Kohler Engines for Small Equipment.... Might Be Going Away

[WinterDeere]

Blowers today, string trimmers and mowers soon to follow.
In places like MoCo, alot of residents reside on postage stamp or smaller lots. These people believe they have every “right” to tell you what you can and can’t do on your own property.
As an aside to show the “we get to decide for you”’. One of their peeps is now trying to tax sugary beverages, including diet ones.

Maryland lawmakers are hearing a new bill called the “For Our Kids Act,” which would add a two cents-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks, syrups and powders. Delegate Emily Shetty from Montgomery County, along with House Health and Government Operations Chair Joseline Pena Melnyk, is the bill’s lead sponsor.

lol... "for our kids". Right. Sponsored by the makers of aspartame and saccharin?

I actually understand the annoyance with the handheld blowers, they are obnoxious. But that's why I choose to live outside of town on enough land that I don't have neighbors running theirs two dozen feet from where I'm enjoying the grill and some tunes in my own back yard. Whatever some township or dense county in MD does has no bearing on me, I already voted with my feet and my wallet.

 

[D&D]

lol... "for our kids". Right. Sponsored by the makers of aspartame and saccharin?

I actually understand the annoyance with the handheld blowers, they are obnoxious. But that's why I choose to live outside of town on enough land that I don't have neighbors running theirs two dozen feet from where I'm enjoying the grill and some tunes in my own back yard. Whatever some township or dense county in MD does has no bearing on me, I already voted with my feet and my wallet.

I have plenty of personal space, that’s not the issue.

 

[WinterDeere]

I have plenty of personal space, that’s not the issue.

I guess I don't see the issue. What's the old line? "Government of the people, by the people, for the people...", I think Lincoln had said that.

If some leftie state or township collectively decide they want to get rid of gas-powered blowers due to high density living and the noise they create, it's no skin off my back. Likewise, if I lived in an affected area and felt strongly enough, excepting the obvious case of California where these mandates can be state-wide, it's easy enough to run for or support a candidate for a township or even county Supervisor position, and then have some sway over the decision. Our system does work, in that regard.

But like you, I choose to live somewhere that such silliness isn't up for debate, and I support township Supervisors who work hard to ensure our area retains its rural characteristic. As a result, I wouldn't want to impose my will on California or Montco MD, anymore than I want theirs imposed on my county.

I do understand the issue of manufacturers following the money stream. When California makes a change to their emissions laws, manufacturers wanting to sell a unified version of their product across the entire country, will sometimes only offer a CA-compliant version everywhere. But in this case, manufacturers of gas-powered OPE are not going to discontinue an entire revenue stream, just because a few states, counties, or townships outlaw them. If Stihl stops making 2-stroke equipment, it will be only because national or worldwide demand for them has dropped below a point of keeping the various nationally-compliant variants of these product lines profitable.

 

[MossRoad]

I just think the name change will have a negative impact on their market share. when potential mower buyers walk into a box store or a dealer ship and the dealer has mowers with Kawasaki, Briggs, and Rehlko. How many are going to go for the Rehlko over the other well known name brand engines.

And Rehlko is now owner by the same company that owns Oregon tool. And from the mower repair side of the world the last couple years or so have been disappointing as far as Oregon parts availability. Like the will offer new items when the new catalog comes out but then never stock them.

As I understand it, the Kohler name will remain on the Rehlko engines.

 

[WinterDeere]

As I understand it, the Kohler name will remain on the Rehlko engines.

 

[5030]

“The law does not apply to Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery Parks, which are managed by the state of Maryland.”

Apparently, there’s no emissions, pollution, or noise generated when select groups are using them.
Got to love it

Kind of like US Military trucks that are diesel. There is no T5 mandate emissions controls on any of them or at least there was not a couple years back. We got a boatload of 6x6's in the dealership for pre delivery inspections and I was amazed opening the hoods, no emissions stuff on any of them, well, they had DDEC engines with EGR but that was it. No one boxes, no stinky mufflers, nothing. Guess they figure that troops wouldn't put DEF in anyway so why bother. Diesel in the tanks, coolant in the rads and lube oil in the crankcase. They were all Allison full automatics as well. Guess the government figures troops today are all PRNDL. Allison's are excellent transmissions so long as you change the fluid and filters in a timely manner. Why the majority of transit mixer trucks have them. You can bet the heck out of them and they keep on truck'in.

What I wonder is, when they are decommissioned, is if they can be sold to the public and not be in compliance???

 

[5030]

And Rehlko is now owner by the same company that owns Oregon tool.

I was under the impression that Oregon was owned by Blount.

 

[RandyT]

And Rehlko is now owner by the same company that owns Oregon tool.

I was under the impression that Oregon was owned by Blount.

That was like 2 sales ago.

 

[RandyT]

As I understand it, the Kohler name will remain on the Rehlko engines.

That is what they kind of lead people to believe, but then turned around and displayed there new Rehlko branded engines at EXPO Louisville, KY. The new engines have replaced the Kohler stickers with Rehlko.

 

[5030]

That was like 2 sales ago.

Interesting in as much as I had to order some replacement vise parts for one of my Oregon (chain grinders) and called them in Seattle and they answered the phone with Blount / Oregon and the replacement parts came in a Fed-Ex package also labelled as such.

