Kohler 824 EFI Video-Info

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I have been using this engine in a zero turn this year and at 33 hp it consumes far less cheaper fuel ( 87 Octane) than my 23 hp Diesel which was the prior mpg king. Great engine. I have this in a 61" Spartan. Of course Kohler notes not to use synthetic motor oil until after 50 hours so that the rings seat. Spartan says in the manual the factory fill is their own special elixir which is a 5w40 full synthetic. Of course many sources don't even get the oil and temp charts correct.
Typical in mowers. First change of oil and filter is at 20 hours and you have onboard diagnostics or a OLM telling you to do so.
I chose to honor Kohler and stick with conventional for now. ( I doubt it came with Spartan oil)
Nice video if you're into mower porn
smile.gif
 
I agree with madman. I it is a homeowner grade engine. Kawasaki engines are built better. But most homeowners will get 6-8 years out of them.
 
I did have a Briggs croak on me. I was using VWB 10-30 It was less then 3 years only and I was running it and shut it off for a water break and when I went out to restart it it had no compression. Intake valve was stuck open. It was well maintained...using a conventional oil. It was my step dad's mower. It was a twin plug 23hp Cub Cadet. I would have used synthetic oil if it was mine.
 
Originally Posted By: Syntheticuser
I agree with madman. I it is a homeowner grade engine. Kawasaki engines are built better. But most homeowners will get 6-8 years out of them.


My old Kohler is 12 years old. 18 horse command. I guess the commands are built a bit better, at least thats what I hear. Just retired it to plowing/pulling only duty.

Pretty cool video with the EFI. I was looking at the XT2 with EFI but settled on a 25 horse variant of the 7000 series. The Vtwin EFI was interesting but only offered with a smaller 2 blade deck.
 
Honestly, those on this site are the exception. My neighbor lady has not changed the oil on her 2012 Craftsman since she bought it.She just adds some when it gets low. Maybe that's Briggs target market for the new push mowers. Her mower runs ok. It burns oil, but she is fine with just adding it.
I change mine twice a year with 5w40 T6. Mine get used a BUNCH.
 
What would you know?
You never saw one! Here Kawasaki's are considered nothing but problems and most dealers won't even sell them.
My 1972 ball bearing Kohler has never had a engine rebuild.
This motor is not your Home Depot merchandise!

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I've never seen a kohler in my area. All kawasakis. Kohlers are junk.
 
Sorry it is a commercial engine of a caliber I guess you're not aware of!

Originally Posted By: Syntheticuser
I agree with madman. I it is a homeowner grade engine. Kawasaki engines are built better. But most homeowners will get 6-8 years out of them.
 
I'll believe it when I see it. Not that I don't believe you. It is that anyone can say it's commercial grade and put a sticker on it. Give it to a lawn service and have them run it.
 
I mow about 50 acres a week of my own property- harsh and rough terrain. Not some 1/4 acre lawns.
I guess Scag would use a homeowner engine in a mower they claim will mow 24 acres straight.
I picked this motor over the other three offered because I did the research.....

Originally Posted By: Syntheticuser
I'll believe it when I see it. Not that I don't believe you. It is that anyone can say it's commercial grade and put a sticker on it. Give it to a lawn service and have them run it.
 
This is a portion of 1 out of 5 properties I mow every week.
It ain't no golf course- knock your teeth out old farm fields.



 
Next week I'm going to tackle this orchard grass strip- far longer and thicker than it looks.
 
Airgun, some good looking land you got there. I stand by what I said though...ill give Kohler a Prosumer grade..not true commercial. I believe guys like madman use mowers every day...long hours. I'm sure he knows what works.
 
When I hear someone say "X brand is junk" it is hard to take them seriously. Each brand has good and bad engines. There are Briggs engines I prefer over Kohlers, Kohlers I prefer over Kawasakis and vice versa.

Some of my favorites:
-Briggs Vanguard
-Kohler Command
-Honda GX series
-Kawasaki single cylinder (FB460V, etc)
 
I agree- you can't make blanket statements and of course its how you take care of the equipment.
I know a guy that bought a Hustler Raptor this year and they want you to change the oil and filter at 5 hours.
He tells me he has about 60 hours on it already but won't change the oil as that is a scam to protect the mower company.
How I don't know
smile.gif
He may get to 120 hrs. this year. Honestly yesterday I heard it and it was making a bunch of metallic noise. I hope he is at least checking the oil level.

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
When I hear someone say "X brand is junk" it is hard to take them seriously. Each brand has good and bad engines. There are Briggs engines I prefer over Kohlers, Kohlers I prefer over Kawasakis and vice versa.

Some of my favorites:
-Briggs Vanguard
-Kohler Command
-Honda GX series
-Kawasaki single cylinder (FB460V, etc)
 
Thank you. I have 3 years warranty and I will take care of it so we shall see.
I really have good luck with engines. I do regular maintenance on everything. That's said I buried a bar and chain in a tree yesterday after sawing eight trees..... Last cut of the day I sunk the bar in the wood and wedged it tight.
I got out my wrench and unscrewed the saw body from the bar and left it in the tree- I had enough.......... lol
 
Airgun what kind of mower do you have?

Maintenance is everything with mowers. I have customers with cheapo mowers that seem to never quit because they maintain them very well, and others who buy very expensive ones that end up needing expensive repairs because they can't even check the oil.

I rarely find customers with zero turn mowers having engine problems if they maintain them properly. The hydro pumps can be a different story, especially if they buy a consumer zero turn from home depot and use it commercially. I find this to be an expensive lesson for a lot of new landscapers. They buy a new home depot machine over a used commercial machine because it is cheaper, not realizing the difference in build quality.
 
The one with the EFI is this one. I'll use the factory picture as I'm too lazy to take one now but I can do later if folks want to see close-up's etc. These have push button start- a tach, ride suspension etc. I mow at 3070 RPM- seems to be the sweet spot and my speed is limited only by rough terrain. I plan on fixing that this year- tons of fill dirt. This is the factory Spartan SRT-HD picture. It has radial tires- very good on the hills. 10 gallon fuel tank.








Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
Airgun what kind of mower do you have?

Maintenance is everything with mowers. I have customers with cheapo mowers that seem to never quit because they maintain them very well, and others who buy very expensive ones that end up needing expensive repairs because they can't even check the oil.

I rarely find customers with zero turn mowers having engine problems if they maintain them properly. The hydro pumps can be a different story, especially if they buy a consumer zero turn from home depot and use it commercially. I find this to be an expensive lesson for a lot of new landscapers. They buy a new home depot machine over a used commercial machine because it is cheaper, not realizing the difference in build quality.
 
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