True. One could compare cranks specs and verify that the donor engine also has the 6 pin connector. Creative wiring is possible if not. What is available used by you? Price is crazy expensive for a new Kohler mill.

Why the Pricing differential with Kohler which is made offshore , than I assume Us built Briggs Tom ?

Briggs Intek are made in US but poor castings and cheap components. Generally a 250-350 hour motor, so I'm not inclined to go that route. Briggs Vanguard is better, and a viable alternative, but made by Daihatsu in Japan.

Interesting John to bad , once were a very reliable engine . But then so was Kohler when they were made in Wisconsin , they were used exclusively in the Mining Industry for ventilation fan and auxiliary light usage in Quebec . Today everything seems to be sourced offshore . Electrical components , carburators etc. I remember when Kawasaki Heavy Industries Japan ruled the Small Recreation Equipment Engine Market . Perhaps you can source another Kawa for your replacement ? Good Luck !

Not sure what happened with mine, but I lost a cylinder with less than 250 hours, and the thing was babied. Believe it or not, it still runs well enough that most people wouldn't know it's running on only 1 cylinder. I've been cutting the yard with it all season this way which is kind of impressive, but with the cylinder wash from uncombusted fuel, it will lock up sooner or later. I believe the Kawa's are still pretty good, but there are some folks who say otherwise. Not worth spending $2K on a new one for a 13 year old tractor I paid $2600 for originally, though. Used FH500V's seem to be running $400-$600, but I want something with known hours and maintenance, so I'll be looking a while unless I can broaden my search with other, more plentiful models that drop in.

Checked out engines for less and Replacement Kawa for the obsolete FH are FZ $1300 + $89.00 for muffler since yours will not adapt . Robin Subaru around $900.00 . Both Quotes from Engines For Less w/ Free Shipping . Yeah todays Engines are pricy ! Hard to justify on older tractor . Let us know how you make out !

I can buy the tractor used for around $1200-1500, so I have to keep that in mind.

10-4 John perhaps Tom or Bill will chime in with their resources :)

No Help?

Quote "Lost a cylinder in my LT180 with a 17HP Kawasaki FH500V, and it's not practical to rebuild due to damage"

"Believe it or not, it still runs well enough that most people wouldn't know it's running on only 1 cylinder. " Quote

This is confusing to me, if the cylinder is damaged such that it is impractical to repair how does the motor run so you don't know one cylinder is bad.

Could you explain how it is damaged beyond repair?

He didn't say that it was damaged beyond repair OR that HE couldn't tell it was only running on one cylinder.

Why would you?

The thought was that if he is having problems with finding a replacement if the problem were put to the group there may be a cheaper way to fix the problem from the forum.

The engine is running on one cylinder. I have the pushrods out. They were bent. Fuel wash down the cylinder walls meant no lubrication, so cylinder is in bad shape. But it runs far better than it shoud. I cut the grass with it this way yesterday.

I simply want to know which engines will fit as close to a straight drop-in as possible. Deere used some other Kawasaki's FH540, FH491 (X300) (LT190), etc. I wouldn't mind a one cylinder Kohler from an LT 160, but I need to know the shaft is correct length, diameter, and key, and that the bolt pattern, muffler, throttle, choke linkage, and wiring harness all will work.