If you have a decent set up and have the chops--it should be a good amount of exercise --I don't have nor want a Zereo turn--I like my ancient 41 inch snapper with the switched to a 14 horse Briggs v-twin-- for the rough stuff --no high vac deck ==Folks get hurt on those zero turns--they probably "rare up" surprisingly fast --For my big mowing it is with my 2 old tractors

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Originally posted by Tractor1

If you have a decent set up and have the chops--it should be a good amount of exercise --I don't have nor want a Zereo turn--I like my ancient 41 inch snapper with the switched to a 14 horse Briggs v-twin-- for the rough stuff --no high vac deck ==Folks get hurt on those zero turns--they probably "rare up" surprisingly fast --For my big mowing it is with my 2 old tractors

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I did work for a mowing outfit when I was in college. You aren't wrong about the zero turn machines. Fast and efficient if you were careful. Easy to pull the front end off the ground or get spit off to the side if you weren't.

Don't Kohler's have a real oil pump?
I thought they did? ?
I know Huskies (Cushman) do.
Maybe Wisconsin's do too?

I just looked at new mowers the other day. John Deere and Cub Cadet. They were at the store I was shopping at and I couldn’t believe the prices. I guess I haven’t looked for a while.
I guess I better pamper my John Deere L111. It has a 20HP Briggs V-twin and it’s been a Trooper. 320 hours on it and Zero problems. (Knock on
Wood).
Slammer!!!

A Kohler needing a major at 352 hours says that engine needed better maintenance or a factory replacement.
Kohler has long been a very dependable powerplant for lighting/auxiliary power on some of our best working commercial fishing vessels here in Maine.
A very respected,reliable engine with a stellar reputation.

I like Honda small engines.
They won't start if the oil level is low.

MTD..has takin over the market..

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Originally posted by STUD figmo Al

MTD..has takin over the market..

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That's because it's somewhat affordable.   Not bad stuff , but not built for commercial use .

I had a MTD riding mower and snowblower that lasted many years, but I'm pretty anal about taking care of my stuff.   My neighbor would just laugh when he saw me washing and waxing my mower.  Guess what.  He was on his 3rd riding mower when mine finally bit the dust.

Slammer!!!

Could be a new/different thread, but I know Generac and Polaris sell engines with break-in oil in them. If you don't read, you are welcome to burn up your new engine. Break-in oil has less lubricity.

Man…all the Kohler’s I’ve ever had have been solid! I’ve got a 7hp Kohler in my ‘65 John Deere 110…and she is very trustworthy. I had to rebuild it…years ago…but it’s dependable and plenty o’ power now for mowing, tilling, snow throwing…whatever. Change the oil every season, use non-ethanol fuel. Viola!

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Originally posted by steve davis

A Kohler needing a major at 352 hours says that engine needed better maintenance or a factory replacement.
Kohler has long been a very dependable powerplant for lighting/auxiliary power on some of our best working commercial fishing vessels here in Maine.
A very respected,reliable engine with a stellar reputation.

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it was not from lack of maintenance .....  changed oil and filter every year...  blew it off with air hose after a hard days work...   go look on small engine repair websites and videos... they will tell you about the kohler COURAGE engines,,  a lot of cracked blocks and blown head gaskets.... now the kohler COMMAND engines are known to be pretty tough.....  i never owned a kohler until this one... and i inherited it ,,, i have always stayed with briggs or kawasaki engines.....  never had any trouble such as this.  looking at new lawn tractors ,,boy howdy they is high !!!!

I looked up the Kohler (Rehlco) engine problems and found the issues you wrote about,Terry.
What a sad tale on that great old name.
I also found a list of recalls on some model numbers...SH265,CH 245,255,270,395,440 and ECH440.
Don't know if there are others.
It appears that REHLCO is the new owner and offering the recalls.

mine is too old for recall 2010 ch715 22hp...
i will do the head gaskets and keep on with it.
shopping around for replacement.
a well built one with the good transaxle and kawasaki engine with fabricated deck (tractor style) is between 4600 and 5900 bucks.

All I know is that Honda engines are great - lawnmowers, tillers, pressure washers, generators, you name it. That doesn't mean that the mower or whatever they're part of is great, but it's a good start.

I have a Deere zero turn, and I have to say that it was scary at first. That's nothing against Deere, it's just me learning how fast and dangerous zero turns can be. Tip: when you want to turn left, don't push the left lever forward, pull the right lever back. Similar if you want to turn right. If I mowed grass for a living, or even often, I'd probably be more adept, but I kinda like having all of my limbs attached and relatively unscarred. My tractor is dangerous in it's own right, and it can't go nearly as fast as a zero turn.

I have one small section on a slope, and it's dicey there. I mow across it. If you try to mow up/down then be sure to get the extra weights for the front so when you go uphill you don't flip backwards (engine weight in back), especially if you're using a bagger on the back.

Not entirely on topic, but this is my entry for "favorite mower"  ... only had it for a couple of seasons when we had an acreage ... at 50" it's too big for our town lot.  The front mount deck really gets a    from me.... can mow under shrubbery and spruce trees, and touch up the blades right on the machine.... did the roadside and never felt uncomfortable even though there's no roll-bar.

[Mr. Magnificent, you wouldn't be testing us with ^^ those turning instructions, would you?    From my pic file, I see it was 2012/13 when we sold ours, so it's been a while .... I could be wrong.  Since then it's been a Crafstman self-propelled 21-incher for me.]

I have a John Deere S240. This is a step up from what Lowes sales. It's got a Kawasaki engine. JD took the Lowes type tractor and put a Kawasaki engine and transmission from their X line of tractors. Same performance on smaller frame. 42" deck . Change oil and sparkplugs , filters every year no problem, with 375 hours on mower. These were sold at dealerships only as far as I know.

nothing runs like a DEERE

Engines are only as good as their maintenance schedules.

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Originally posted by steve davis

Engines are only as good as their maintenance schedules.

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not all the time

 type in kohler courage engine reviews....  the list is long and bad.