[Fireman993]

What is your favorite engine brand and why?

For push mowers it would be either Briggs (the ones with the carb on the tank especially) as they are so easy to service or old Lawn-boys due to being easily servicable and they have gobs of power.

For riders it would be the Briggs Vanguard. It seems very well built compared to some of the other Briggs engines. The Kohler Command looks pretty nice too. I haven't used one yet but a Yanamar or Kubota diesel looks awesome(maybe when my Vanguard goes I will repower with a small diesel) I wonder if anyone makes a diesel push mower That would be pretty neat.

 

[dustycarter]

For push mowers, I the same with you fireman, never owned a lawnboy but I have plenty of the others.

Riders, It would have to be a vertical Magnum Kohler. Mine has had 1360 hours on it and still running very strong. I rebuilt it because it was running sluggish and smoked. Cast iron everything. Best engine that I think Kohler has ever made. Not a cheap motor at all. For Briggs, maybe the older ones. I hate todays Briggs. They are all pieces of junk. You pay for something that you don't get.Never had any diesels but heard they were real good.

 

[Kingwood990]

Well I can't answer for walkbehinds because I just don't use many of them,
But for riders it would be the big older Briggs Horizontal shaft singles like the ones used in the MTD 990, when mine was running it had a lot of torque and they sound awesome. My other favorite engine in a rider would be the liquid cooled Kawasaki in my John Deere, its a little cold natured but it is the best engine I have ever used.

 

[Wayne195]

I say HONDA! They are solid engines. I have a Honda pushmower that most always starts on the first pull!

 

[Brad]

I like the Lawnboy engines, personally. But they only come on Lawnboys from years gone by. Of the present day machines I would say probably Kohler and Kawasaki. But it does seem as though the small engine market is changing. There are more and more clones out there, including diesel, and they seem to be acquiring a good reputation for dependability.

 

[dustycarter]

What is the name of the engines harbor freight sells? Has anybody had any luck with them? I am wanting to get one for a go cart. I have a frame here and hate to see it ruin. I had the motor for it but it blew up whole driving it.

 

[junebug1701]

What is the name of the engines harbor freight sells? Has anybody had any luck with them? I am wanting to get one for a go cart. I have a frame here and hate to see it ruin. I had the motor for it but it blew up whole driving it.

I believe HF calls them Greyhound engines, but they're really Chinese made Honda clones. They're going for $99 right now and the guys over at the PER forum are giving them rave reviews. One guy re-powered a go-cart and also a tiller:

http://www.perr.com/phpBB3/

 

[junebug1701]

Here's a good discussion about Harbor Freight Greyhound engines:

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=141970

 

[HiredHand]

I love my twin opposed Briggs on my old huskee but the newer intek on my home depot John Deere just doesn't seem to have the umph in comparison I got my first kohler this spring it a courage seems pretty good I guess any brand besides techumseh never had luck with them

 

[dustycarter]

Thank you June bug for those websites. I never knew it was on MTF. Hopefully if its made after honda then it will last a long time. Thank you again!

 

[Fireman993]

I believe HF calls them Greyhound engines, but they're really Chinese made Honda clones. They're going for $99 right now and the guys over at the PER forum are giving them rave reviews. One guy re-powered a go-cart and also a tiller:

http://www.perr.com/phpBB3/

I haven't used these but they seem to be pretty good from reviews I read. I wouldn't mind picking one up to see how good they are.

 

[Fireman993]

I say HONDA! They are solid engines. I have a Honda pushmower that most always starts on the first pull!

Hondas are also supposed to be quieter from what I hear. Is yours quieter compared to other machines?

 

[Orangedotfever]

Lawnboy F series for walk behinds and Kohler 301 series for riders.

 

[Wayne195]

Hondas are also supposed to be quieter from what I hear. Is yours quieter compared to other machines?

Yes, slightly.

 

[mowersnob]

For walk behinds...... definitely Kawasaki engines, only small engine (that I know of) with full pressure lubrication, optional oil filter plenty of power and amazingly stingy on fuel.

A very close second would be the Suzuki 2cycle

On riders.... still have to go with Kawasaki. I've spent a fair amount of time on a JD rider with an air cooled Kawasaki V-twin and another JD rider with the 3-cyl liquid cooled engine....... both are just awesome, smooth powerful and easy on gas.

 

[Barbosa]

Honda. for me they have lived almost forever.

 

[Wayne195]

For walk behinds...... definitely Kawasaki engines, only small engine (that I know of) with full pressure lubrication, optional oil filter plenty of power and amazingly stingy on fuel.

A very close second would be the Suzuki 2cycle

On riders.... still have to go with Kawasaki. I've spent a fair amount of time on a JD rider with an air cooled Kawasaki V-twin and another JD rider with the 3-cyl liquid cooled engine....... both are just awesome, smooth powerful and easy on gas.

Ditto, but the kawasaki's are expensive...

 

[GrassyKnoll]

I say HONDA! They are solid engines. I have a Honda pushmower that most always starts on the first pull!

And is quieter, and starts even in cold weather. I have sworn by the Hondas since I got my first place.

 

[BillTheTractorMan]

maybe I missed it, but no one said Tecumseh.

I'm a die hard Tecumseh fan, always been good to me.

For a push mower I like the little Briggs with the carb on the tank.
For the riders, I prefer Tecumseh. I know my Tecumseh engines that I have pretty well and they have not failed me yet so I'm happy with them.

 

[mowersnob]

Ditto, but the kawasaki's are expensive...

True, but you get what you pay for..... I mean how often do you have the term "best" and "cheap" in the same sentence...... not very