Mower engings?

[tom4018]

Same zero turn mower with a 48" deck comes with either a 27 HP Briggs & Stratton Professional Series or a 18.5 gross hp Kawasaki FS600V. Seems like lots of hp difference. Are they rated in such a different way? Is the Kawasaki a better engine? Better fuel economy?

 

[bobmisi]

Don't know how they are rated, but I have a 2005 Exmark with the Kawasaki 680V, rated at 23 HP and I have to say, it has been great. No problems at all, except for one coil. I have never been a Briggs fan, but they may be better now. If I had to choose one, I'd go with the Kawasaki, based on my experience, unless Honda was an option.

 

[Not a member]

Yeah I believe Kawasaki uses a different standard for testing which more accurately reflects the true HP. I've had a bunch of good Briggs engines but I also had one the Professional Series that gave up after 20 hours. I've only had two Kawasakis but they've been trouble free.

 

[Gunny]

I have never been a Briggs fan, but they may be better now. If I had to choose one, I'd go with the Kawasaki, based on my experience, unless Honda was an option.

+1

The Kawasaki is the route I'd go. Briggs seem to jump all over the scale, you get one that runs forever, the next one just barely gets through the warranty period.

 

[Gary Fowler]

My Kawasaki engine for sure gets better fuel economy than the B&S engine pulling the same sized mower deck and seems to have more HP even though rated 3 HP less.

 

[houlador]

My 37 inch Toro mid size walk behind had the 16 horse Kawasaki engine. Love it. No problems at all. Used for ten years. I don't have any experience with the larger Briggs engines.