The best engine for a mower?

[chaffe]

With soo many engines out there I was wondering what peoples experience and thoughts were on them? Im looking for something around 7-11hp for my mower deck and was thinking briggs, but are there any to avoid? I mean Honda make some real good engines but are they worth the extra cash? And do some mowers make less hp than stated? thanks in advance

 

[yoster]

That's probably opening a can of worms. I think you'll find fans for all makes out there, but generally speaking, you can't go wrong with the big three - B&S, Honda or Kohler.

I *think* (do not quote me on this), that the Honda and Kohler run cleaner (better on gas, lower emissions, quieter), than the B&S... I think.. I don't own or have ever owned a lawn tractor

 

[chaffe]

That's probably opening a can of worms. I think you'll find fans for all makes out there, but generally speaking, you can't go wrong with the big three - B&S, Honda or Kohler.

I *think* (do not quote me on this), that the Honda and Kohler run cleaner (better on gas, lower emissions, quieter), than the B&S... I think.. I don't own or have ever owned a lawn tractor

Thanks for the reply, I was trying to promote disscussion as that is what a forum is for, can of worms or not! I will take on board your advice when buying an engine.

 

[polly]

I was told kawasaki was the best. Thoughts

 

[LawnBoy M]

Honda engines are the best residential mower engines, they are also the most expensive.

 

[chaffe]

Honda engines are the best residential mower engines, they are also the most expensive.

Well I picked up a ride on mower on friday for £50, it has a 13hp honda engine, it needs a little tlc, but essentially everything is there, So i now have an all honda workforce, a honda walk behind mower, honda garden tractor, and now a honda ride on mower! all 24hp combined!

 

[jmurray01]

Well I picked up a ride on mower on friday for ｣50, it has a 13hp honda engine, it needs a little tlc, but essentially everything is there, So i now have an all honda workforce, a honda walk behind mower, honda garden tractor, and now a honda ride on mower! all 24hp combined!

First of all, oh my God a member on here from Scotland!

And secondly, why can't I find a ride on mower for fifty quid!? :laughing:

 

[chaffe]

First of all, oh my God a member on here from Scotland!

And secondly, why can't I find a ride on mower for fifty quid!? :laughing:

Well hello! It was from a mate and needs some tlc, every plastic pannel is broken! but mechanically it works well, the only issue being the lever for the tensioner that tensions the mower drive belt, it has snapped off! that was the final straw for the owner, so now i have ended up with it, the initial plan was to steal its engine, but it would be a shame to break it as it is soo complete, so now im going to restore it to working order (after seeing the second hand and new prices on ebay!) maybe make a few steel pannels for it also.

 

[reynoldston]

Kohler, Briggs & Stratton, and Tecumseh of the three engines the one with most problims I have had with is Tecumseh and the less is Kohler. I don't like kawasaki because back in the day when I was into snowmobiles they had a run of bad engines that the clyinder walls went bad but that was many years ago so I can't go by that. Now they are starting to use chinese engines but I think time will tell on that. The only Honda engines I have is in my two scooters and in my generator and the only problim I ever with them is my own fault with bad gas. I don't care what you get you have to keep your maintainance up and run then with oil in them or you will have problims. I find a lot of home owner just think that the mower comes with a life time supply of oil from new and say the mower is no good when it runs out of oil because they never check or change it.

 

[reddragon]

if your bagging..the deck matters alot in performance....a good engine is great, but its how all the components work together:smile: