23 HP Kawi vs 25 HP Kohler Toro Z Master

[LBMD1]

Hey guys,
need to buy year end equipment to avoid the tax implications so here's my question. I have been purchasing 25 HP Kohler 62" Toro Z Masters for the last 5 years now. My dealer can get me the same one that I usually get for $7195 or will give me a deal on the 23 HP Kawasaki for $6700, same deck size. My question is will I notice any difference in the loss of 2 HP or the quality of brand differences? I have had good luck with my Kohlers, (I know some of you haven't) and haven't have good luck with the Kawis that were on my walk behinds when I started out many moons ago. I don't mind paying the $7195, so price isn't the issue, just reliability and speed difference. I know that we don't max out speeds at every lawns, but we maintain some pretty large properties that we max out on. Any advice would be helpful. Is it worth saving $500 for 2HP?


Mike

[Eric ELM]

Personally, I would spend the extra $500 for the Kohler and I do have both brand engines. There is never enough HP when it comes to mowing. ;)

[65hoss]

I've never had any problems with Kohlers. I switched to kawi on my last 3 mowers. I had 1 carb problem and 1 parts problem. Other than that, I've not had any problems. I spoke with someone from kawi a few weeks ago, and he is trying to fix some of the internal problems. I think I would save the $500 and get the kawi.

[Crabgrassman]

I do not like the air cleaner design on the 23 horizontal Kawis. Also no-one makes a replacement air cleaner for it.

My buddy has one on his 2001 Exmark and this has been his only disappointment with his machine. He called me about halfway through our very dusty leaf cleanup season and asked me to come over and look at something for him.

When I got there he showed me the aircleaner and then pulled the airfilter off of the engine. There was tons of dust crud all over the aircleaner pan including inside of where the airfilter sits. So we removed the pan to get a look down the carb throat and there was a good 1/4" of crud built up inside of the throat. I was floored!

So we cleaned everything up and started to reassemble the aircleaner assembly. When it came time to put the airfilter back on I noticed that the airfilter was wobbling even when the aircleaner housing nut was tightened down on the airfilter.

That's where it was sucking dirt through. There is a rubber grommet under the top of the airfilter that is supposed to seal the stud that goes through the airfilter and this grommet wasn't allowing the aircleaner to sit flat against the aircleaner base pan. So we just put the grommet on top of the airfilter and it seems to be working fine now.

Just something to watch for if you decide to get this engine.

[odin00]

Crabgrassman
Tell your buddy to try a engineaire filter they help a lot
Even in heavy leaf cleanups they worked great on our 48 lazer

[Totallawn]

I have the 23 hp Kawi, liquid cooled...

i haven't had ANY problems with it (I bought it in March this year).

[Crabgrassman]

odin00 wrote:
.........................
Tell your buddy to try a engineaire filter they help a lot
.........................

Enginaire doesn't make a filter to fit the horizontal Kawis, only the verticles.

[AltaLawnCare]

I checked on an engineair for my WB, As far as I remember, I think crabgrass is right.

When I'm ready to buy, I'm going to look at the 26efi very hard.
--no more Kaws for me.
Whats the price of the ZMaster with the 26efi?

[Trimmer]

I have the 17HP Kawasaki on my Toro Z-Master and I have had it in the shop every summer that I have had it. The first time the flywheel seal blew, the second time I had it in there was some gas or oil that comes out of the air filter housing (they have yet to fix this both time I had it in, Kawasaki don't know what the problem is), and the third time one of the coils went bad on it. Mechanic told me that they have been having trouble with the coils made in Mexico because they where wrapped to tight, they had a Great Dane in the shop with the same problem. I knew I should have bought the Kohler when I purschased the mower. I think on my next peice of equipment I will buy a Kohler.