Would you buy a 54" or 60" deck?

[Sawyer Rob]

I love Yamaha designs ect... BUT, they they just bought a Robin engine and are building it, so don't get hung up too much on how good Yamaha is...

Robin/Subaru sold a couple other engines to Kubota, the rest went to china...

SR

 

[BigBlue1]

Do you think a company with a solid reputation for quality is going to throw that to the wind by buying and just blindly building something that doesn't approach their own standards? I don't. I have no idea who 'Robin' is and never heard of them before this thread but I know Yamaha and I'm going to trust them until they give me a reason not to. Reputation is a powerful thing. Companies tend to protect it.

Rob

 

[RjCorazza]

In addition to my Kawasaki commercial walk behind, I have 2 Yamaha inverter generators. They are dead reliable and quiet.
I did notice a "Yamaha" generator for sale at a big box store that was advertised as xx brand, "engine by Yamaha". Something about it was off though.

 

[BigBlue1]

One other thing that factored into my consideration of engines was that Honda is a very desirable maker of small engines. Yamaha is a direct competitor in many areas and I don't feel there is much likelihood of them marketing a small engine competitor to Honda that would be much different in reliability than Honda.

Anyway, I suppose we beat this topic to death. Sorry to the OP, but my original mention of Yamaha was on topic and meant as useful info due to the engine supplier shortage.

Rob

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Do you think a company with a solid reputation for quality is going to throw that to the wind by buying and just blindly building something that doesn't approach their own standards? I don't. I have no idea who 'Robin' is and never heard of them before this thread but I know Yamaha and I'm going to trust them until they give me a reason not to. Reputation is a powerful thing. Companies tend to protect it.

Rob

I never said Robin engines weren't any good, but they sure aren't as good as an "original" Yamaha design...

Robin was owned by Subaru, then Subaru decided to get out of the small engines and sold the designs/sizes to three different company's, as I stated earlier.

SR

 

[rademamj1]

I never heard of Robin engines before, until this thread discussion on engines for outdoor power equipment came up. So I pulled up pictures of the Robin Subaru engines, and behold I actually own a Robin engine in my Dewalt power washer. Dewalt never actually identified the engine in its specification listing, but It's an unnamed klunky and klutzy type engine that gets the job done. Better than Briggs and Stratton, but not as good as a small honda engine, especially for starting and reliability.
View attachment 701696

 

[shooterdon]

I finally took delivery of my ZT today.

I had to settle for the Kohler Pro engine. Since ordering it in March there was a $450 price increase but the dealer took $250 off. I was BS'ing with the delivery driver (owners son) and mentioned I had recommend them to a guy here on TBN who bought an LS from them. About 5 minutes later the owner called and took another $150 off. So I wound up paying $50 more than the price quoted in March.

The dealer is Sumerix in Lachine MI. Good folks to deal with.

I had hoped to get the Kawasaki engine but there is nothing in MI and even with a nearly 10% price increase, dealers are selling these things fast. I did not want to wait any longer and took what I could get.

 

[iptman]

I doubt you'll have any issues with the Kohler. Got one in my Scag and in my old US made Craftsman from the early 2000s. Both are strong runners.

 

[hunt4570]

I doubt you'll have any issues with the Kohler. Got one in my Scag and in my old US made Craftsman from the early 2000s. Both are strong runners.

Yes I have a Kohler on my saw mill, no problems at all..

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Most of these Kohlers aren't a bad engine today, but they aren't like the old Kohlers.

These days, most Kohlers are made in china.

SR

 

[iptman]

Most of these Kohlers aren't a bad engine today, but they aren't like the old Kohlers.

These days, most Kohlers are made in china.

SR

I think the Kohler Command series is made in the US.

 

[shooterdon]

I think the Kohler Command series is made in the US.

The Command engine is highly regarded. I got the Courage Pro. It is somewhere between the Courage and the Command...but much closer to the Courage.

I have been told the Courage should go 1000 hours and the Command 2500 hours. If I get 1000 hours I will be dead or close to it. I am 70 YO so even at 30 hours a year it will last over 30 years. I do about 20 "cuts" a year (cuts and leaf mulching). I figure an hour to cut the 2 acres I have. So far this year, have cut the grass 4 times. Grass goes dormant in late July and August. So this will be a light year for mower use.

It was either get the Kohler or maybe not get anything, and then face at least a 10% price increase. And I decided early on I would rather have a $5k new machine than a used commercial mower that would need work eventually.

I have a good dealer so that helped my decision.

 

[hunt4570]

The Command engine is highly regarded. I got the Courage Pro. It is somewhere between the Courage and the Command...but much closer to the Courage.

I have been told the Courage should go 1000 hours and the Command 2500 hours. If I get 1000 hours I will be dead or close to it. I am 70 YO so even at 30 hours a year it will last over 30 years. I do about 20 "cuts" a year (cuts and leaf mulching). I figure an hour to cut the 2 acres I have. So far this year, have cut the grass 4 times. Grass goes dormant in late July and August. So this will be a light year for mower use.

It was either get the Kohler or maybe not get anything, and then face at least a 10% price increase. And I decided early on I would rather have a $5k new machine than a used commercial mower that would need work eventually.

I have a good dealer so that helped my decision.

Stuff is normally dormant here June, July, and august here as well, not this year... it just keeps on raining! Just got my 25 year old JD back from the shop.. I need to catch up!

 

[Hay Dude]

Stuff is normally dormant here June, July, and august here as well, not this year... it just keeps on raining! Just got my 25 year old JD back from the shop.. I need to catch up!

I know, right? Just keeps raining here. Not the hot, dry end of the world climate I keep hearing about. Just below average temps and rain, rain, rain.
Cant make a bale of hay with this crap wet, cool weather

 

[shooterdon]

Got to use the new Bad Boy on Friday. What took me 1 hr and 45 minutes with the Husqvarna 48" rider took one hour with the 54"ZT. Had not operated a ZT for four years (and then only used it for 45 minutes) so still learning to drive the thing.

Cuts great even at full speed. It is not tracking perfectly so need to tweak that but overall very happy with it. Tearing up the turf if I turn on a dime so a bit of learning to do on that aspect as well.

 

[iptman]

I always 3 point turn to turn around. With any amount of moisture on the grass a zero degree turn will scalp the grass. Even slowing down too suddenly or speeding up too quickly can cause it as well.