Kohler vs well, everybody else

[mgwin]

Stanley/Black & Decker makes/sells all the lawnmowers now, except for a very few.
Yes, back in the day Kohler was hard to beat! Don't know about the new ones though.
How many years before the Kawasaki blows up? I have had mine for 17 years with no issues. Just mowed yesterday, so it is a little dirty. The label is still even there! If it does blow off, I have my owner's manual with all kinds of info.

 

[PACub100]

I was just talking to an older guy Thursday about different engines and he said "Tecumseh p*ssed me off when it came time for replacement parts, Onan sucked and the worst was Wisconsin"....

 

[gary noblit]

JP, that's awesome ...sounds just right...Time to dismantle ,sand blast and make 'er look new..How about Ford safety blue? That's what I did with all older Kohler pull starts.Most Briggs are red and black,most Lawsons I did green,and Clintons dark green and black ..Maytags are solid oliver green and Briggs wmb's are solid black..So a few of my shelves look like a christmas tree I guess...Of course you have to mount it on an oak skid to be proper....

 

[JPrattico]

my plan for this one currently is to leave it alone. there's still a bunch of original paint on the block, its some sort of a dark blue-green. There's something I like about any machine left in its "work clothes".

On the other hand, I have a Clinton 350 that was painted yellow some time in its past, and I'm considering painting it back to its original green color which is still found on the underside of the cooling tins...

 

[jstewart]

I've always thought B&S was over rated, they......................sadly, in a repower situation, they are the likely candidate, for those Onans out there that are prohibitively expensive to repair. It is a sad day to replace an Onan with a B&S.

 

[dkirk]

The K-series Kohler engines are a testament to a well-designed and engineered product, constructed with high-quality standards. During this time, the Kohler engine division was an engineering-run organization and this is reflected in the product. Nowadays, sales, marketing and legal departments dictate to engineering on an end-price target, thus affecting the quality of the product. Engineering is relegated to the bottom of the food chain. Back in the day, it was Wisconsin and Kohler that produced the highest quality and most durable engines.

 

[dijohnson]

Run the 16 HP at 3600 and you don't need a vibrating chair. V twin Kawi nice and smooth.

 

[1811Cub]

Isn't that the case with a majority of single cylinder engines? Twins will typically be smoother regardless of the manufacturer.

 

[mgwin]

David,
I work for a company and they are about the same way. Back in the day quality was top priority. Now, cutting costs so management can get a good bonus is top priority.

 

[jkoenig]

I also work for a company founded on being engineer-led. Same scenario in charge as mentioned above there now as well.

 

[mgwin]

It's amazing what a little greed will do. Sad too.
Just let me make it 9 more years. Then they can have it!

 

[jstewart]

I read somewhere that the Kohler 16 was pushing the envelope too far, vibration was the result

 

[Curt Doles]

I've had Kohlers in a 149, 1860, 1862, 1872X2 and an 2284. So thats a K series, Magnum series, and the Command series. They have all been quite reliable. I purchased a Tank about two years ago and have had several issues but none of them were related to the engine. (Kawasaki)

 

[JPrattico]

I read somewhere that the Kohler 16 was pushing the envelope too far, vibration was the result

if the 16 is shaky, I wonder about the 18?

 

[dkirk]

The 18 hp K-361 was an overhead valve conversion of the 16 hp K-341...same crankshaft counterweights, rod and piston mass thus vibration levels were the same. The K-301 and K-321 (12 & 14 hp) versions are excellent engines. The K-341 was marginal - they are torque monsters but are stretched too far for the cooling system capability and the vibration they produce.

 

[Greg Riutzel]

Good to know and confirming my experiences with the K-341. I've come to find it's way more engine than my 1650 ever needs. Tilling won't labor it, towing equipment or even 1,500 lbs of cement block they don't even bog. the tractor will spin and no hint of stall, and tall grass will exceed the mower before the engine is heard working harder. All that shak'in for nothing extra as far as I can see. Remembering some of the advertising of the 70s with Monkey Ward, to Sears, AC, Ford, Wheel Horse, etc. all were bigger, better, more horsepower. "More horsepower to get the job done" as it was said. Are all the horses needed or has the muscle car era bled into lawn equipment?

I am considering dropping in a 12Hp or even maybe 14 Hp in my 1650 if a decent one turns up.

 

[gary noblit]

I was quite pleased to acquire a 1650 last fall....I'm thinking dual purpose here if I mount a small barrel I believe I could churn butter with all that shaking .So very surprised !!! I do appreciate the rest of the machine..

 

[dijohnson]

I would like to put a v twin in mine just can't see why a horizontal is more money then a vertical.

 

[jstewart]

It seemed like a 10hp Kohler was worth as much as a 12 hp or more, brand X...............they weighed more too, as I recall

 

[jstewart]

I have had no experience with Wisconsin, they were powerful too, but were bad for vibration too?