318 Re-Power - Honda or Kohler?

[timb]

Ok - so the original 18 horse Onan in my 318 went from bad to worse. Already had many issues, but now swallowed / snapped something , made expensive noises, shook, and died. (I think it's actually seized now) /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

One more time I went through the current offerings of lawn, lawn-and-garden, and garden tractors out there - and they all (short of the Deere X-series and similar offerings from Simplicity and the like) seem so light-duty compared to the 318. So - I think I'm still leaning toward dropping a replacement motor into the 318 and keeping the old girl for a few more years yet.

Since new Onan's are gone - I've got to go with a re-power. Seems to be a couple of 'simple' choices out there. A Honda GX-series (18 or 24 hp) or a Kohler CH (20 hp). The Kohler is very slightly more expensive, not enough to worry about. They'll all be in the range of $1400-$1700 delivered.

Anyone try one of these re-power 'kits' or have any specific opinions on either series of motors?

 

[gamble77]

From a dealer stand-point I would recommend the Kohler. Honda makes great engines, don't get me wrong...but from the few dealings with Honda that I have had they seem confident that they don't make bad engines. That all Honda engine failures can't possibly because of internal failure/poor design. I'm not saying that this is typical of every dealers experience just giving you my opinion...I'd opt for the Kohler, parts would be easier to find and usually cheaper too. Good luck!

 

[Charlie_in_TX]

I have only had a couple of each. I would pick the Kohler hands down. My Hondas have been hard to start. Both of the Hondas were in the small (5) hp range. Both of the Kohlers were in the 20hp range. I have no exp with the 20+hp Hondas. YMMV

I have not had experience with the kits. Go to http://www.weekendfreedommachines.org/. Many people there have made the change. I also think that most of them went with the Honda.

 

[JerryG]

Check this place out. I have been to their warehouse and spoken to them several times while doing business with them. They are good people to work with. Tulsa Engine Warehouse

 

[timb]

Thanks for the feedback. I've never had a Honda engine, and my Kohler experience is way out of date. (2 1970's K-series, a 7 hp in a tiller that still won't quit, and a 12 hp in an old Cub Cadet that was a bear for torque but liked to burn valves.) Out of curiousity, where are Kohler's built these days?

 

[bontai_Joe]

As far as I know, Kohler engines are still built in the USA. I repowered my Deere 316 2 years ago with one of the last Onans, but if I had to do it again today, I'd go Kohler. Parts and service are much better in my area. I got my Onan through www.smallenginewarehouse.com with the necessary driveshaft spacer. They currently have a "Repower" section on their website that will offer the motor and the other little gizmos required to make it a reasonably easy job based on tractor brand and model.

 

[tomnky]

I don't know about the larger Honda's but I do have an 11hp on a Honda Snowblower + a 5 hp on a self-propelled mower and both have been flawless, not to mention thrifty on fuel.

I can hand start the 11hp at below zero temperatures and it starts on the second pull.

I had some of the older Kohlers and every one of them that I had used oil but these were engines some 20 years ago.

 

[1962]

timb,
i dont know if your tractor is a vertical or horizontal shaft engine. i repowered a wheel horse garden tractor with a 10 hp diesel. it's a horizontal shaft air-cooled with so much torque you would think it's a 16 hp engine.. real good on fuel too. around $500 to $600 delivered to your door.

 

[timb]

I think a little diesel would be great - Deere built this same tractor as a "332" with a small 3-cylinder Yanmar. VERY sought after, or so used prices around here seem to indicate! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Unfortunately - I have approximately zero time to spend with it this season - and the Honda drop-in is being touted as about a 2-3 hour job, no modifications, no ad-hoc engineering needed. About as plug-and-play as such things ever get. The Kohler requires a bit of surgery and wrestling to work, but it can be done.

Either way I'll keep the Onan though, and some day try to figure out if it can be rebuilt.

 

[9_Mile]

TimB,

What diesel did you use for your re-power? Was the RPM lower? Cost? I've wondered about getting an older Deere or Wheelhorse garden tractor and repowering it with a diesel. Hatz makes small diesels, but I don't know much about them.