Kawasaki FH721V vs. FS730V?

[Vigilant]

I'm in the market for a newer X500 with low hours. I noticed that the '06 to '10 models have the FH721V 25 HP and 5-gallon tank, while the '11 to '15 models have the FS730V and a 4.5 gallon tank thanks to the stinking EPA. Sounds like the FH721V has been very successful, and the FS730V is more 'environmentally friendly" which sounds like the engine has been castrated and may not last as long as the FH721V. I have read that the FS730V has a compression release, which sounds like something else to go wrong. I just read that one gent with an FH721V got 4000 hours out of the engine. I would like to find a nice low-hours '11 to '13 model while I still can, but I'm skeptical about that "new and improved" engine. Can anyone shed some light?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jgayman]

I'm in the market for a newer X500 with low hours. I noticed that the '06 to '10 models have the FH721V 25 HP and 5-gallon tank, while the '11 to '15 models have the FS730V and a 4.5 gallon tank thanks to the stinking EPA. Sounds like the FH721V has been very successful, and the FS730V is more 'environmentally friendly" which sounds like the engine has been castrated and may not last as long as the FH721V. I have read that the FS730V has a compression release, which sounds like something else to go wrong. I just read that one gent with an FH721V got 4000 hours out of the engine. I would like to find a nice low-hours '11 to '13 model while I still can, but I'm skeptical about that "new and improved" engine. Can anyone shed some light?

Thanks in advance.

For what it's worth, the FH721V has the exact same automatic compression release as the FS730V. Below is a photo of the mechanism from the FH721V repair manual.

 

[Vigilant]

For what it's worth, the FH721V has the exact same automatic compression release as the FS730V. Below is a photo of the mechanism from the FH721V repair manual.

10-4. Thanks again.