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

[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.