Kohler vs. Subaru vs. Honda small engines??

SodBuster87 · Feb 23, 2019

So between a Kohler CH270 engine or a Subaru SP170. Are these good engines? Is one better then the other? Looking at a BCS 710. The "old stock" has the Subaru. All new inventory comes with the Kohler. Or should I pay an extra $500 for the next model up (718)with the Honda GX200. This is on a rear tine tiller.

Thanks, Sodbuster

JD Seller · Feb 23, 2019

Honda small motors are darn hard to beat. The one on my pressure washer is over 20 years old and never caused trouble once.

marloweg · Feb 24, 2019

i'll put a harbor fright up against any motor on the market for half the price

SodBuster87 · Feb 24, 2019

(quoted from post at 23:05:11 02/23/19) i'll put a harbor fright up against any motor on the market for half the price

That may be, but the tiller in question isn't offered with a Harbor Freight engine.

jeffcat · Feb 24, 2019

I have two air compressors with Honda 8hp motors. Great engines. The harbor freight clones I would bolt on with no question. Stay the blank....away from Kohler. Junk or bargain engine to spec. lowest cost crap.

D beatty · Feb 24, 2019

If you look up the Honda vrs the clones the clones are not the same. The clones don't have quality in
materials and a number of part do not interchange with Honda. You will not get the hours out of a clone.

FBH44 · Feb 24, 2019

Have a Kohler Command CV-23 engine in a Troy-Bilt mower, mow a big lawn and the aisles of 3 acres of berries, plus big grass parking lots. Bought new in 2000. This year'll be 19 years. Change the oil / plugs / filters yearly. Minor problems, but it is a power-house. The rest of the mower is bent and broke, and patched, steering is bent and shot, and plastic parts are long gone, but the Kohler engine runs on. Not running down any other make of engine, wife has Honda cars and vans and at 300,000 miles she loves them.

bradley martin · Feb 24, 2019

I bought a larger(20hp) Subaru to repower a Grasshopper zero turn 5 years ago. I have been very satisfied with the engine. I believe they build
a quality engine. I also have have a small Honda on a transfer pump on my water wagon that is all of 40 years old. It sits outside with an
engine cover year round, and always starts on the second pull. Apart from having to replace the points and condenser a few years ago, it has
been trouble free. It has started burning a little oil. I have had 2 lawn tractors with Kohler's and neither were long lived engines. I would
lean towards the Subaru and avoid the Kohler, if that model meets your needs?

Geo-TH,In · Feb 24, 2019

Not all kohlers are the same. The command is better built.
I have a robin subaru on go cart. It's so easy to start a 11
year old grand kid can pull start it. I have a 13 hp honda on
pressure washer. It was so difficult to start, I installed a
new flywheel, battery and starter.
I have a 20 hp kohler command on a terramite with 2000 hours
on it. Easier to start vs a 20 hp Honda on my other terramite.
No Idea how many hours on on the 20 hp honda, hour meter was
broken when I bought it. Both kohler and honda have been good
engines. I feel like the Kohler has more power vs the honda.
Honda may be a leaner burning engine.

Terramites comes with a Kohler command. If I had to replace
the honda I would use a Kohler only because the kohler fits
better and I can easily grease the yoke.

Go to amazon and you may find a good deal on engines.

Don't think you can go wrong on any of the 3 engines you
choose. Stay away from a Kohler courage. FYI. Command may be
the only engine with hydraulic lifters so you will never need
to adjust valves. I had to adjust valves on 13 hp honda.

Fawteen · Feb 24, 2019

True, IF you get GX series engines. The GC series are consumer junk with plastic cams. I wouldn't give you a nickel for a trainload of GC engines.

sms · Feb 24, 2019

I agree in general about the Honda engines and have had good luck with them, however we bought a new air compressor with one and on a cold day it may take 15-20 minutes pulling the rope to get it running. It has some kind of feature that it idles for a time to warm up and it just chugs and chugs then stalls numerous times before it will run. And we use synthetic oil in the engine and pump.

Billy Shafer · Feb 24, 2019

I have a GX on the feed truck pump unit. Seven years of hard use and it has never failed. Replaced a Briggs that you had to work on every day.

Mike M · Feb 24, 2019

The company I work for started to use the Subaru in place of the Vanguard or Kohler. What a big mistake ! We had several problems with the Subaru and they do not have good parts support or warranty. Several of our machines went overseas only to find out later Subaru had no dealers to support them. So I would not buy a Subaru ! They have been solely using Briggs Vanguard engines and seem to be doing well.

ed will · Feb 24, 2019

Hi, I have a Honda 5 hp on a plate compactor that I put on after
the Kohler that came on it failed. The electrical component
needed replacing at a cost of $60. At that time I thought it was
rediculous. The Honda is still going now coming on 40 years the
first 20 was pretty steady work for it. My neighbor, has a
machine shop and he likes Kohlers, he does a lot of rebuilds on
them. I bought a new carb for another Honda I have on a tiller
for $20 on ebay.
So if I needed a new engine I would buy a Honda. I think a
Subaru would be good too. There is a dealer 1 hr away from me
and might be best if you need around 20 hp. Ed Will Oliver BC

Russ from MN · Feb 24, 2019

We love our Subaru cars but in other applications they have not done so well, a classmate of ours put one on a kit airplane,
it was not reliable. Replaced it with a Lycoming, ended up being a very expensive airplane. When we were looking at mowers
we avoided Kohler because they seemed noisy.

Geo-TH,In · Feb 24, 2019

MY 13 hp honda and 20 hp honda are cold blooded. Have to choke it and takes many attempts to start in Winter. Then I have to let the 20 hp warm up for 5 minutes before it wants to run right. Had to install electric start on 13 hp because I couldn't pull start it.
20 hp kohler command fires up with very little choke, No warm up time.

Donald Lehman · Feb 24, 2019

Honda motors are probably worth the extra money, if you have it to spend. Just be aware that Honda has a lousy recoil starter assembly. Always have.

Personally, I'd buy the Kohler, use it until it craps out, and go buy, a Chinese motor for half the price of a Honda and just replace em as they wear out. Those things are dirt cheap compared to other replacement motors or the cost of a rebuild, and they last longer than they have a right to for the price. When it came time to replace the Kohler and money was no object, I'd choose B&S over the Chinese motor, or the Honda. I just plain detest those stinking Honda type recoils. We flat out gave up repairing the stupid things on the bedding chopper and silage carts, and just use a length of baler twine to start them with. I have a B&S on my riding mower and it has been a very good motor.

Traditional Farmer · Feb 24, 2019

I'd get the Honda

buickanddeere · Feb 24, 2019

. Prior to comparing name brands against each other . Honda and other manufactures build engines to spec for applications .
The baseline engines are just the cheapest thing they can slap together that runs . Vs HD engines good for several thousand hours of commercial operation , IF they have clean air , clean fuel and clean air .

jddrawbar · Feb 24, 2019

B&D is spot on.....Honda builds some of the best and some of the worst engines on the
market. The same can be said for Kohler, B&S, & the rest.....

Mike M · Feb 24, 2019

If you stumble upon a Kawasaki that will fit your machine grab it up. I like them and have a few on lawn mowers. Check out small engine warehouse.

Steve@Advance · Feb 24, 2019

If you are buying from a dealer, ask to see some engine test results.

As far as I know, all engines go through laboratory tests. Full load run with stops only for oil changes. Not sure how they do it exactly, run to fail, disassembly and examine, power loss...

Somehow they come up with an engine hours expectancy.

Not that you can expect that exact number, it will vary with application, but it will give a number for comparison.

T.R.K. · Feb 24, 2019

I'd recommend the Honda. The Kohler and Subaru are probably just as good engines, but they are pretty much Honda clones.

T in NE · Feb 24, 2019

Honda small engines are so good, even the
chinese knock-offs aren't bad.

I have to wonder if the chinese knock-offs
aren't built by Honda's contractor. HF has
a 2000 watt generator that can be paired
with the Honda for 4000 watts.

Kohler vs. Subaru vs. Honda small engines??

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