Best engine??

[pfrederi 17,741]

My 1967 Lawn Ranger is on its second Techy.  First one was replaced after 27 years of use (she was burning some oil but still ran OK)  Replacement was made as it didn't have ACR and it was getting hard for my father to pull the rope. The HH70 we put on is still on it 26 years later she smokes a bit on start up but is used year round and starts quicker than any of the Kohlers. One lesson on Techys if they are working do not mess with them....

[Gregor 4,846]

It's what was on the tractor when I bought it. I have been keeping my eye out for the correct original, but no luck yet.

[Greentored 3,216]

Actually came back to throw down a Tecumseh honorable mention and @Gregor beat me to it. Plenty of experience back in the day with em in go karts and minibikes, and then snagged up this 655 over the summer. I'm impressed by just how capable this little booger is with that puny little engine. Super finicky, but once she got dialed in she was on the money.  Would I choose one over a Kohler or Briggs? Probably not, but I do think the engines themselves are quite decent.

...just take that Tekky carburetor with its stupid idle well jiggle rod, step outside the garage door, wind up and throw that piece of garbage as far as you can.

Or better yet, set it on a stump and give it a couple rounds of OO buck.

[Bens vintage tractors 1,542]

4 hours ago, Skipper said:

Now that it has to be Wheel Horse original mounted engines, I would have to say the little robin diesel in the 512-D

@Skipper I would love to find one of those in the states! I’m a huge single cylinder diesel fan.. 

[Bens vintage tractors 1,542]

4 hours ago, horseyheaven said:

My number 1 would be a tie between Kohler k series and flat head Briggs for durability.  I have never had one of these torn down yet and they all have some serious hours on them.  Worst thing I have had to do is points\condenser.  My second choice would be Kohler command horizontal  Twin cylinder engines.  However, I do like a good, strong running Onan.  For years, I only had Kohler or Briggs.  Now, I have 4 Onans in my fleet that are impressing me.  Only have had trouble with one of them on a 520 WH.  It lost a valve seat on rear cylinder.  When I tore it apart, It had an oil leak and back cylinder was coated with grass.  The previous owner abused the machine pretty hard.  When I got it, I went all through it and took care of all its issues.  Now, it has been great.

@horseyheaven the only reason I like kohlers better than flat head Briggs is the placement of the points under the flywheel on the Briggs. Also not a huge fan of the updraft carbs. But I will take a Briggs over a tecumseh any day 

[clueless 3,005]

Kohler single cylinder flat head engines, like my man said "easy to work on and rock solid dependability". Come on guys can any of you honestly say that about the Onans .

[Bill D 1,927]

1 hour ago, Bens vintage tractors said:

@horseyheaven the only reason I like kohlers better than flat head Briggs is the placement of the points under the flywheel on the Briggs. Also not a huge fan of the updraft carbs. But I will take a Briggs over a tecumseh any day 

The Briggs twin in my GT has the electronic ignition, no points!  What's not to love about that.  For engine swaps, anything with electronic ignition is preferred.  Makes wiring easy,  just add a five pin relay in place of the coil when swapping into a tractor with a powered ignition.  Bill

[ebinmaine 67,709]

2 hours ago, Bens vintage tractors said:

@horseyheaven the only reason I like kohlers better than flat head Briggs is the placement of the points under the flywheel on the Briggs. Also not a huge fan of the updraft carbs. But I will take a Briggs over a tecumseh any day 

 

38 minutes ago, Bill D said:

The Briggs twin in my GT has the electronic ignition, no points!  What's not to love about that.  For engine swaps, anything with electronic ignition is preferred.  Makes wiring easy,  just add a five pin relay in place of the coil when swapping into a tractor with a powered ignition.  Bill

 

 

The Briggs 8 aluminum engine that is in the bright red tractor in my above picture has one of those electronic conversions. Excellent idea and starts wonderful. 

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

2 hours ago, clueless said:

Kohler single cylinder flat head engines, like my man said "easy to work on and rock solid dependability". Come on guys can any of you honestly say that about the Onans .

Yes,  because I haven't really had to work on the Anniversary 520H I bought new, and as of late 3-4 Kohlers owned by kinsfolk are with issues 🤔... That may change but as of now...

[JoeM 7,874]

I like the Kohler one lung, especially the Magnum. 

[Bens vintage tractors 1,542]

3 hours ago, Bill D said:

The Briggs twin in my GT has the electronic ignition, no points!  What's not to love about that.  For engine swaps, anything with electronic ignition is preferred.  Makes wiring easy,  just add a five pin relay in place of the coil when swapping into a tractor with a powered ignition.  Bill

@Bill D If I have to swap an engine I will go with a diesel or a vtwin.. no points in either of those! 

[Bens vintage tractors 1,542]

Here are all of my k series complete tractors! 

[clueless 3,005]

3 hours ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

Yes,  because I haven't really had to work on the Anniversary 520H I bought new, and as of late 3-4 Kohlers owned by kinsfolk are with issues 🤔... That may change but as of now...

So how old are the kinsfolks kohler?

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

23 minutes ago, clueless said:

So how old are the kinsfolks kohler?

20 to 40 but my Onan is over 20 as well... Its not necessarily Brand as much as how it was treated since new and no matter what those old oil "slinger" engines won't hold up to mowing slopes/hills like I have with pressurized oiling unit unless its ran "overfilled", just my observations, yes Kohlers can and do last several years... And so do Onans if taken care of.

[Bens vintage tractors 1,542]

2 hours ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

20 to 40 but my Onan is over 20 as well... Its not necessarily Brand as much as how it was treated since new and no matter what those old oil "slinger" engines won't hold up to mowing slopes/hills like I have with pressurized oiling unit unless its ran "overfilled", just my observations, yes Kohlers can and do last several years... And so do Onans if taken care of.

