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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

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I *think* (do not quote me on this), that the Honda and Kohler run cleaner (better on gas, lower emissions, quieter), than the B&S...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

yoster said:

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I *think* (do not quote me on this), that the Honda and Kohler run cleaner (better on gas, lower emissions, quieter), than the B&S...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

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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.

I was told kawasaki was the best. Thoughts

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

LawnBoy M said:

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

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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!

chaffe said:

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!

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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:

jmurray01 said:

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:

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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.

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.

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

Like our fellow from Scotland, I've got one of the small Honda riding mowers, and it has served me well since I bought it in 1984. I like the Kawasaki motors, but the parts are expensive as well. I guess for a domestically manufactured engine, Kohler and Wisconsin are my two favorites, but they all (Briggs, Kohler, and probably the others as well) make different grades of engines depending on the price point of the equipment they are being installed in.

Honda has been making small engines for a long time and they are typically quite reliable and efficient. Honda engines are serviced by almost all lawn mower dealers, which is one of their biggest advantages. You can get service almost anywhere for these engines.

reddragon said:

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

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thanks the mower i picked up is a Honda hf2213, 36" cut, should have it going tonight and give it a trial if the rain stays off!

With all my past experience, I would have to say Briggs. Tend to last longer, more power/torque, easier to work on.

B&S will (in my experience) last longer, be easier to find parts for, and be easier to repair your self.
Honda is better on gas, starts easier, and will go a while without problems.
I don't have much experience with kohler, but I hear they're good.
I will say one thing... Do. Not. Get. a. Tecumseh. :thumbdown:

I've never had a 7 - 11hp engine of any make, but my experiences with B&S, Tecumseh and Kohler have all been positive. I've had several B&S powered machines over the years (anywhere fron 3.5 to 6hp) and the only thing that stopped them was old age, even when they didn't get the routine maintenance they deserved. The one Tecumseh (6.75hp) I had for 13 years was still running strong when I traded that machine for something else and the one Kohler (15hp) I've had, and still have, on an 11 year old John Deere rider, has had nothing done but routine maintenance (oil, filters, etc.) and is still going strong. My current push mower has a B&S 5.5 ft/lbs torque engine and although its fairly new and should be easy to start, it is extremely easy to start with just one half hearted pull after priming.

jmurray01 said:

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:

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What is fifty quid as to a American dollar ?

reynoldston said:

What is fifty quid as to a American dollar ?

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That's $81.51. Still probably a bargain even if the thing is nearly junk, just for the experience gained trying to get it into serviceable condition.

chaffe said:

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

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Leave the Honda GVC530 off a purchase list. I paid $500 extra for one on a Hustler and it has been junk; constantly in the shop for valve valve guide valve o-rings and garb problems. After cutting 5 times the valve trouble started and had to wait 2 months for factory to make new parts. New parts were no better. Loses power. Can let it cool and may run 5 min or an hour. Back in shop now for either the 3rd rebuild or replacement---whick won't be the 530. May try a 630 or just go to the Kawasaki or Kohler.
All other Hondas I've had have been great.

polly said:

I was told kawasaki was the best. Thoughts

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I had a 16hp Kawasaki on a John Deere and it was great. When I sold it the compression was still like new. Bought a Hustled with a GVX530 and it has been junk with valve and garb problems starting after I cut the yard 6 times. In the shop now for the 3rd time for rebuild or replacement. Replacement won't be a Honda although I have other Honda engines that are great.

I have a 26 hp Kawasaki, so far I am very pleased. It only has 100 hours so it is hard to tell how it will be over time. It has pleanty of power and sounds good (I don't know it that counts). It seems to be good on gas I think that my 18.5 Kohler used more, but to be fair the deck was smaller and I drove slower. I havehad decent luck with Kohler and BS.

fastback said:

I have a 26 hp Kawasaki, so far I am very pleased. It only has 100 hours so it is hard to tell how it will be over time. It has pleanty of power and sounds good (I don't know it that counts). It seems to be good on gas I think that my 18.5 Kohler used more, but to be fair the deck was smaller and I drove slower. I havehad decent luck with Kohler and BS.

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My Honda GVX530 only has about 70 hrs total. 15 hrs for the first valve, etc replacement, 10-15 for the 2nd, and now with less than 70 total since it was new. My next will definitely be a Kawasaki; just never had a Kohler but have always heard good things about them in RV's or an Industrial Briggs. The Kohler plant is only 50 miles from me in Hattiesburg, MS.