I would like to hear opinions on which engine is better on commercial mowers. I I've always had kohlers and they have been great.
Kohler or kawasaki?
F Haney
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If you got hills and thick grass Kawi is better stay away from the FX730 though
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I so want Vanguards on JD's man killing me. You have to spend some serious extra cash for the Kohler EFI to amount to power a Kawi can put out on these hills and thick southern grass I have tried them HP vs HP not in same league.
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17,351 Posts
yeah a 29hp kohler if probably equal to a 27hp kawi.
Is that how most are? Is there really so much difference in HP from Kawasaki to kohler? I ask because I just chose a Kawasaki instead of a kohler on my ztr.
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Yeah you need to get a Kohler with about 3+ more HP rating to equal a Kawi's power, they are the best for thick stuff and hills when you need power over fuel economy any day. I'm just not please with these new 730's seem to be the dung of the line from Kawi
My favorite engine is one that works. But I have had good luck with Kawasaki in the past, no major engine failures.
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I have always used Kawi never had any major failures. Just seems the 730 is a issue motor, I'm in mid 400hr range on late 2015 it won't hold RPM's since day 1 been set 6-7x I lost count keeps dropping highs and lows, just had the carb fail out of nowhere a few weeks ago and you have to choke this stupid thing every time to crank when first starting during day, after it runs a hour or so it usually cranks without choke.
I get a new unit every 3yrs everyone says it is dumb but being solo I rely on the umbrella and no down time plus I will have around 1200 or more hrs by then, so I hope something changes in next year or 2 I really don't want a 60", 54 is pretty much my limit here due to the crazy mountain terrain. If I have to I'll eat my words and run a Kohler if they have not worked out this engines problems and lose power in doing so but is what it is I'll keep having it set and fixed if it keeps up I definitely don't feel reliability with it.
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4,714 Posts
Now that you have opened this
![Image]()
We run a little fleet of Exmark Lazers. Our older Lazers from 02 and 03 have Kohlers, our newer Lazers have Kawi FX 801s
We got 3 back in 09 and another in 2012.
first 09 broke a connecting rod in the first 3 months, dealer cover it
second 09 broke a connecting rod after 2000 hours, we replaced it with a new engine.
The other 2.... so far so good.
All of the FX 801s have had the governor seals replaced, once, so far.
2 have had new coils put in.
3 of them have had the choke rod fall off, which means you have to replace the choke shaft on the carb, unlike the Kohlers that use a nylon keeper to keep the choke rod in place, Kawasaki use a metal keeper that is fitted to the choke shaft. The keeper can not be replaced with out replacing the choke shaft
And, the Kohlers have hydraulic lifters, Kawi does not, so at some point you will have to adjust the valves......
The Kohlers, a couple of crank seals. A governor, from low oil..........
I like the Kawi, they keep me in a job
We run a little fleet of Exmark Lazers. Our older Lazers from 02 and 03 have Kohlers, our newer Lazers have Kawi FX 801s
We got 3 back in 09 and another in 2012.
first 09 broke a connecting rod in the first 3 months, dealer cover it
second 09 broke a connecting rod after 2000 hours, we replaced it with a new engine.
The other 2.... so far so good.
All of the FX 801s have had the governor seals replaced, once, so far.
2 have had new coils put in.
3 of them have had the choke rod fall off, which means you have to replace the choke shaft on the carb, unlike the Kohlers that use a nylon keeper to keep the choke rod in place, Kawasaki use a metal keeper that is fitted to the choke shaft. The keeper can not be replaced with out replacing the choke shaft
And, the Kohlers have hydraulic lifters, Kawi does not, so at some point you will have to adjust the valves......
The Kohlers, a couple of crank seals. A governor, from low oil..........
I like the Kawi, they keep me in a job
50.00 and .5hr later good as new. I had one making noise at 1000hrs I replaced all 4 for less than 50.00 while the mower was still on the trailer. I'm at 2300hrs now with no chatter. This was on a motor from 2008
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5,933 Posts
Not been fixed to my knowledge clicky clacky lol
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2,186 Posts
few points here, the 1. fx730v kawasaki is a great engine. 2. kawasaki engines of same hp rating as kohler the kawasaki is stronger. 3. gas use with a kawasaki will be worse. say a kawasaki burns 1 gallon the kohler in same time frame will use about 4/5th of a gallon. both are great engines
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