Honda or Kohler engine ???

[pharmvet]

Im planning to purchase a Bush Hog zero turn mower soon. The estate models come with either a Kohler or Honda engine. Which would you choose, and more importantly "WHY" thanks a million.

 

[brain55]

The deciding factor for me would be which brand had the better support in my area. I have used both with great results. My welder and my air compressor have Kohler engines because at the time I felt I was going to get the best support from the local Kohler dealer. I now have a Honda EU6500i generator and feel like I will get better support for the Honda. The Kohler dealer is no longer in business, fortunately I have never had a problem with my Kohler engines.

Brian

 

[bw_wis]

I can't speak for Kohler engines, but I hear good things about them.

I do have 2 Honda generators (EU6500iSA and EU2000iA) and a honda mower. Both generaotrs have about 50hrs in year+ I've owned them. Both have exceeded my expectations. Great fuel economy, quiet, and start easily even in single digit temperatures (the pull start and manual choke on the 2k takes a few tries after its been sitting for a few weeks).

The mower (don't know how old) has never required any maintance. I check the oil in the spring. Have only needed add twice in the 6 years I've been using it. Its been put in the garage in the fall with what ever gas is left and no stable or any winterization. Starts right up every spring.

Good luck.

 

[bontai_Joe]

The deciding factor for me would be which brand had the better support in my area. I have used both with great results. My welder and my air compressor have Kohler engines because at the time I felt I was going to get the best support from the local Kohler dealer. I now have a Honda EU6500i generator and feel like I will get better support for the Honda. The Kohler dealer is no longer in business, fortunately I have never had a problem with my Kohler engines.

Brian

DITTO. In my area, I'd probably use the Kohler, although the Kohler Courage motor is not their best motor, designed for approximately a 500 hour life span +/-. I'd need to check out the Honda motor specs more closely to see if it was much better and worth any price difference. Based on past experience, the Honda is probably quieter.

 

[diesel_nut]

I would think Kohlers would produce more torque. Torque is more important than hp in this arena.

 

[brain55]

I can't speak for Kohler engines, but I hear good things about them.

I do have 2 Honda generators (EU6500iSA and EU2000iA) and a honda mower. Both generaotrs have about 50hrs in year+ I've owned them. Both have exceeded my expectations. Great fuel economy, quiet, and start easily even in single digit temperatures (the pull start and manual choke on the 2k takes a few tries after its been sitting for a few weeks).

The mower (don't know how old) has never required any maintance. I check the oil in the spring. Have only needed add twice in the 6 years I've been using it. Its been put in the garage in the fall with what ever gas is left and no stable or any winterization. Starts right up every spring.

Good luck.

You haven't even broken in those generators yet. My EU6500i has 1100 hrs on it in a year. lol

 

[whistlepig]

Im planning to purchase a Bush Hog zero turn mower soon. The estate models come with either a Kohler or Honda engine. Which would you choose, and more importantly "WHY" thanks a million.

I would go Honda in a second and pay the extra money for it. Honda's reputation for reliability is second to none. I have a Honda EB6500X generator. I could have bought a Chinese generator at Harbor Freight for 80% less. When the power is out that's hassle enough. I wanted something that was totally reliable. Now and many years from now.

 

[roamerr]

My first choice for gas engine is Honda.

My order off the top of my head is:
Honda
Yamaha
Robin/Subaru
Kawasaki
Kohler
Briggs
Tecumseh
Chinese no name

 

[PILOON]

Because Honda, Yamaha and Kowasaki are all in the ATV and motorcycle business they would be my first choices. (dealers everywhere)

Robin/Suburu have changed ownership so often that service is not all easy to come by.

Tecumseh no longer exists.

Many Chinese no name are true clones of Honda with parts interchangeability.

I strongly believe Briggs may join Tecumseh. (you'll notice more and more snow blowers and lawn mowers sporting Chinese no name)

 

[bontai_Joe]

Keep in mind that there is more than one class of Honda, just like most manufacturers do.

 

[whistlepig]

Keep in mind that there is more than one class of Honda, just like most manufacturers do.

I didn't know this. Can you give me an example?

 

[diesel_nut]

Because Honda, Yamaha and Kowasaki are all in the ATV and motorcycle business they would be my first choices. (dealers everywhere)

Robin/Suburu have changed ownership so often that service is not all easy to come by.

Tecumseh no longer exists.

Many Chinese no name are true clones of Honda with parts interchangeability.

