Kohler vs. Briggs and Stratton engine in todays market

GLMPA

Member
I favor Kohler engines in todays market, but was interested in other opinions and a reason why someone would favor Briggs and Stratton over a Kohler engine today. I am interested in all opinions. Thanks for your input. Your input will help determine which riding mower I choose for this spring.
 
It depends on which Kohler and which Briggs.

Kohler had some problems with their single cylinder 'Courage' series engines. I don't seem to see the same problems with the twin cylinder Courage engines and in fact, I just serviced one with over 500 hours on it.
The Courage engine is going away. It got such a bad reputation that Kohler had totally done away with that single cylinder engine.
I can't say much bad about the Kohler Command engines. They pretty much have most of the problems worked out in them.

Briggs, on the other hand, has lots of head gasket issues with their single cylinder engines. Some of which is due to neglect and some due to the fact that the head bolts on the intake side of the cylinder are about 4" apart and they really need one in between those two.
The Briggs Intek twin engines are prone to leaking at the sump gasket. I know they have updated gaskets, but I don't know if they solve the problem or not.
The Briggs Vanguard engines are pretty durable, you see some on commercial mowers just racking up hours without a lot of problems.
 
I agree pretty much with t.r.k. The kohler courage engines from the early 2000 are total junk. Saw one that blew the head of the engine into the headlights on a tractor. I had one snap the cylinder part way off the crank case. Kohler and Briggs both had problems but most bugs are gone. Have not had head gasket trouble but that gasket between the main crankcase and the bottom pan on the twin V engines is now fixed. Glue the gasket and put lock tight on the dumb bolts! Have two mowers with the Briggs V Tech engines. Love them!! Have a new Cub Cadet with a 20hp Kohler. So far it is beauty. Other machines have old kawasaki engines. Still putting along. Also machines with even older Briggs engines. Your basics......keep all of the fins clear of trash. Overheating will kill any engine. I use synthetic blend oils. 5-20wt my engines really like. I always run hi-test gas. And lastly, all of my mowers have NGK sparkplugs. Constant good maintenance is your best friend. If the mower you are looking at has a kawasaki engine that would be golden!
 
I have a new log splitter with a Kohler and hate the engine. Kohler has really gone downhill and I'd much prefer a Chinese engine from Harbor Freight. Kind of a shame. Kohler used to make some great engines up to the same quality as Wisconsins.
 
Somewhere back there I decided I wanted to upgrade to Kohler; probably when the only BS you could by had a cast aluminum cylinder. They worked for me over the years until somewhere around 2010 I bought a husqvarna 46 conventional mower with the Kohler single 20 hp "Courage". Didn't take long for me to vibrate that sucker to death, including produce a 2 ?" crack in the main casting.

Went online and bought a new, production leftover I guess, from a private seller a BS V twin Intek. Super happy with that. Today I have over a dozen small engines under 30 hp and only one is Kohler (a 15 hp single off an old Scotts riding mower, running my home made log splitter with 8 hp requirements) and one 2005 Honda 18 hp V twin on a ZT. All the BS engines of 18 hp up are V twins. Very happy.
 
Like your story Texas. I also blew up a Kohler courage. What a piece of junk. Nice long crack down the right side of the engine. Peeeein oil all over the place. Put a very good used Briggs twin V tech 21hp. on the Husqvarna. Love those engines. The bolts that hold the crankcase and oil pan together....give them a little snug. They come loose and start to leak. Also run these engines on Hi-Test gas. Makes a big difference. I run synthetic blend oil like 5-20 in them. If the Niki carb ever goes bad, " the engine will start to run on one cylinder" here is what to do. Don't bother fixing the carb. Go on Ebay and plunk down $60.oo for a new third revision model. They work like Magic! Lastly, I would very much recommend you put NGK Iridium sparkplugs in those engines. Get them half price on Ebay. Use a dab of copper never seize on the threads. No exaggeration, in the summer time the engine will start all day long without even choking it after first start. You can't let go of the key quick enough. Those engines love these plugs. Worth every penny. The stock plug is a Champion RC12YC plug. NGK copper core plug is BPR6ES. The Iridium plug is BKR6EIX-11. You wouldn't beleive how much your generator will love these plugs. List price is $8.oo and Ebay is half that. Worth every penny.
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I prefer the Briggs over Kohler. Where I live Briggs parts are much easier to find and cheaper than Kohler. I have waited for two weeks for Kohler parts never waited more than a day or two for Briggs parts.

The Kohlers are much harder to start.
 
both make high end and low end engines. the high end engines you find on commercial level equipt. are excellent from both companys. the low end motors are built to a price. the most notticeable visual differece is in the air filtration systems. cheap mowers do not get the best engines
 
If you'll remember, you put me onto a new carb, cast alum vs plastic intake manifold (on the one I was having carb problems on), premium fuel, and NGK plugs a year or two ago. Been running them ever since, plugs bought on ebay, on 4 V twins (18, 20, and 22 Inteks, and a 26 Vanguard) and working just like you say. Wink. Thanks again.
 
Good for you and your engines. Yesterday it was 50? here. My big Husqvarna with a trailer I forgot to pull on the choke. It started after two revolutions! Love those plugs.
 
Jefcat, I have a 26 hp brigg on my craftsman tractor, it is running on 1 cyl. Which carb do I choose on ebay. There is so many. Help! Ed Will Oliver BC
 
When I bought my Ferris IZ 700, 61" last year I had the choice of K or BS engines. I went with the BS Vanguard, 801cc, 26 hp with the commercial grade air filtration system. Not sorry. More than enough power for everything I do. Did I miss something in not going with K? Don't know. The air inlet filtering system is what really sold me and I had experience with BS V twins and none with K.
 
Ok ...here is what I see on Ebay. The ones listed for my 21 and 22hp engines go all of the way to 25hp. You say you have a 26hp. In my humble opinion it should work. At least I hope it does. Go on Ebay and type in this number. 322856927735. Check around and you will find several part numbers and you can always contact a seller and ask about your engine fit. Look on the top of the left valve cover for all of the numbers . These used to cost $115.oo just a year ago. They are down to a $50.oo and less. Before you start doing anything try this little test FIRST. Take a squirt can with some gasoline in it. Unscrew the air filter and start the engine. With the engine running sqwirt a little gas down the left side of the intake manifold. Next qsquirt some down the right side. All of a sudden you engine will start running on both cylinders. If thus is what you get you have a messed up carb. Also go back and read about the Iridium sparkplugs. WELL worth installint. Also hi-test gas. My two engines.
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Thanks to all who replied. I really enjoy hearing other opinions and reasons for those opinions.
 

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