Don't see many open Kohlers...any reason why? Any other "off" brands that would make a good open 4-cycle?

Ted, my mule (Kohler XKE 6.5) is one of the few kohlers out there. IMO weight is a big part of it. Kohlers tend to be very stout blocks that carry the lbs well (compared to a yamaha F200 type engine my mule looks like a monster.

Another reason is the ammount of up grade parts out there and their cost. If I built a Yamaha or Briggs Animal to produce what my mule does I would have paid about 50-75% of what I got in the kohler.

It was fun finding the outside edge of what the XKE can do but if I had it to do over I probably would have gone with a much diffrent power plant.

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I would say parts availability is number one. There are plenty of parts for the Honda GX series and the clones from the 160 to the 390cc engines. The GX390's really haul the mail when built right.

The main reason a Kohler does not make a good Unlimited, is the stock bore size. Then comes a serious parts availability issue.

The head......ports especially, would need a DRASTIC overhaul, and reweld to run Unlimited.

As an F200, they are a great engine.