Want feedback on Kohler generators

[Boomer]

Want to hear any yeas and nays on Kohler generators. Looking at a 7KW powered by Kubota D905-E.  I know the Kubota is rock solid, just wonder about the power head.  It's a complete operating unit ready to go with all the accessories, radiator, alternator, battery, fuel tank, switch and instrument group and integrated plugs for 120/15amp, 120/20amp, 240/30amp.  180 total hours from new.  Anyone care to contribute their opinion?  I've had PowerTech and Wrico, never had experience with Kohler.

[DoubleEagle]

The generator in my 84 Eagle Entertainer Coach (that was in it when I bought it) was a 12.5 kw Kohler with a Perkins Diesel. It was used constantly while the bus was on the road carrying music groups. The generator head failed at 8,000+ hours, but the engine runs fine. The Kubota engines are very good quality. I have seen them at 20,000 hours in small tractors. At the right price, you should get a lot of use out of it.

[Dave5Cs]

Mark ours is that exact one. It is really a good unit. We run both airs refrigerator lights microwave 2 ,3 stage battery chargers it runs it all. I run it once a month when at the ranch and not in use for an hour and turn most things on to put a load on it. No problems. Pretty quiet. We had power go at at ranch for a week when we were changing the electric panel. We ran our house 1000 square feet,with it as well as a second refrigerator in the barn.
Dave

[scanzel]

I have the 9000 watt RV Kohler with 132 hours on it. Starts right up, not yet installed in bus but runs my whole house with no problem.

[Dreadnought]

All I will say about Kohler is the following-in a previous life- the company I worked for switched from the ultra reliable yanmar diesel motor in a utlity land vehicle to kohler for cost reasons.

That was a terrible mistake and cost us 100,000s in warranty and Kohler wasn't terribly cooperative and didn't seem to have decent processes and methodical manners to deal with it.

The engine was a Lombardinni engine which they bought the rights to and manufacturer. From excessive oil consumption to windage problems.

To be fair- for a steadystate generator- the life is a lot easier and applying what is essentially a steady state generator engine for a transient application is a bit of a leap- but then again- the yanmar before it had no isses what so ever.

My Onan generator in my bus uses a Kubota motor and I'm very pleased about that

[luvrbus]

Very popular generator in the higher end Rv's Mark, I have friends that have Kohler units and never had a problem.Doyles is 10kw it has been in the bus for 23 years,only had oil,fuel and a air filter replaced   

[Dave5Cs]

Yanmare and Kubota are essentially the same engine. Yanmare in my Tractor took a lot of the exact same parts as kubota as well as all filters , oil injectors. The power head is Kohler not the engine. HTH

[TomC]

Yanmar and Kubota are very different companies-in competition with each other. If some parts are the same, it is because they are cooperating on a possible government contract that required such. Good Luck, TomC

[eagle19952]

if i had a choice, and a bushel of cash, i would choose the Yanmar.

[Dave5Cs]

didn't say anything about them being the same company? I said the engines are so simular that they take some of the same parts....