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I have a snapper rear engine rider and It has a blown Tecumseh I am wondering what would be my best bet for a new/used engine as in honda b and s Kawasaki or kohler

Mwh0428 said:

I have a snapper rear engine rider and It has a blown Tecumseh I am wondering what would be my best bet for a new/used engine as in honda b and s Kawasaki or kohler

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Why not a Tecumseh like what is in it ? Tecumseh make just as good as engine as Kawasaki or Honda. I find if you install what you have taken out every thing fits better.

Ok I will look for another tech.

But what if build something like a mower what is the most durable engine out there and longest lasting

How many hours did you get out of the tecumseh? If not many hours what could have been the reason? What kind of maintainance porgram did you have with the tecumseh? Just why do you think you will get more hours out of a differant brand engine? I would say if you want to try something else try it by all means, you are the person paying the bill. Don't ask just do it.

I got the snapper from my uncle I don't know how many hours are on it the motor was blown when I got it i put a 5 hp i got off the other snapper I got from my uncle on it and I pull small trailers with the snapper that had the Tecumseh but I don't want to continuously swapping the motor

Mwh0428 said:

I got the snapper from my uncle I don't know how many hours are on it the motor was blown when I got it i put a 5 hp i got off the other snapper I got from my uncle on it and I pull small trailers with the snapper that had the Tecumseh but I don't want to continuously swapping the motor

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Just what do you want? Raw power or longevity? How much money do you want to spend? Now for longevity I would go for one of the heavy cast iron engines Kohler magnum engines. Very heavy not much power. You want power get one of the newer overhead valve engines. Most any bran will do. You can get over 30 HP right off the shelf. You really want power go for a motorcycle engine. Now lets get to the money part. The time and money spent just to pull a small trailer why not buy a good used or new garden tractor, less money. Unless you are making a custom outfit and have skills, shop to work in with equipment, and money to play with, go for it.

I think I will look for a kohler

Mwh0428 said:

I think I will look for a kohler

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I still don't understand what you are looking for? (power or longevity)
Kohler would be a good choice. If you get one of the Kohler Flatheads K or M series you can buy high high performance parts for it. If you go all out you should get a good 40 HP out of one. I see you can also buy a new 25 HP overhead valve twin cylinder Kohler. For a good 3000 thousand dollars or so should set you up with all the power you should want. I am not so sure the drive train will stand up to all the new power so that will have to be your next project. Of course you will need tires to grab the ground with all this power.

I want it to last but I don't want to go over 15 hp I don't think the drive train will hold up with any more power

Mwh0428 said:

I want it to last but I don't want to go over 15 hp I don't think the drive train will hold up with any more power

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Like I said in the first post nothing bad with a well maintained Tecumseh and chances are it will out last the rest of the mower. On top of that it will fit better without a lot of modifications. Also if you want a change the older cast iron Kohler's were a old work horse.

Are the newer kohlers worth buying or not

Mwh0428 said:

Are the newer kohlers worth buying or not

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I guess that would be a easy statement to make. Just why are you saying this? There must be a reason. I heard this pass summer at a tractor show that they are making them in China. I just don't believe everything I hear from a sales person and this is the reason I am asking this. I know after seeing problems on newer Honda and Kawasaki engines if they also make me wonder if they are any better. This is why I don't see anything wrong with the Tecumseh engine.

They don't make tecumseh engines any more I at least don't think they do and I want something newer I don't want a motor that's 10 or 15 years old

It looks like what ever you want to spend for money. I have no idea what you have to spend for this. Not much money go to Harbor Freight and you can buy a new Robin engine for around 100 dollars. Money is no problem go to your local dealer and buy a new Kohler for around 3000 dollars. ???? Used is cheaper then new. No forum knows you or what you want? I have no idea what answer you are looking for.

reynoldston said:

Tecumseh make just as good as engine as Kawasaki or Honda. .

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That's a matter of opinion.

Ric said:

That's a matter of opinion.

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Why not what is so bad about a tecumseh. Talk is easy, because of experience or someone told you so? I sure have has more problems with Honda and Kawasaki then Tecumseh. This pass summer I have repaced a cam shaft in a Honda ATV with very low miles and a Kawasaki in a John Deere that the intake valve broke off and went through the piston. When I bought parts for the Kawasaki at the salvage yard the salvage yard told me that he sells more parts for a Kawasaki then any other engine. The biggest job I had on a tecumseh this pass summer is a valve adjustment. Now you must have a opinion why a tecumseh is not as good as a Honda or Kawasaki that is better then mine?? Lets hear it. Do you do a lot of repairs on all three engines??

I want a new engine thats built to last

And not a piece of japcrap

reynoldston said:

Why not what is so bad about a tecumseh. Talk is easy, because of experience or someone told you so? I sure have has more problems with Honda and Kawasaki then Tecumseh. This pass summer I have repaced a cam shaft in a Honda ATV with very low miles and a Kawasaki in a John Deere that the intake valve broke off and went through the piston. When I bought parts for the Kawasaki at the salvage yard the salvage yard told me that he sells more parts for a Kawasaki then any other engine. The biggest job I had on a tecumseh this pass summer is a valve adjustment. Now you must have a opinion why a tecumseh is not as good as a Honda or Kawasaki that is better then mine?? Lets hear it. Do you do a lot of repairs on all three engines??

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I guess you could call it experience, I guess over the years I've been around enough people who owned Tecumseh motors, cussed there existence and seen them end up in the trash too know how good they are. If I'm not mistaking (not sure) but I believe they stopped making the things didn't they?
As far as the Honda and Kawasaki mower engines go, I run both and have run the Honda's for years and as of yet have ever had a problem with a Honda engine and my Kawasaki I've had for three years and not one repair.
I Personally wouldn't give you a nickle for all the Tecumseh motors that have ever been made, same with B&S but then again that's just my opinion which I guess I'm entitled too as you are yours.

Mwh0428 said:

I want a new engine that's built to last

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If you want an engine that is going to last any of the three you you mentioned will last you a lifetime if you maintain them on a regular schedule. Personally if I had to pick one of the three I'd go with the Kohler but that's just my opinion. I've never had a problem with any of my Kohler's and I mow 68 lawns a week with those and have for the last four years.

Mwh0428 said:

They don't make tecumseh engines any more I at least don't think they do and I want something newer I don't want a motor that's 10 or 15 years old

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You can still buy a new Tecumseh engine and they are made in USA. Prices start around 200 dollars or also a Briggs is made in USA.

Mwh0428 said:

And not a piece of japcrap

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If you don't want japcrap I'd stay away from B&S. They've been japcrap since I believe 1986 on some of there engines.

Ric said:

If you don't want japcrap I'd stay away from B&S. They've been japcrap since I believe 1986 on some of there engines.

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I really don't know where any of the engines are made anymore. Like I said early I heard Kohler was made in China and now you are saying Briggs is made in Japan. Just how do you know where anything is made anymore? I would say to be safe it would have to be a older engine and rebuild it. I have a Toyota car and I know for one thing it just never needs repairs and the car before this one was a Chevrolet and it needed repairs weekly.

I will get a kohler or kawasaki

reynoldston said:

I really don't know where any of the engines are made anymore. Like I said early I heard Kohler was made in China and now you are saying Briggs is made in Japan. Just how do you know where anything is made anymore? I would say to be safe it would have to be a older engine and rebuild it. I have a Toyota car and I know for one thing it just never needs repairs and the car before this one was a Chevrolet and it needed repairs weekly.

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Ok you say to be safe it would have to be an older engine but what about any parts you need to buy for the engine, where do you think they would come from? I think you'll find that most major manufacturers of mower engines all have some ties to either Japan or China same as most car manufacturers. Briggs & Stratton was the first United States small engine company to engage with the Chinese on or for there motors.

Ric said:

Ok you say to be safe it would have to be an older engine but what about any parts you need to buy for the engine, where do you think they would come from? I think you'll find that most major manufacturers of mower engines all have some ties to either Japan or China same as most car manufacturers. Briggs & Stratton was the first United States small engine company to engage with the Chinese on or for there motors.

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I really don't have a answer on this,do you? I have a friend that races go carts and uses the cheap Harbor Freight engines and he gets two seasons out of a engine. Now this is running this engine full bore every week end without a governor and for how ever long a race takes.. I know I buy a lot of my bearings off E-bay and they are made in China and to be honest I haven't had any problems with them. I take it you must be in the lawn care business and run your equipment a lot of hours. By doing this you know a lot more about this then me. I am just a part time repair shop and my customers are homeowners trying to save money. Seeing I have to buy retail it takes some looking on my part like salvage yards and E-bay. Also see you are making a living with your equipment you would not have time for this and to have any down time. I have worked on both sides in my over 60 years of repairs and when I worked on commercial equipment the customer want the best and wanted it fast.

Now as far as Mwh0428 gos I really think a Harley Davidson motorcycle engine would make him a real screamer. Made in USA. :thumbsup:

reynoldston said:

Now as far as Mwh0428 gos I really think a Harley Davidson motorcycle engine would make him a real screamer. Made in USA. :thumbsup:

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:laughing: If you want a screamer you don't want a Harley. To much work involved to make a Harley a screamer, you definitely want a Japanese motor.

I just feel like the Kohler or the Kawasaki would be the best choice for Mwh428. The reason I'd never buy or own a Tecumseh is because they were never real big on there lawn mower motors, they were just an after thought and was there second string so to speak.

Now he said no Japanese parts and only Harley is USA

The only reason I say Tecumseh is that is what came out of it and being in the repair business I like stock for the lease problems to put things together. Nothing is going to fit right. Exhaust, wiring, cables, etc. I am even to the point when I take a bolt out of a hole I like it to go back into the same hole. You are looking at it as a lawn care pro and I am looking at it as a mechanic. I have been in this mess before and when I get a job like this in my shop I don't even want it. I find as a rule the person doing the work has no idea what they are doing and just makes a mess out of everything. The last job I had like that was a old Bolens and I must of spend a day getting the governor and carburetor to work right and the exhaust was a nightmare. No thanks because it is nothing but a money loser. I am also say the person who started this thread dosen't know too much about this type of work or they wouldn't be asking what engine to use. They would know what they want.

As a rule your right. Most mowers never get the attention they need from a homeowner, most mow and put them back in the garage, never check the oil, never clean an air filter, clean them etc. etc.
When you do what I do you learn fast how to take care of equipment and save all you can, of course I had an advantage because my Dad was a mechanic and a electrician and I learned from a good teacher.