4520/4500P engine life

[VentracPlusKioti]

Taking home a 4520P. Big purchase for me I have just 5 acres to mow, a lot of steep slopes though. I’ll probably never get past 2000 hours in the next 10 years, but just curious to know how long the Kawasaki engines last? I’ve heard of people replacing their engines after so many hours. Was curious to know that number is and how difficult/expensive to to

 

[5030]

None of the aluminum blocked V twins will last forever but with proper care as in timely oil and filter changes and keeping the valves adjusted and running fresh corn squeezer gas, they will run without replacement or overhaul in the excess of 2000 meter hours.

 

[VentracPlusKioti]

Thanks for the reply. How expensive is a replacement engine?

 

[5030]

Thanks for the reply. How expensive is a replacement engine?

I have no idea and not something you need to worry about anyway as it will be years before that occurs so long as you take care of the one you have. I would at that time, replace it with a HF Predator vertical shaft V twin anyway. The output shaft is the same as the Kohlers and Kawasaki engine and they are much lees expensive to boot. I have had excellent luck with Predator engines. In fact I have one on my pressure washer that has run for 7 years now with just routine oil and air cleaner replacements and and that is it. I must have a couple hundred hours on it. It's actually outlasted the pressure washer pump which I had to replace. Original spark plug too...lol

 

[MountainBuck]

My 4500P felt like a huge investment as well but it seemed like the only way to safely go over my hills.

Because of that, I have really taken care of the engine. I've only used ethanol free gas that also has a little higher octane. Oil changes on time with the Ventrac oil although I've switched to full synthetic now.

I've been thinking of putting out a valve adjustment video for the engine because it was way more clumsy difficult that it should be.

 

[Chris616]

I've been thinking of putting out a valve adjustment video for the engine because it was way more clumsy difficult that it should be.

That is the only upcoming maintenance item on my 4500P that I'm not confident about doing myself, so I for one would really appreciate seeing that.

 

[5030]

It ain't rocket science by a long shot.

 

[Chris616]

It would be useful to be able to source a service manual for the Kawasaki FD851D. They don't seem to be available free online, or even for purchase online (that I have found). Has anyone sourced one?

It's not only the valve adjustment that I'm unsure about, but the valve seat lapping that's supposed to be done at the same time.

 

[MountainBuck]

The first problem I had with adjusting the valves was that I didn't have the piston in the correct place. So I pulled the spark plug to make sure.

Then once I got the valve adjusted to where I wanted it, it would seem to drift once I tightened it down. So I would do it again and it would drift again. I felt like I was doing something wrong, but I've since learned that seems to be a common occurrence.

Patience and learning how to guess the drift got the job done.