kawasaki engines

tbird175 · Mar 29, 2012

Anyone know why John Deere is backing off on use of Kawasaki engines on lawn and garden tractors?

Fishing Dude too · Mar 29, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

$$$$$$$$$$ and availability after last years big wave

Tahorover · Mar 29, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

Fishing Dude too said:
$$$$$$$$$$ and availability after last years big wave

There made in Maryville, Missouri!

Tahorover · Mar 29, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

tbird175 said:
Anyone know why John Deere is backing off on use of Kawasaki engines on lawn and garden tractors?

Might be that Kawasaki has not kept up on California spec engines and JD is not willing to give up on the California market.

dolluper · Mar 29, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

Parts

BlkY2k · Mar 30, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

dolluper said:
Parts

I believe your right, so they can change up and charge ya 5 times what they should cost. We`ve got a older full size JD here, I forget the # off the top of my head. I went to buy a rebuild kit for the altenator and found out the tractor wasnt made for sale here in the states. Its a european model, the only thing we can figure is it was bought in northern Mich. and maybe it made its way down from canada. Either way, if you can find parts here they are very precious on pricing.

MTboatguy · Mar 30, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

It seems as quite regularly, the large brand names make changes to their small engine depts. Might be someone gave them a better price on engines and parts for those engines and their contract was up with Kawasaki, to they went with another company.

Tim Frank · Mar 30, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

tbird175 said:
Anyone know why John Deere is backing off on use of Kawasaki engines on lawn and garden tractors?

There is a thread in DSC (for some reason) about JD tractors and leaking fuel pumps.
Might be related.

bigdee · Mar 30, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

MTboatguy said:
It seems as quite regularly, the large brand names make changes to their small engine depts. Might be someone gave them a better price on engines and parts for those engines and their contract was up with Kawasaki, to they went with another company.

Yup,that is the most likely reason. IMO JD isn't the praised American Company that it once was. It has gone the way of becoming a giant global outsourcer and at the same time they are using their name and past reputation to overcharge for their services.

tbird175 · Apr 1, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

Thanks for all the opinions. I was told by a small engine mechanic that Kawasaki is having problems with some of their engines now. This could be part of the reason for JD switching.

dolluper · Apr 7, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

jobbers can't realize a profit = dead beat forget about it

Scott Danforth · Apr 7, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

because Kawi changed their ratings from SAE J1940 to SAE J2723 and confused the industry.

It could also be that they are raising the price and the competitors have not. The engine is a commodity.

Laddies · Apr 7, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

Last week I kept my mouth shut but being the proud owner of a John Deere with a Kawasaki fd620 V twin can tell you that the engines had a plastic drive gear on the cam which went out taking the water pump ,some oil pumps, bent valves and the engines were built for many years after the trouble started the replacement cams have a aluminum gear which you can buy at your own cost. Of about 10 people in our area that had this problem only 1 got any warranty help. So in my opinion the junk got scrapped by John Deere Thank God.

tbird175 · Apr 11, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

So, what do you think is the best engine in the16 to 23hp range?

rschap1 · Apr 12, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

Onan...like the one in my OLD SCHOOL 318

Local dealers keep offering me a brand new 300 series for my old one.

Just keeps on going.

I know that it will need to replaced someday but I have not heard too awful much good about the Kawasaki powered 300s...with under 500 hours on my 318, deck and blower I am shopping but not too hard yet.

I will have to keep an eye on what they end up going with here.

Scott Danforth · Apr 12, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

tbird175 said:
So, what do you think is the best engine in the16 to 23hp range?

Kubota Diesel

pjitty · Apr 12, 2012

Re: kawasaki engines

try Honda

kawasaki engines

Petty Officer 1st Class

Lieutenant Junior Grade

Chief Petty Officer

Chief Petty Officer

Captain

Chief Petty Officer

Fleet Admiral

Vice Admiral

Commander

Petty Officer 1st Class

Captain

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats

Banned

Petty Officer 1st Class

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats

Cadet