@WVHillbilly520H  onans are alright until they break then comes big expenses. 

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

I second @daveoman1966 my c160 has the best engine ever made. I do like the Briggs though. I had a craftsman 17.5hp for 14 years and it never gave me any trouble. 

 

[daveoman1966 3,752]

About my 1975 C-160.  I'm the 2nd owner and have had it for at least 20 or its 45+ year life.  Oil gets changed spring and fall every year I'v owned it.  Spark plug and points swap-out has been at least 5 years...probably due now. Starter got a rebuild 7 or 8 years back...and I had to change the ingnition switch last summer.  NEVER have I had the engine off the frame for overhaul or service of any sort.  It is only now starting to puff a light blue cloud when sht down.   To reiterate: KOHLER K341S...BEST ONE LUNGER EVER MADE.  

[953 nut 55,338]

On 12/10/2020 at 5:23 AM, SylvanLakeWH said:

I’m partial to engines that run... correctly... consistently... without a lot of nonsense.

                Probably just a  coincidence that all of the trouble free engines I own are Kohlers!             

[clueless 3,005]

5 hours ago, daveoman1966 said:

About my 1975 C-160.  I'm the 2nd owner and have had it for at least 20 or its 45+ year life.  Oil gets changed spring and fall every year I'v owned it.  Spark plug and points swap-out has been at least 5 years...probably due now. Starter got a rebuild 7 or 8 years back...and I had to change the ingnition switch last summer.  NEVER have I had the engine off the frame for overhaul or service of any sort.  It is only now starting to puff a light blue cloud when sht down.   To reiterate: KOHLER K341S...BEST ONE LUNGER EVER MADE.  

 

Like I said Kohler single flatheads. You guys with those great running Onans get back with me in 20+year and keep a list of everything you did to keep it running, if it's still running.

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

12 hours ago, Bens vintage tractors said:

@WVHillbilly520H  onans are alright until they break then comes big expenses. 

Key words "until" and I got 2 Kohlers with broken rods 1 with a huge vent in the side of the block but MY Onan is still going strong since the day I bought new,  MECHANICALLY I have had no issues with MY engine... 

 

10 minutes ago, clueless said:

 

Like I said Kohler single flatheads. You guys with those great running Onans get back with me in 20+year and keep a list of everything you did to keep it running, if it's still running.

Hell in 20 years I might not be running and BTW I haven't done anything mechanical to my Onan, it did kick out an ignition nodule but that's electronic... Again lets go mow my hill sideways for hours/years and get back to me on how well that Kohler is still running ?  

Edited December 11, 2020 by WVHillbilly520H

[Bens vintage tractors 1,542]

7 hours ago, daveoman1966 said:

About my 1975 C-160.  I'm the 2nd owner and have had it for at least 20 or its 45+ year life.  Oil gets changed spring and fall every year I'v owned it.  Spark plug and points swap-out has been at least 5 years...probably due now. Starter got a rebuild 7 or 8 years back...and I had to change the ingnition switch last summer.  NEVER have I had the engine off the frame for overhaul or service of any sort.  It is only now starting to puff a light blue cloud when sht down.   To reiterate: KOHLER K341S...BEST ONE LUNGER EVER MADE.  

@daveoman1966  the 341 is a awesome engine but it’s safe to say the 301,321,341 are all on the same field with reliability. The 16 is cool because it’s a decent hp rating. 

[Bens vintage tractors 1,542]

1 hour ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

Key words "until" and I got 2 Kohlers with broken rods 1 with a huge vent in the side of the block but MY Onan is still going strong since the day I bought new,  MECHANICALLY I have had no issues with MY engine... 

 

Hell in 20 years I might not be running and BTW I haven't done anything mechanical to my Onan, it did kick out an ignition nodule but that's electronic... Again lets go mow my hill sideways for hours/years and get back to me on how well that Kohler is still running ?  

@WVHillbilly520H  just because you had a couple problems with kohlers doesn’t mean they are worse than onans. Across the board the kohlers beat out onans in reliability. I would much rather have to rebuild my kohler 1 time then constantly chase problems down on an onan. Just my opinion 

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

51 minutes ago, Bens vintage tractors said:

@WVHillbilly520H  just because you had a couple problems with kohlers doesn’t mean they are worse than onans. Across the board the kohlers beat out onans in reliability. I would much rather have to rebuild my kohler 1 time then constantly chase problems down on an onan. Just my opinion 

Just because someone else had problems with an Onan doesn't mean they are worse than Kohler either???... I don't constantly chase problems with MY Onan, and this will be just like the classic Ford vs Chevy ect... We all know who "circles" every mistake they ship out the factory... And what small engine manufacturer just about lost everything over they're so great KT17 series 1 ? But I can honestly say I have owned/used both and yes I can say for ME Onans hands down and tomorrow it could throw a rod but at least I never had a head scratcher like the damn k301 Kohler in my kid's CC lately.   I'm done here my experiences are mine and have been great with the ONAN vs Kohlers for me... Anything I don't HAVE to work on IMO is a better option period.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,608]

Oil, gear, hydro, tires, paint / no paint, patina, rust, round, square, short, long, black hood, shade of red, gas, diesel electric, alcohol/straight, additives/snake oil, etc...............

 

We all have preferences based on our own experiences...

 

Motors ain’t no different...

 

I propose we agree that if it’s on a Wheel Horse it shall be deemed superior. Do I hear a second?

 

[ebinmaine 67,709]

3 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Do I hear a second?

Aye!!!