 

[RandyT]

Blount is still in the mix as much as being acquired by Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking in 1999, which was acquired by American Securities and P2 Capital Partners in 2015. Then June of 2021, Blount was renamed Oregon Tool, and then was sold to Platinum equity in July 2021 with the sale complete in October

 

[dadohead]

JD Horicon was full on Kohler customer until the late 80's when the Japanese engines start appearing. BEST THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED FOR THE CONSUMER! Those new engines forced everyone to get their crap together and build a better product. Service life skyrocketed and warranties plummeted. Same thing happened to the US car industry coming out of the '70's.

Now, China has now reversed engineered them all now to the point their service parts fit OEM! Rough road ahead for any US engine maker.

 

[jyoutz]

Yep. I needed to do valves and guides in one of my K301's less than ten years ago, the original 1963 engine out of an IH Cub Cadet 123, and all parts were easily available. Loved that I could press new guides in and hand ream them, by comparison to the Kawasaki V-twin I rebuilt this summer, which could only have the heads replaced when the guides slipped.

Then again, the Kawi V-twin is overhead valve, and makes more than twice the horsepower at a similar weight and smaller footprint, so there's something to be said for new technology.

I think one thing we keep stumbling on as a society, is that we tend to compare very cheap new stuff to much more expensive older stuff. I suspect these American made Kohler's of the 1960's and 70's were very expensive by today's standards, when scaled for inflation. And we can still buy very good and expensive engines today, Honda GX or my Kawi V-twin.

But then people look at a crappy B&S or Tecumseh, and say "they don't make them like they used to". Bull! Someone still does, but you bought the cheap alternative!

Very true. But I wouldn’t characterize all Briggs as crappy. They do make a commercial grade v-twin that is pretty good.

 

[WinterDeere]

Very true. But I wouldn’t characterize all Briggs as crappy. They do make a commercial grade v-twin that is pretty good.

I'll admit I'm no expert on all things Briggs, although I've owned a few.

But are you speaking of their Intek line? Bought one of those for my log splitter, which I've been running the last 4-5 years, and I'm not a fan. It works just fine, but it screams of "just get it done as cheaply as possible" engineering. Loudest damn intake I've ever experienced on any engine, ever.

I bought it because at the time I was shopping, it was the first/only motor I found with a configuration that was nearly drop-in to my splitter configuration. But several years into using it now, even though I already have $800 sunk into the Briggs Intek (odd configuration with electric start), I've debated re-shopping a Subaru or Honda to replace it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The Briggs Vanguard line of small gas engines, are very good engines.

SR

 

[jyoutz]

I'll admit I'm no expert on all things Briggs, although I've owned a few.

But are you speaking of their Intek line? Bought one of those for my log splitter, which I've been running the last 4-5 years, and I'm not a fan. It works just fine, but it screams of "just get it done as cheaply as possible" engineering. Loudest damn intake I've ever experienced on any engine, ever.

I bought it because at the time I was shopping, it was the first/only motor I found with a configuration that was nearly drop-in to my splitter configuration. But several years into using it now, even though I already have $800 sunk into the Briggs Intek (odd configuration with electric start), I've debated re-shopping a Subaru or Honda to replace it.

I was speaking of the Briggs Vanguard twin v engines. I have one in my zero turn and have been very happy with it.

 

[WinterDeere]

Good to know. If I ever get around to re-powering this log splitter (again), maybe they'll have something in the Vanguard line that fits. It's a vertical shaft, and if I recall (5 years ago), none of the Honda or Subaru options were configured quite right for an easy drop-in on the existing mounting.

 

[tomplum]

JD Horicon was full on Kohler customer until the late 80's when the Japanese engines start appearing. BEST THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED FOR THE CONSUMER! Those new engines forced everyone to get their crap together and build a better product. Service life skyrocketed and warranties plummeted. Same thing happened to the US car industry coming out of the '70's.

Now, China has now reversed engineered them all now to the point their service parts fit OEM! Rough road ahead for any US engine maker.

Fully agree. We were Toro. 1983 made a big difference in walk behind mowers with the blade stop mandate. The old Briggs and Tecumsehs started to pale in comparison to the Suzuki's adopted by Toro. Briggs Europa started to make the transition for them. Kawasaki engines made a more common appearance. Honda's took a stronger foothold, somewhat from the motorsports and automotive loyalty of their customers. But a lot of customers still drove their old Fords and just wanted a mower that would start. And here we are now.

 

[RandyT]

I'll admit I'm no expert on all things Briggs, although I've owned a few.

But are you speaking of their Intek line? Bought one of those for my log splitter, which I've been running the last 4-5 years, and I'm not a fan. It works just fine, but it screams of "just get it done as cheaply as possible" engineering. Loudest damn intake I've ever experienced on any engine, ever.

I bought it because at the time I was shopping, it was the first/only motor I found with a configuration that was nearly drop-in to my splitter configuration. But several years into using it now, even though I already have $800 sunk into the Briggs Intek (odd configuration with electric start), I've debated re-shopping a Subaru or Honda to replace it.

Subaru stopped production in 2017 and finished closing there US present this past December. Last 3 employees laid off.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Subaru stopped production in 2017 and finished closing there US present this past December. Last 3 employees laid off.

The small engine models were broken up with Kubota buying a couple, Yamaha bought a couple, and the rest went to a company in china.

Kubota made some improvements on theirs and Yamaha probably did too, the rest, I have no idea.