Honda vs Kohler

Going to have to have a new engine for my grasshopper mower.Has a 25hp kohler but about a thousand hrs is all many people are getting out of these.Wanting to try a Honda but not for sure.Most of them doesn't have the snorkel type air cleaner element.Anyone had any experience with the 24hp honda?

Only problem I have with the twin Kohler Command engines is they use a lot of fuel as compared to a Honda or Kawasaki when doing same work. Depending on your usage that can mean a lot, or virtually nothing. Early on there was some valve sticking troubles with the larger Honda twins and the official dope from Honda was it came from inadequate cooling during part throttle operation. Fix was run wide open at all times when loaded to any degree. Kawasaki had some valve problems too early on. Kohlers will munch their plastic governor gear with drastic results.

After talking with Small Engine Warehouse today it looks like I might stay with a kohler.Their man said that the hondas' were positive ground and had to be rewired to make the alt. work.Then there is the problem of having a drive shaft on one end of the crank and belts on the other end.Can be done but would have to have a stub mount to fit the honda engine as theres a difference in length.The honda g690 is $500 cheaper than the kohler and the kohler doesn't come with a muffler.If it was a garden tractor and your only using one end of the crank shaft it would be much simpler.

I replaced the Kohler with a Honda V engine , lot better unit and as far as electric I am running mine Neg ground and it works fine . 
 I had to make the adapter for flywheel side to connect to hydrostatic drive input shaft but made a aluminum adapter and used U joints to get right angle . works fine . 

I have an old "HT" series Honda rider (13HP) that I use around the property. I gotta' admit, fuel consumption is the least outta the other Briggs and Kohlers that I've had or have presently. The darn thing fires up all the time, pulls the finish mower, cart, and seems to have plenty of power. It also has a cooling system to it and a spin on oil filter. I keep the oil clean in it and it just keeps runnin' and runnin'. Now that I've mentioned how nice it is, it'll toss a rod....

My Honda is running a electric clutch on main shaft and the stub shaft off flywheel runs the hydrostatic drive with another driveshaft . 
 I would say it handles load better than Kohler did in my New Holland - in fact i had a Tecumseh replant for about 6 years and it was better than Kohler .

I've NEVER heard or seen a positive ground small engine,can't believe anyone would do that  as sparks would fly high when jump starting them let alone blow up the Vregs of both units.If true, I'd like to see supporting documentation.

Jay

Perhaps that is why Lucas, aka, god of darkness, doesn't make small engine electrics, to the best of my knowledge.

 most mower shops have to get your stuff on line  for kawi parts the kawasaki dealers do not carey any inventory i know it is hard to keep what you need or customers need also cost of parts are alot more than honda and kolher will almost garantee you that no one will stock the air filter that you need  we are going to install a kolher command 25 in a 616 because it is one we did not sell for a couple of years also in the mowers such as walkers they have been useing kolher commands with efi  our kolher rep was telling me that kolher is going to  go totaly fuel injected but the ones we service  the fuel injection systems have worked flawless year after year    also it seems like the kawasaki are real tempermental when they start getting hours on them the husq. mower end are a good quality machine and very service able