is the way to go. The Kaw fouls spark plugs every month or so and he has seen twice as many Kaw's in the shop with various problems. Also I think he said they were having lifter problems after 1000 or so hours, but that was just on a few machines. The downfall of the Kohler is the coils, but supposedly that has been fixed. Another nice thing is the new Kohlers come with the heavy duty air filtration system.
Thats what I know. Hope it helps.