What's your favorite engine type?

G

gear junkie

New member
So looking at 3 different engines.

Vanguard 21 hp
Honda GX630
Kohler CH621

The kohler is rated at 19 hp but is darn close on displacement. The kohler has hydraulic lifters...not sure about the other two. The vanguard is by far the lightest and smallest which worries me. I was always taught heavier equipment is generally better.

Do you have any input on which engine you like or do know of any to stay away from?
 
I would go with the Kohler. Kohler makes a 20 and 22 HP engine as well I believe. Honda would be my 2nd choice and Subaru would be my 3rd. Stay away from the Vanguards.
 
I have only owned Honda's (18,24,and two 13 hp)
I did meet the Kohler rep and was impressed with their design and hydraulic lifters
I know a contractor who had Vanguards and had nothing but trouble. Lots of oil leaks and the engine died after four years.
I retired my 18hp Honda after ten years, I still have it as a back up but have not run it in five years.
 
I've got:
Honda gx690. Been fine so far.

Vanguard 18 hp been trouble free. 1200 hours

Honda gx 390 been nothing but problems with the exhaust and muffler. Just fired it up today for the first time since installing new cylinder head due to weight and vibration of the muffler. I don't believe it will last long. Lots of vibration. I need to build some kind of brace.


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I believe we have significantly fewer warranty issues with the Hondas.

Of course, I prefer the diesels as that is what my customers mostly buy. So Kubota would be my final answer.
 
It seems like we rebuild a Vanguard every couple of weeks. Usually because they are leaking so much oil. We don't even try for warranty service, because in my experience, they just deny it anyways, even though the cause is obviously not our fault. I have Kohlers that have 3000 hours and have never been opened up. I also have not had a lot of problems with Hondas, but mine are fairly new.
 
chrishartje said:
Honda gx 390 been nothing but problems with the exhaust and muffler. Just fired it up today for the first time since installing new cylinder head due to weight and vibration of the muffler. I don't believe it will last long. Lots of vibration. I need to build some kind of brace.


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How old is your Honda? One of my machines has a 14hp Kohler and it has the same issue and it's only 1 1/2 years old. Seems to be a common problem with the small engines (13-14 HP) lately.
 
I prefer Honda I have 2 one is 8 years old and the other is 7 both are 24 hp Our 2 year Koehler 27 hp only lasted 2 years.
 
John,
We run Honda's, Vanguards, and Kohler
Honda engines are good not many issues
Vanguard engines I like very much we don't have problems with leaking oil on all ours (we have 6) but they only have about 1000-1500 hrs on them. I love how they start. Right up unlike the kohlers. We replaced two starters already this year on our Kohlers. Just our experience.
 
my vanguard has been trouble, runs rough from time to time and just started spitting oil out the back somewhere, my hondas and kohlers have been good.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone, really appreciated. Seems that kohler and honda are neck and neck but vanguard is way behind the curve.
 
Honda has always been a good motor.
 
Favorite engine type diesel by a long shot.

I have 35hp vanguard that has been nothing but problem free. 3200 hours on her and still chugging along. I got lucky I guess, although my second engine for the truck I am building is an isuzu diesel. If I had to buy a gas engine I would probably go kohler, but I am going to try and run just diesel in the trucks from now on.
 
Kohler, Briggs and Generac can kiss my a$$! I just got a Honda gx690 and it is the smoothest, quietest, most useable powered engine. That supposedly 23 hp engine is running better than 10 gpm at 2800 right now for maybe 2/3 the fuel of the engine it replaced. One piece cylinder and head, variable ignition timing - which doesn't really matter at a constant speed but is dope anyway - it's a Hemi, it's awesome and at a great price.
 
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