I am looking to buy a new 61" TC II this week. I have not completely ruled out the 52" with a 22hp Kawasaki 691FX. With a budget of $10k or less, I was priced the 52" at $8500, the 61" with Kohler at $9,299 and the 61" with a Kawasaki 730FX @ $9,800. So basically a $1300 swing from $8500 to $9800. I will be cutting about 10 acres of pasture land (personally owned) that has been cut for quite some time with a brush hog. The land is fairly flat but then again, its pasture. We don't have cows anymore but we do have our fair share of wild hogs here in Texas! With all three mowers coming in under $10k, I would like any personal feedback regarding these three engine choices and if anyone has had any trouble with the Kohler or Kawasaki 730FX. Thank you.
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#2
BlazNT
I personally would go with the Kohler EFI so you can put the top of the line suspension seat on the mower. You are going to need it with mowing pasture. I would think of an air ride seat. They are the best and you will need the best.
I appreciate your feedback. Based on your comment, I”m assuming there is a different SCAG “upgraded” seat that can be purchased and you have to buy the Kohler engine to get it?? Thx.
#4
BlazNT
Sorry I was not really clear on my post. I was saying you need to save money to purchase an air ride seat for your mower. Good air ride seat kits can cost around $1000.00. Kohler is the cheaper engine choice with no real downfalls. Others may feel different but I have run Kohlers most of my life(53 years) and have had no problems to speak of. I have also run Kawasaki engines. When it comes time to fix one you will pay for the Kawasaki name parts. I just had a starter for my 22 hp Kawasaki go out and they wanted $468 plus shipping cost. I decided to go with an OE replacement one instead. $48 no tax and free 2-day shipping. Could buy 10 for the price of one.
#5
Sweats
I don't have any professional experience with any mower or engine. I do have about 48 years experience (from my first time mowing the yard for my dad til today) with Briggs and Stratton and Kohler. Never had a problem with either. Right now I'm using (or rather, my extortionist son is using) a one year old Tiger Cat II with 61" deck and a Kohler 29 horse EFI engine with about 130 hours in it. The boy mows 5 acres weekly. It had a fuel pump issue early on that I'm going to say was bum luck but it's been good otherwise. Others will say the Kohler's a junk engine and maybe they'll be right, in which case I've been a lucky guy all these years and I'm fine with that. I'd buy my mower again.
This is the same setup I have, Mine is a 2016 and I only have about 45 hours on it, but no problems at all, and it cuts GREAT.
#11
jekjr
Any time you have the opportunity to get a Kawasaki engine over the Kohler you better take it. The Kawasaki will keep on ticking but at 1000 hours or less the Kohler will be using oil like an oil heater.
There is nothing out there that will out cut a Tiger Cat with a 52" deck and a 22 hP Kawasaki engine. they are incredible machines. I have one that aI changed the oil on today that has 1841 hours on it and runs just as good as it did new.
I cut several acres yesterday and I’m super pleased so far. I’ll admit, I had some severely abused areas out in the pasture and the Coastal Bermuda grass was really thick. The TC performed great!
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#13
jekjr
If you will adjust all 4 tires to the recommended pressure exactly. Then lower the deck to the hight you will cut grass mostly to. Drive the mower up on a flat level cement surface. On both back corners measure from the top of the deck to the cement. Make sure that it is level from side to side. Then measure the front. You will want the front to be about 1/4" lower than the back. Then get you some Oregon High lift blades and keep them sharp. There is nothing on the market that will cut tall grass with this mower with this setup and those blades. We run 4 of them and cut acres and acres of Pensacola Bahia grass with them that is normally cut on 2 week intervals. They are a beast.
