JD 317 repower suggestions

[AndyYoung]

Hi all - My 317 kt17 series 1 finally died this week - 2 holes in the engine case! So I'm looking for repower suggestions - priorities being cost and ease of install.
Here's the order in ease of install as far as I can tell:

1. KT17 series 1 or 2 (drop in replacement)
2. Onan P218G - small conversion kit
3. Kohler Magnam 8
4. Kohler Command VTwin
5. Briggs
6. Honda

So what do you suggest? Thanks!

 

[radios1]

there's this. John Deere 317 Repower people have been putting Honda engines in them, but I'm sure at a higher cost just to buy the engine..

 

[AndyYoung]

Thanks radios1. I'm looking at a kt19 right now. Not on my list, but available locally.

 

[radios1]

Thanks radios1. I'm looking at a kt19 right now. Not on my list, but available locally.

I'd stay away from Kohler!. https://www.mytractorforum.com/24-gravely/236554-kohler-kt19-series-2-engines-any-good.html

 

[AndyYoung]

Ah. Well I've be nursing the KT17 series 1 engine for a few years - it was probably 35 years old! So not bad for a kohler...

 

[radios1]

Ah. Well I've be nursing the KT17 series 1 engine for a few years - it was probably 35 years old! So not bad for a kohler...

yeah, but throwing a connecting rod through the case is not the preferred way of ending an engine's life!!.. for instance, most thrown away mowers used Tecumseh engines, they had a tendency to throw their rods through the engine case, because of poor design, I've never seen other makes do that.. a Kohler engine tends to do the same thing, but they are way too expensive to be mass used.. the link I gave gives a look at the prices of replacement parts, if they are even available!!..