Steiner repower - Subaru/Robin 28 EFI?

[SteinerGuy]

The Onan in my Steiner S20 is getting up there in hours. It needs a starter ring gear and the exhaust is LOUD. I was thinking I'd put a Kohler or Honda twin in it when it blew up, but there's a low-hour Subaru Robin 28 for sale locally. I know it's not an OEM application but it looks like it would fit, and it has a 1 1/8 PTO shaft. EFI is sort of tempting, I am sure it would start nice in cold weather. Any opinions on this engine? I don't think it is used in Ventrac or Steiner. I don't use the machine commercially, but I do cut some big hills and the Onan works pretty hard.

 

[MossRoad]

Please go ask this question over in the Power Trac forum here on TBN.... there are many folks there that have Robin engines in their Power Trac machines and several have cold weather starting problems. Granted, the engines are direct coupled to three hydraulic pumps with no method for disconnecting them from the hydraulics, so the starter has to push the cold slush. I have a Kohler Command 25hp in my Power Trac and have started it successfully down to about -5 degrees Fahrenheit.