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.