Buying New ZTR. Which engine?

[FreshCuts]

I am going to buy a new Gravely 260z. I will be calling the dealer today to get it set up. The options are 27hp Kohler or 25 Kawasaki. The EFI is out of the equasion for price and availabily. Is there any advantage or disadvantage to either one? What has been some of your experiences with them?

[htexas]

Kawasaki

My dealer even said don't buy kohler

[Stephen M.]

Kohler makes better tiolets than engines.

[sorry ya all for reading this on other threads, but this guy hasn't heard this before.]

[floridalawncare]

i'm gonna cast my vote for kawasaki. their quality has been much more consistant than kohler's.

[Matthew Petell]

Kawi. is King. Kohler may be fine but it has had problems in the past. No sense taking the chance if your model offers Kawi.

[sharp]

I am going to buy a new Gravely 260z. I will be calling the dealer today to get it set up. The options are 27hp Kohler or 25 Kawasaki. The EFI is out of the equasion for price and availabily. Is there any advantage or disadvantage to either one? What has been some of your experiences with them?

27hp Kohler is the cream of the crop, we run 4 each day they are sweet, just as sweet as the old 22hp Kohler's which we have a combo of 5800 hours between 2 of them with no problems. I have heard bad things about the 25's before last year, KOHLER is KING,

I have 5 of the 17 kaw and they are primitive at best.

[tulsa lawn guy]

5800 hours between 2 of them with no problems.

That's music to my ears! I'm getting ready to get a 27hp Kohler on a Toro ZTR...

Funny thing though... the dealer said I should only expect to put about 2000 hours max on the engine... I guess this wasn't the case with yours?

[sharp]

Once you get the 200 hours switch to moble one. Keep the head fins clean I think you can get 4000 each no problem

[floridalawncare]

yeah, i've ran kohler. they are a good engine. the 25 supposedly got fixed, but i don't know for sure. but they seem to like synthetic oil a little better.

[Mow Pro]

20 an 25 hp here no problems about a 1000 hrs here.

[Ericson]

Kawa.,or diesol

Hay brother, Kawa's.,or diesol is the way to go for long term use.Pick one of these two with a high hp. range and you will be doing just fine.
Remember it's only my view:Ericson

[FreshCuts]

Thanks for all the info. I bought the 260z with the Kohler 27hp. and the dealer through in the mulch kit for free. Man does this thing cut some grass. My 4 acre lot used to take 2.5 hrs on the tractor with finish mower and it only took 1.25 on the 260 and thats including the trimming around the house. I cut a total of 7 acres on it the first day. I couldnt be happier with its performance. Very sweet machine.