Engine choices?

T

tom-ky

Active Member
Same zero turn mower with a 48" deck comes with either a 27 HP Briggs & Stratton Professional Series or a 18.5 gross hp Kawasaki FS600V. Seems like lots of hp difference. Are they rated in such a different way?
 
Just something I don't like about the Kawasaki engine. Back in my earlier snowmobile years, snowmobiles were using Kawasaki engines. I can recall replacing a lot of cylinders and pistons in the Kawasaki engines because they would destroy the pistons. Also it seems like when ever I need to buy parts for a Kawasaki engine the parts are way overpriced. Of the two engines I will say B&S.
 
tom-ky said:
Same zero turn mower with a 48" deck comes with either a 27 HP Briggs & Stratton Professional Series or a 18.5 gross hp Kawasaki FS600V. Seems like lots of hp difference. Are they rated in such a different way?
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Everyone is going to have different opinions but at the moment Kawasaki has the market on mower engines. I've run two different Kawasaki engines everyday for the last two seasons , The FJ 180cc KAI on my Toro TurfMaster 30" mower and the 15hp FS 541V on the Toro Grandstand and they have been the best engines I've ever run. Briggs & Statton makes a typical poor quality low end engine that typical don't hold up long and is considered a "disposable" engine fit only for department store mowers.
 
I repowered my Scag Tiger Cub ZTR last March with a B&S 30 HP Professional Turf Series engine and I'm very happy with it, 100 hours on it. This machine has a collection system and the B&S engine with the Cyclonic Air Filtration System is doing a fine job filtering the incoming air.
Every engine series is built for a particular price range and market. If you go over onto other equipment sites where more commercial users congregate, you will see that Kawasaki engines have their share of problems. This past year, due to problems with some Kohler engine series, several mower manufacturers were back logged on machine production as Kawasaki had a production problem and got behind.
Several engine manufacturers have intentionally under rated the advertised horse power due to a class action suit against all small engine manufacturers several years ago.
I also have a Hustler X-ONE 60" rear discharge deck with a Kawi FX730V engine, great machine with a great engine.
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:
 
tom-ky said:
Same zero turn mower with a 48" deck comes with either a 27 HP Briggs & Stratton Professional Series or a 18.5 gross hp Kawasaki FS600V. Seems like lots of hp difference. Are they rated in such a different way?
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I think Kawasaki's "chickens came home to roost". They encountered some rating problems a few years ago.

Many manufacturers claims are ridiculous. Ever seen a mower on a dyno? If you know a good mechanic ask him.

This forum is a great place to ask. Lots of practical experience here.
 
tom-ky said:
Same zero turn mower with a 48" deck comes with either a 27 HP Briggs & Stratton Professional Series or a 18.5 gross hp Kawasaki FS600V. Seems like lots of hp difference. Are they rated in such a different way?
Click to expand...

You didn't by chance visit the GIE in Louisville did you? That is a great place for answers.
 
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