I strongly believe Briggs may join Tecumseh. (you'll notice more and more snow blowers and lawn mowers sporting Chinese no name)

Obviously you haven't dealt with the Honda CRF 250 engines. Junk. Intake valves constantly need attention. Had a KTM 520 for 10 years and have adjusted the valves a grand total of once. They barely needed it then.

 

[bontai_Joe]

You will see Honda GC/GS "black" motors mostly on other manufacturers stuff and the GX "red" Honda motors mostly on Honda equipment and some other manufacturers top of the line units. The "GX" is a better built and more expensive motor than the GC/GS. Kohler and Briggs do the same thing, offering at least 2 lines, one is the "economy" engine with a roughly 500 hour design life, the other is designed to last roughly 1000 hours. Now if the motor is attached to a $129 push mower, the wheels will fall off before you hit 500 hours, but on a $750 self propelled mower? Might want the better engine.

 

[roamerr]

Honda newer off-road motorcycle engines are a different beast. Trying to make a 4-stroke have the power and weight of a two-stroke caused some issues. I have fought started several. I still have a 1984 XR200R with RFVC that starts on 2 kicks (must drain carb) and runs like new.

I did not realize Tecumseh is gone. I steered clear of their stuff anyway. As for the Honda engines I use the cheapest Honda engines on my pressure washer, push mower, tiller, small generator and any other item that gets used only a few hours a year. The cheap Honda GC engines will easily last over 500 hours and at 10 to 15 hours a year that is way too long...

Even the cheap Honda GC sounds great. I replaced a 6hp Briggs on a tiller with a Honda GC and the sound is so much better. It also now starts perfect everytime. My preference is the Honda GX motor but I really do not have any small motor items that I use many hours.

I always wondered about the chinese engines. I recently purchased a spare generator and choose a Briggs over Generac just because the Generac engine rattled like a chinese lawnmower. Anything I buy with an engine needs to have the name of a known to me engine maker on it.

 

[brain55]

You will see Honda GC/GS "black" motors mostly on other manufacturers stuff and the GX "red" Honda motors mostly on Honda equipment and some other manufacturers top of the line units. The "GX" is a better built and more expensive motor than the GC/GS. Kohler and Briggs do the same thing, offering at least 2 lines, one is the "economy" engine with a roughly 500 hour design life, the other is designed to last roughly 1000 hours. Now if the motor is attached to a $129 push mower, the wheels will fall off before you hit 500 hours, but on a $750 self propelled mower? Might want the better engine.

On my Honda EU6500i generator I expect to get 4000 hrs out of it, it already has 1100 hrs in its first year and hasn't missed a beat. I had a EU3000i that I put at least that many hours on it for sure. Unfortunately, it didn't have an hour meter so I can't be 100% sure. My conservative estimate for hours was 4000 when it quit, my loose estimate was 6000. When I called the dealer, after it quit, and asked what he thought I should have gotten out of it, he said 1000. I have a lot of faith in Honda. I could have spent a lot less than $3500 for a 6500 watt generator, but I'm sure it would have needed to be replaced at least once already.

Brian

 

[WayneB]

You will see Honda GC/GS "black" motors mostly on other manufacturers stuff and the GX "red" Honda motors mostly on Honda equipment and some other manufacturers top of the line units. The "GX" is a better built and more expensive motor than the GC/GS. Kohler and Briggs do the same thing, offering at least 2 lines, one is the "economy" engine with a roughly 500 hour design life, the other is designed to last roughly 1000 hours. Now if the motor is attached to a $129 push mower, the wheels will fall off before you hit 500 hours, but on a $750 self propelled mower? Might want the better engine.

I wondered about this, but last year I bought a GX-200 series motor and it came in all Black!

 

[955er]

Honda

 

[shortlid]

Second that Honda

 

[bontai_Joe]

roamerr is correct in thinking that a 500 hour motor makes perfect sense on a unit he might run 15-20 hours a year. The various manufacturers that make these "introductory level" basic motors, are not intentionally making crap. They make a motor for just this kind of application. Commercial use guys that might run a machine 6 to 8 hours a day 4 or 5 days a week have an obvious different need.

I have ZERO personal experience with the Chinese Honda clones. I've heard good and bad, but the consensus seems to be to flush out the grit that tends to be in the crankcase with fresh oil, do the first oil change a hair early to remove the rest of the grit and run them happily after that.

 

[NSBound]

Honda GX=Industrial
Honda GC=Consumer