Briggs and Stratton V.S. Kohler

[steppinthrax]

So I’m looking at a Craftsman 18.5HP with a Briggs and Stratton INTEK engine and a Troy Built with a Kohler Command 16HP engine. I’m leaning towards the Kohler because I’ve heard it’s a better engine. I also know the Kohler has a pressurized lubrication system and oil filter. I’m not so sure about the Intek, but it’s 2.5HP more (lol)!!!!

 

[sdifox]

you are buying what exactly, just the engine?

 

[SearchMaster]

I have a Craftsman lawn tractor with a B&S (I/C, not Intek), and the engine has been great (the rest of the tractor sucks).

Given how crappy the mower is, I'd advise you to the Troy Built but not necessarily for the engine. Let's face it - you'll use the thing so rarely (a few hours a week, half the year) that any engine should be up to the task for 10+ years.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTD_Products

Make sure to click to show the private label brands as well.

Both mowers likely came off the same line. So the engine is the only real choice.

 

[Eli]

Kohler. End of discussion.

The Intek has pressurized lubrication too. Kohler makes good engines. The Intek happens to be one of Briggs' higher end engines, but I'd still go with the Kohler.

Briggs makes good engines too, but you have to be careful because they're tiered for different levels of service and reliability. IE: A bottom of the line engine has plain bearings, a middle of the line engine has ball bearing PTO and plain bearing flywheel, and a top of the line engine will have ball bearings on both sides of the crankshaft. Amongst other things.

 

[Meghan54]

Is it really a Kohler Command and not the Courage?

If it's the Courage, run away....about the same crappy quality as the B&S I/C and/or Intek.

If it's really the Command, it's in the same league as the B&S Vanguard.....both the Command and Vanguard are commercial engines, not the low budget, low end residential quality engines like the Intek, I/C from B&S and the Courage from Kohler.

 

[Eli]

I've not heard of the Courage. Interesting to see Kohler going with service tiers too.

Whats next, a cheap plain bearing Honda engine?

Edit: Thinking about it, I guess Honda has had their GC line of engines for quite a few years now, residential class. I assume they use plain bearings...

Just gotta be aware of what you're buying. Like everything else, research..

 

[Mandres]

realistically, if you change the oil either of those engines will long outlive the rest of the mower.

Buy whichever one has thicker steel in the frame and deck.

 

[wirednuts]

i would probably go with the 16hp kohler. briggs makes good engines but nobody ever claims theyre the best.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I've had B&S engines in lawn mowers and go carts and never had a problem. I bought a Kholer power mower last year and it din't even make it a year. I stored it for winter like I have with all my other mowers. Brought it back out prepped it, went to pull the cord and nothing. No amounts of yanking got it to start. dumped the gas, ran carb cleaner through it and it runs off of that so I knew it had spark. Put fresh gas in and nothing won't run. Won't even try to turn over.
All I can think is the crap electric choke got borked. Said screw it and threw it away and just paid a guy to mow my yard.
That is the best lawn equipment investment.

 

[Eli]

realistically, if you change the oil either of those engines will long outlive the rest of the mower.

Buy whichever one has thicker steel in the frame and deck.

This is true.

It'd probably be best to go with whatever mower is best. It's unlikely that you'll have engine problems for many years to come as long as you keep up with maintenance.

That means not leaving fuel in the tank over the winter. ^^^

 

[Pacfanweb]

Kohler, make sure it's cast iron. They last forever.

Got one in my riding mower, it's a 98 model and still runs like a champ, burns no oil.

 

[BUTCH1]

realistically, if you change the oil either of those engines will long outlive the rest of the mower.

Buy whichever one has thicker steel in the frame and deck.

This, my first mower was a $99 MTD with a Briggs, I always changed the oil, spark plug once a year and service air filter 2X/year, it lasted only 8 yrs because I wasn't washing out the deck bottom after mowing so rust got it. Sad I had to put in the trash with a perfectly good motor..

 

[Bartman39]

Even though its an MTD product this mower with the Kawasaki engine for the price would be a much better option... Sad but you see very few mowers with the Kawasaki engine but like Honda its the better option than the Briggs or the Kohler...

BTW just noticed the frame of this mower is stainless steel...? To bad the deck isnt of course they would not sell to many if it was...

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ocStoreNum=501

 

[Meghan54]

Even though its an MTD product this mower with the Kawasaki engine for the price would be a much better option... Sad but you see very few mowers with the Kawasaki engine but like Honda its the better option than the Briggs or the Kohler...

BTW just noticed the frame of this mower is stainless steel...? To bad the deck isnt of course they would not sell to many if it was...

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ocStoreNum=501

I believe that "stainless steel frame" on Home Depot's page is a misprint. I'd think Cub Cadet would mention it on their own page of that mower (the LTX 1046 w/Kawa engine), which Cub Cadet doesn't.

The web page at Cub Cadet for that mower....no mention of it being stainless....

http://www.cubcadet.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_14101_1565771_16203_-1_600000_33810



And the brochure from Cub Cadet which, again, lacks any mention of a stainless frame......( in .pdf format)

http://www.cubcadet.com/wcsstore/Cu...ets/residential/Series1000_SellSheet_2011.pdf




Seems to me someone is wishfully thinking about a stainless frame..........

 

[Bartman39]

Must be...? Funny how several other sites have this in their descriptions also...? I found it kinda strange to have a stainless frame anyhow but of course they are always making new frills for things...

But still would rather have the Kawasaki power over the others...:thumbsup:

 

[Eli]

Yeah, Kawasaki makes great engines as well.

 

[alkemyst]

How are you guys answering this when he hasn't stated his purpose for it?

 

[Bartman39]

ESP...silly...:biggrin:

Dunno for sure but took it that he is buying a riding mower because that HP is kinda big for a push mower... But if he is just wanting an engine for an existing mower or...? Then the Kawasaki line is still a better option and just about the same price too...:thumbsup:

You do bring up a valid point Alky...:hmm:

 

[alkemyst]

could be a lot of things, I think pressure washer at that level or air compressors.

 

[Eli]

I'm sure they exist, but I've never seen a pressure washer or air compressor with that huge of an engine on it. More typically you see 5-10HP engines on those types of things.

I don't think the application really matters much though. A better engine is a better engine..it should perform better under all circumstances.

 

[alkemyst]

A better engine is a better engine..it should perform better under all circumstances.

no.

 

[Eli]

no.

Yes. Can you explain to us how a better engine isn't a better engine?

In what application is a bottom of the barrel Briggs engine going to outperform a top of the line Honda? Unless you're talking about price/performance/need, then I would understand and agree.

But the guy asked which was the better engine, and we told him. It doesn't matter if it's a mower, a tractor, an air compressor, a water pump or a compactor.. the answer would have still been Kohler. That was my point.

 

[Bartman39]

Alky this I would like to hear...? We may not agree (but remember thats ok too)

I think the reason that Eli is saying a better engine should perform better under all conditions is the same as mine... Which is the durability of the Kawasaki small engines for a simple fact its better in both track record and design (just saw his post and was close )... Its like comparing old school to newer tech... Not that I dont like Briggs or Kohler but even years ago John Deere used Kawasaki engines in their mowers but stopped mainly due to cost but there are a ton of those older units still going strong while their counter parts (Briggs & Kohler) have been replaced or rebuilt in a lot of cases more than once... I know I used to work for John Deere and worked on those mowers besides the big stuff... Infact we changed so man Kohler V-twins because of lifter collapse that we had to store the warranty claim engines in their own seperate building... Also the Intek Briggs V-twins had alot of issues with the governor shafts coming loose and the governor would fly apart inside and the engine would run away and fly apart most of the time... To tell the truth I have yet to see an issue with a Kawasaki other than just normal wear and tear and possibly a starter or other minor issue... Honda quality is the same or possibly a tad better...?

Damn might be the reason I went with a Kawasaki on my new ZTR mower...?

 

[alkemyst]

there is a lot to what is the best engine for an application. You saying the above is really ignorant to the argument....especially without knowing what the application is.