Small Engine performance

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Would be interested in a discussion (good / bad experiences) re small 4-stroke engines in the 3 - 20 ish horsepower range. The type typically fitted to mowers, pressure washers, log splitters etc such as Briggs, Tecumseh (crap!), Honda i.e. GX, Kohler, Subaru Robin etc. Rarely had trouble with any of them except Tecumseh which we all know are junk. Some Chinese Honda copies (seen one called a Wahoo!) probably rubbish too. Honda GX seems to enjoy a legendary reputation - the real deal or hype? Subaru Robin just as good? For mowers I prefer Kawasaki... The Kubota 3hp fitted on a ransomes marquis is the sweetest I've ever heard...

[log supplier]

honda all round for me....

[geoff]

You can't beet a honda at the moment, good engines about, but look at the longevity and backup, oh and the refinement, just my opinion.

[detritus21]

I've got a small 6.5hp engine on a small garden shredder. Its a copy of the OHV engine to be honest its pretty good once you sort out the way the governer springs and that are on or not. Revs well and seems to have lasted well so far.

 

The other engine I have that I'm going to be using to make a log splitter is a Lister 2 cylinder LV engine 18hp if I am correct. Just need a big pump and big ram and I'm laughing.

 

Seriously though alot of the chinese copy engines are very good once you give it a bit of an initial service. Then again you pay your money and all that.

[Charlieh]

got 16hp briggs and straton v twins on my atv topper and my old mans ride on mower, awesomely powerfull engines and not had a spot of bother with them in several years of use, also i have smaller 3.5hp B&S engine on my ransome marquis mower, made in 1979 and its still a good un, it had been un-used in the shed for 4years until this year and it just needed a bit of tweaking on the carb to sort it, and thats a 30yr old engine!

 

i dont have much experience of honda engines other than in atvs and that has always been very positive, i would by honda over any of the other brands just for the engine reliability

[Ian C]

Kholer 18hp on the grinder, good engine. got chinese honda copies on log splitter and pressure washer, had no bother with them at all, the chinese engines are pretty good to be honest its what they connect them to that can be iffy.

[detritus21]

the chinese engines are pretty good to be honest its what they connect them to that can be iffy.

 

I'd agree with that

[tractorboy1]

Kawasaki on my John Deere mower never gives any bother shame the mower weight a ton and wont pick up if grass is wet. Honda's are great states the 1 on my treebusta starts first time after months. B&S i always find run for ever and give no probs. Only engine I have ever found a real pain is a Tecumseh need choke every time it was started.

[tommer9]

Hey jon, hows tricks. I have always gone for Honda. They just keep working- water pemps, vibrating beams etc etc. It seem that no matter what abuse they are given they are totally reliable. Having said that, my mill has a B&S "commercial power" 23Hp v-twin. When i mentioned this to a local dealer he said that it was a jap/ us (i cant rightly recall) unit, and had the longevity of honda, without being so picky over clean fuel. I have to say that i am very very impressed with it- it is well gutsy. My chipper had a Kohler flat twin on it when i got it.......that was awful, although i believe the Kohler commando engines are pretty good- woodmizer fir them to alot of their machines and seem reliable, although i have no personal experience.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Yeah I was only saying on another thread earlier (kohler recoils) that I once had a Kohler Command 20hp on an oregon chipper (!) and it imo was much better than the equivalent B&S Vanguard which was noisy, shaky and backfired! I think the Honda 24hp v-twin on the Jo-Beau M500 I also once had was quite a sweetie. I've had so many mowers over the years that I can't help but notice the engine differences. I recently got rid of a cylinder mower fitted with the current Honda GX160. Either it didn't suit the machine or it was rough. I have exactly the same 5.5hp engine on a scarifier with the oil bath air cleaner and it noticeably smoother running. Then there's the GXV160 on my Kaaz mower, the vertical crank version - again quite good. However I have two Ariens machines with pressure-lubed Kawasaki FJ180 6hp units and they pee all over the Hondas - quiet, torquey and smooth. Saying that they are not good starters. I have a Kubota Mag engine on a ransomes marquis which is another league again - sewing machine sweet. Also Yamaha mowers - sadly not imported here anymore as they have very good quiet engines. Jap everytime innit !

 

I'm about to buy a logsplitter with a Subaru-Robin engine - will be interesting...