Which have you had the best luck with in the bigger motors(20 hp up)? I had an issue with the 2 Briggs V twins I had, but both were used when I got them and I don't know maintance history. Decided I wanted to try something different. I think the larger Craftsman mowers are built by Husqvarna so is that not a good brand either? I had a John Deere riding mower that lasted for years but not sure their newer ones are that good.
- Thread starter Hayfarmer
- Start date
64frd4000ind
Member
Unfortunately MTD makes a lot of the newer mowers for the companies and paint them accordingly.
We even saw MTD emblems on the Smaller John Deer Mowers at the dealership last summer.
We even saw MTD emblems on the Smaller John Deer Mowers at the dealership last summer.
Hi some of Sears / Craftsman tractors are built buy AYP they also make Husqvarna Polan and others if the Craftsman tractor has a model number starting 917.xxxx then its an AYP product built for Sears if it has a model number of 247.xxxx it is a MTD product.
AYP and its previous owners have been building tractors for Sears since the 1950's first was David Bradley bought out by Roper bought out buy AYP. As for which is better B&S or Kohler is a tossup if you really research it Kohler has built as many not so good engines as B&S. As for John Deere being better maybe and maybe not it all depends on what you buy and how much your willing to pay for generally model for model if you buy equal the JD will cost 1.5 to 2 times more.
GB in MN
You left out a lot of information. I love love LOVE my Briggs twins. They had a seal problem between the case halves but is easy to fix. Nikki carbs don't like ethanol gas and can be fixed too with a new set of metering jets with the newer gaskets. The good old Kohler cast iron engines are damn near un stoppable! Kohler Courage engines "the early ones" were junk!!!! Even the latest ones I would still tell you to get a Briggs twin V engine. The Kohlers sound tinny but both my briggs engines just Puuuurrrrrrr.
It depends which engine you are talking about:
Kohler still makes a good engine line called Command. I have seen some of these engines go 2500 hours or more. I am told there are no longer any single cylinder Command engines being made.
It is true that their Courage single cylinder engines had problems. I am not seeing a lot of premature failures in the Courage twin engines, but the early ones used the same pistons and rods as a similar size Command engine.
The only really good Briggs engine is their Vanguard engines. I am told these Vanguard engines are built by Daihatsu somewhere in the far East. Their other V-twins seem to only live about 600-700 hours, although they seem to give pretty good service up until then.
Kohler still makes a good engine line called Command. I have seen some of these engines go 2500 hours or more. I am told there are no longer any single cylinder Command engines being made.
It is true that their Courage single cylinder engines had problems. I am not seeing a lot of premature failures in the Courage twin engines, but the early ones used the same pistons and rods as a similar size Command engine.
The only really good Briggs engine is their Vanguard engines. I am told these Vanguard engines are built by Daihatsu somewhere in the far East. Their other V-twins seem to only live about 600-700 hours, although they seem to give pretty good service up until then.
ShadetreeRet
Well-known Member
Pedro has a problem remembering which decal goes with which color.
Texasmark1
Well-known Member
This is in answer to your comment and doesn't necessarily address the original question as my engines are smaller.
I have 4 Kohlers with 300 to 600+ hrs, one owner, keep up with the maint and clean oil always. HP range is 15 thru 20, all singles.
The 20 is the only Courage and after 300 hrs it is in the scrap pile. My opinion is that the housing casting was inadequately designed for putting 20 hp in one cylinder. Mine vibrated itself to death including a 2+" crack in the casting, upper right corner of the big half where the side (top of engine but side of crankcase) bolts on, besides the head bolts and valve cover bolts repeatedly vibrating themselves loose and puking oil all over everything.
Looking at the castings for the two series engines it's clear that the Courage is a different casting and that is it's downfall in my opinion.
Mark
I have 4 Kohlers with 300 to 600+ hrs, one owner, keep up with the maint and clean oil always. HP range is 15 thru 20, all singles.
The 20 is the only Courage and after 300 hrs it is in the scrap pile. My opinion is that the housing casting was inadequately designed for putting 20 hp in one cylinder. Mine vibrated itself to death including a 2+" crack in the casting, upper right corner of the big half where the side (top of engine but side of crankcase) bolts on, besides the head bolts and valve cover bolts repeatedly vibrating themselves loose and puking oil all over everything.
Looking at the castings for the two series engines it's clear that the Courage is a different casting and that is it's downfall in my opinion.
Mark
Mark, the reason your block broke was because the oil pan is under the flywheel on the single Courage and are part the structural support of the block in that area, the oil pan bolts were not tightened correctly and came loose, henceforth, loosing rigidity in that area and causing the block to flex, that is why your block broke right under the cylinder, not because the block had inadequate material there, you might contact Kohler if you have not scrapped the whole machine.
Texasmark1
Well-known Member
It's scrapped and upon doing so, I dismantled it to see how it was built. I retain my feelings about vibration. Otherwise the fasteners would have/should have held and not vibrated loose. I have no problems with fasteners on my Commands.
Thanks for the reply.
Mark
Thanks for the reply.
Mark
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
I have a 20 hp kohler command on a terramite. Got it used with 400 hrs on it. 1600 hours on it now. Doesnt use a drop of oil up to 60 hrs. Then oil breaks down and time to change.
That said, from day one, the left cylinder runs richer than the right. Left plug gets covered with carbor, right plug ok.
I've done every test, tried everything, plugs, ing modules, compression, leak down, different carb. When it warms up a little, I plan to take engine apart and see what going on and decarbon heads and pistons.
I know of a man with an 18 hp kohler command on a cub cadet. He lost the #1 head. Engine cooling fins 100% blocked with dirt and grass. Engine had 300 hours on it. Can't really blame kohler.
I have 2 briggs, 20 and 22 hp v-twins. About 400 hours on each. No problems with either. Some people I know have bend push rods on the bigger briggs.
I also have a 17 hp single cylinder kawasaki on an old John Deere gt275. Good engine, no hour meter on tractor.
That said, from day one, the left cylinder runs richer than the right. Left plug gets covered with carbor, right plug ok.
I've done every test, tried everything, plugs, ing modules, compression, leak down, different carb. When it warms up a little, I plan to take engine apart and see what going on and decarbon heads and pistons.
I know of a man with an 18 hp kohler command on a cub cadet. He lost the #1 head. Engine cooling fins 100% blocked with dirt and grass. Engine had 300 hours on it. Can't really blame kohler.
I have 2 briggs, 20 and 22 hp v-twins. About 400 hours on each. No problems with either. Some people I know have bend push rods on the bigger briggs.
I also have a 17 hp single cylinder kawasaki on an old John Deere gt275. Good engine, no hour meter on tractor.
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