re-power wb

17 twin Kawi for that sized deck I think would be perfect.

You don't want to go over board but you can never have too much power. No I am not trying to be Tim Allen but you really don't want to save a few hundred and then get into thick wet grass and hear the engine bog down. What was on the machine originally and how did it do?

Gravely_Man

Especially for a belt drive, where you are not losing power to run the hydro pumps, a 14hp single is fine. Our Exmark Metro is 14hp, and we never have a power issue. A lot of this is personal preference though. I prefer Kawasaki.

Originally posted by Jammer
Choices: 14 single $700,15 $800 or 17 $900 twin Kawies or Kohler 15 $600 Delivered.Vangaurd 16?? On belt drive fixed deck 48 :dizzy:

Click to expand...

Are these direct cross overs or are you going to have to rewire also?

Wiring no problem. 15 kawie twin maybee?:blush:

I have a 14 Kawi on my belt drive Scag 48 WB. Plenty of power even pulling a sulky. It's a back-up mower for the most part but I use it a lot on lawns with steep hills.

How about a 18hp kohler recoil start for $700.00 drop me a email for details.

If the mower came with a single cylinder, there is a good chance that a twin will not mount on that frame (frame too narrow).
I've had a 14hp single Kawi and 17hp V twin Kawi, both on hydro 52" walk behinds with a Proslide sulky. 14 did OK at 5.5mph in normal, dry growth but had to slow down in thick/tall and/or wet growth. The 17 twin blows it away though, and at 6.2mph at that. I will say that the 17 is 7 years newer and on a different deck design. You would do fine with 14hp single Kawi if walking but if riding a sulky I'd say get the twin 17hp Kawi and be done with it. Both excellent engines. In my experience, the Kohler's are more cold natured and take longer to warm up whereas the Kawi's fire up in any weather and require little to no warmup time. The Briggs Vanguard is a good engine too, I just got a mower with one and it surprised me at it's performance (14hp V twin on 38" mulching deck).

If you can fit the twin, do it.

You will have less "power-pulse" ie less parasitic vibration throughout the machine with a twin.

Not to mention less operator fatigue.

Ken

Originally posted by Albemarle Lawn
If you can fit the twin, do it.

You will have less "power-pulse" ie less parasitic vibration throughout the machine with a twin.

Click to expand...

Agreed.

Originally posted by Albemarle Lawn
Not to mention less operator fatigue.

Click to expand...

How do you figure that? Just curious cause I never noticed a fatigue difference really.

Check price of 19kaw,and will it fit.19 HAS MUCH MORE TORQUE THAN 17.I tell ya a 17 is sick in high grass,and it Kills it pullin my 220 around some of these hills.--a 23 would be about right.

What would I have to gain by lying????:angel: