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For residential mowing of a flat, 1-acre lot, what size engine should I look for? Or, what's the smallest engine that would provide good performance? I have a fair amount of leaves that I'll want to bag or mulch in the fall.

I'm looking at ZTR mowers that range in size from 38" to 42" and seeing engines that range in power from 15 HP to 21 HP.

Also, I see mostly Kohler and Kawasaki engines with a few Briggs and Stratton. Are any of these engine brands superior to the others in performance or reliability?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Jeff

My toro timecutter has a 19 horse Kohler on it. It does a good job, plenty of speed, slows a little bit through tall tall grass, and so you have to go slower. In terms of engine brands, I like Kawasaki over Kohler and B and S. Good luck.

A_tank96

jmarwill said:

For residential mowing of a flat, 1-acre lot, what size engine should I look for? Or, what's the smallest engine that would provide good performance? I have a fair amount of leaves that I'll want to bag or mulch in the fall.

I'm looking at ZTR mowers that range in size from 38" to 42" and seeing engines that range in power from 15 HP to 21 HP.

Also, I see mostly Kohler and Kawasaki engines with a few Briggs and Stratton. Are any of these engine brands superior to the others in performance or reliability?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Jeff

Click to expand...

Realize that any of the answers you receive for this question will be opinion based and everyone will have different opinions:smile: As far as performance and reliability goes IMO Kawasaki would hold the upper hand, my next choice would be the Kohler then I mite consider a B&S. As far as engine size goes a lot of that would depend on the set up of the mower. Both my ZTR mowers are running the 20 and 22hp Kohler v-twins and both have been exceptional, my stander runs the 15hp Kawasaki v-twin and it seems to have as much power as the others. The thing I wouldn't buy would be any single cylinder in a ztr mower because they lack the power needed to do the heavy mowing that you could run into. As I say this is my opinion based on my experiences and I'm sure others will comment.

jaymarwill,
That's three opinions in a row on most reliable(I also rate them Kawa, Kohler & B & S). As far as size/hp rating of engines, IMHO if you purchase a reputable brand of ZTR regardless of the deck cutting size most manufacturers will match up the appropriate power rating engine for each specific model(I could be wrong in some cases as pointed out about the Toro Timecutter "bogging down"). Also, I believe that it is noteworthy that ZTR's(by design) as well as some other mower designs like standers and walk-behinds are much different than the regular "lawn tractor" and require "less horsepower" to get the job done. For instance, my new Gravely 52" Pro-Turn ZTR has a 22hp Kawasaki and that mower weighs over 1,000 pounds. My previous Craftsman(made by Husqvarna) 54" lawn tractor had a 24hp Briggs & Stratton and that mower probably weighed half what my Gravely does. The Craftsman on occaission, like the Toro Timecutter, would "bog down in really tall grass" especially when I had the mulching cover on it(actually would die sometimes when a lot of grass built up under the deck when mulching). I have yet to hear my Gravely's Kawa engine even sound like it was in a strain(although I've only mowed with it 6 times at the end of this past season and have not cut really tall grass.....but I don't expect a change when I do). With a ZTR, it's all about the blade tip speed attained versus a lawn tractor. The difference is like night & day. When you shop for ZTR's note that rating which should be in the vicintity of 18,000 fps for good cutting performance. it is sometimes a rather obscure spec on some brands so you may have to ask the dealer to find out on the model you are considering.

If possible I would try an get a v-twin. The one in the toro is a single cylinder, and like I said it only bogs down a little bit in really tall grass, but I would like some more power. Not a very big difference but a difference.