Kohler vs Kawasaki

[Barnyard]

I am looking at Cadet and Kubota Z Turns. What is the better of the two motors between the Kohler and the Kawasaki, or are they about the same quality?

[Jim Becker]

I just got a Cub Cadet ZT1 42. It has a Kohler. I didn't do much research, finally decided the engine brands didn't matter much. You get quite a bit more with a ZT1 54 for not a whole lot more money. By the way, availability on all this sort of stuff is pretty spotty.

[Barnyard]

Thanks Jim. I am leaning more toward the Kubota 60" with the 25 hp Kohler.

[T-Mo]

Be careful on the Kohler engines, they do make a non-commercial line. I haven't been up to date on them, but the Courage line had a lot of plastic parts in them. That was their non-commercial line.

If I had to chose between a Kohler commercial engine and a Kawasaki, I chose the Kawasaki. All 3 of my Deeres have them, the oldest being a 2002 717 commercial zero turn. If it's a Kohler commercial engine, though, it will give you good service.

[Stanton]

Don't have personal experience with Kohler's Commercial line, but have heard the same things as T-Mo. I bought a Cub Cadet XT2 riding mower in 2015 and had a choice between the Kohler and Kawasaki. Having heard about common breakdowns with the non-commercial Kohlers, I chose the Kaw. Been a decent engine.

[ricky racer]

I don't know anything about the newer Kohler engines but the older Kohler engines were very good engines. I've got my dad's John Deere 210 which he bought new in 1981, I believe and the engine's never been apart and runs like a top. That being said, all of my newer John Deere's have Kawasaki engines and they run great. The 425 had around 1200 hours on it when I purchased it. I rebuilt then engine at 1460 hours due to oil consumption. The Kawasaki engines are very easy to rebuild and parts availability is decent. Whatever you get, after breaking in the motor, I suggest running a synthetic engine oil in any air cooled mower engine. They typically run at higher temperatures than liquid cooled engines and the synthetic oils hold up to the higher heat better than petroleum oils in my opinion. The cost of petroleum oil is getting up there with synthetic oils nowadays and the small engines only take about 2 quarts so the cost is minimal.

[Rick Prentice]

I have the Kawasaki in my Gator and the Kohler in my new Kubota zero turn. Personally I like them both the same.

[Slim140]

Kawasaki's tend to leak oil when they get a little wear on them.

[Barnyard]

Stopped by the Kubota dealer this morning and they only had four Kubota mowers in stock as well as a half dozen XMarks. They have four locations in our area and all of them have low inventories. I have decided to go with the diesel instead since I am familiar with them. The salesman is the same one who sold me my tractor and he said he would call as soon as he got one in.

[Lt.Mike]

I have a John Deere L130 with a Kohler 24hp engine, everything eventually broke on the tractor over the 15 years of use with the exception of the engine.
I tried cutting with the Cub but with the deck and wheel controlled by the same clutch my tree filled property didn’t mesh well with it.
About 2 years back I bought an Exmark Lazer Commercial 52” zero turn mower with a 25hp Kohler engine. Feel like I should have done that years ago. What used to take 3-1/2 hours with the JD takes less than an hour with the Exmark.
The cut is noticeably nicer too.
I recommend removing the rubber chute as it leaves grass piled in lines on the lawn. Removing it lets the mower fling the clippings which settle into the grass eliminating the need for bagging.
You’ll notice all the pros do this.
I also added a chute blocker to it for mowing around spots I don’t want clippings scattered.
http://www.qwikchute.com/

[Barnyard]

I have a John Deere L130 with a Kohler 24hp engine, everything eventually broke on the tractor over the 15 years of use with the exception of the engine.
I tried cutting with the Cub but with the deck and wheel controlled by the same clutch my tree filled property didn’t mesh well with it.
About 2 years back I bought an Exmark Lazer Commercial 52” zero turn mower with a 25hp Kohler engine. Feel like I should have done that years ago. What used to take 3-1/2 hours with the JD takes less than an hour with the Exmark.
The cut is noticeably nicer too.
I recommend removing the rubber chute as it leaves grass piled in lines on the lawn. Removing it lets the mower fling the clippings which settle into the grass eliminating the need for bagging.
You’ll notice all the pros do this.
I also added a chute blocker to it for mowing around spots I don’t want clippings scattered.
http://www.qwikchute.com/

All of mine have had the chute propped up. Hopefully the mower I want will be in soon.

[Peter Person]

We have a 2001 Husqvarna 42" Lawn Tractor with the Kawasaki FH451V 15hp V-Twin engine on it. Just under 1,000 hours on the engine and it still runs great. Oil & Filter Change every spring. Same engine was on Erik's 48" Scag walk-behind.

[SamsFarm]

Whats wrong with those 404 mower tractors you have?

[Barnyard]

Whats wrong with those 404 mower tractors you have?

They aren't zero turns.

[Peter Person]

I don't know Bill, Ralph had it pretty close a few years ago....just needed to split the brake pedals I think.