upgrading 850 engine

[tecknomage]

Hi folks,
Been talking with Bill & Joel. About to up grade my 850 to diesel, but Kohler uped the price on them, rather much. Wondering now if it'd be better to sell the 850 & get a "new" 853. Maybe even wait to buy untill BCS starts shipping them from factory that way.. Whats a good ( minius the dreaded VANGUARD 14 twin engine) worth these days? 6.5 X 12 wheels, great tires, BCS wheel weights, & Combo mower?

Wait... after thought, I'd rather have Joel work put diesel on it that the factory.......


Dave

 

[farmerboybill]

Hey Dave,

You could look into those diesels I told you about at smallenginewarehouse. They're a pretty good price at $1200. You'll still need to get a shutoff plate and maybe a new style cone clutch from Joel, but I can't see the extra parts costing more'n $400 even if you do hafta buy a new cone clutch. Joel may take your old cone clutch in trade... maybe $50?

If you decide on buying and 7853 and selling your 850, I'd say $1400 would be a fair outright sale price, even with the briggs engine. I'd keep the tires to put on your 853 and put the 5 by 10s on the 850 before you sell it. The 30 inch mower is not a very good mower and would add maybe $200 to the 1400. That mower is why BCS went away from the splined shaft and went with the heavier duty 3 dog PTO. It caused BCS a lot of trouble and I'm boggled on why they still build it. Long story short, $1600 for the pair with 5-10 tires for a quick sale.

 

[BCSSHOP]

Very sorry to here that Kohler is raising the Lombardini diesel prices so much. Those prices make considering the engine for a repower very questionable. Kohler has done similar things in the recent past by pricing the Command Pro CS engine so high not many people are using them. They are one of the best gasoline engines ever built in my opinion.

Kohler has done one thing right by recognizing the need to have a replacement for the Acme ALN 290 and 330WB engine. The Chinese built CH395-3111 is available from every Kohler dealer for a little over $400 dealer cost. I think going to China may be a direction Kohler will have to go to get us more reasonably priced engines.