More power from a kohler???

[Forest Road 594]

I have two tractors with low hour Magnums. 12 and 14 hp. Both low hours. And both obviously underpowered for my 2 stage blower. I'm considering going a couple different routes for next years snow season, ok so I'm a little optimistic it might snow SOMEDAY. I've been reading a couple different websites about the power some guys are getting out of rebuilt Kohlers. Anywhere from 15-50% more power. Whats the life expectancy with that kind of power? My primary use of the tractors is work around the property so I want a long life build.

Am I better off leaving good enough alone? Rebuilding for more power? Or just go for a twin cylinder? I love the dependability and simplicity of the Kohlers.

[Jim_M 179]

I think a well tuned, healthy 14 horse should be able to handle the 2 stage just fine.

[MaineDad 87]

Both the 12 and 14 horse Kohler should be able to handle that two stage. The Kohler is simple to rebuild too...

[Hodge71 665]

I think first its important to know hydro or gear tranny. I find it very difficult to believe a 12 horse hydro is going to handle a 44" dual stage blower comfortably. From what I rmember from other posts, hydros suck approximately 2-5 hp. Maybe if you go real slow and its a light fluffy 2 or 3 inch snowfall you might be ok, but if you get 6+ inches of heavy wet snow, that machine will be extremely underpowered for that blower, even the 14 would be. That blower was desisgned by Toro for use behing the 18-20 HP Onan engine on the 500 series tractors. They run OK with a 16 but I think in the heavy stuff it would even bog a bit under load. If I remember correctly, Hydro 314 had my 44" on his 314 and it was a dog and bogged under heavy snow load. He put it behind his 16 Magnum and it does quite well now. Either way good luck to you in your quest for more power.

[Irv 115]

I don't know how much more power a 2-stage blower or a hydro takes but I have a 312-8 and a 314-8 and either one delivers more than enough power for my single stage blower.

[can whlvr 994]

so put two motors on the tractor,one for the blower and one for the tractor :ychain:

[smoreau 658]

C120 auto with a 2 stage is what Duke uses for his snow chucker. The horse power loss from the hydro depends on the demand for torque and speed to the rear wheels, if your not pushing the snow or trying to go too fast blowing the snow you should be just fine! Granted a 20hp onen would do a lot better, but a 12 or 14 will do just fine with a auto trans.

[Hydro 131]

Well with all due respect, I don't agree. I have tried it on 4 occasions. The Duke used a standard transmission and if you have watched his video's, speed is slow but he does it. In the end we all know he went to the Onan 20.

There are videos on Youtube with a 16 Hp Kohler with an 8 speed. It takes a full bite (44") and does just fine in light deep snow. I changed the oil in my hydro to 5-30 and it sits in my attached garage. It's ready with very little warm up but the 14 with the Hydro will not handle the 44 inch 2stage!

I have installed a 16 Kohler but there has not been enough snow for me to tell. If it does not work for me then everything goes back to the 8speed tractor but that is not what I want. There seems to be quite a difference between the 14 and the 16, time will tell. You just have to stop and think about the walk behinds. When have you seen one 44 inches wide with only a 12 hp engine?? Add the weight of a tractor and a rider. In reality...that 44 is one big power sucking unit especially in deep or wet snow.

[Forest Road 594]

Thanks guy! One tractor is a 312-8 and the other is a 314-H. I have it mounted on the Hydro. I only had a chance to play with it briefly. I had to plow some of the 2" deep white junk up into piles just so I could try chucking it. There's so much power loss betwen the right angle gearbox, the friction block, and again at the auger gear box that I can definately see the need for more HP. Unfortunately I need the height and munching capability of a two stage to clean up after a few storms. My plow guy leaves some monster piles at the vacation home. If i can get up there it pays for me to remove them vs his backhoe. I also widen the road a bit. So its a fair amount of work.

I don't know how much more power a 2-stage blower or a hydro takes but I have a 312-8 and a 314-8 and either one delivers more than enough power for my single stage blower.

The single stage blower works awesome on either machine.I love the single! And it requires far less hp than the dual stage. Problem I had with it last year is that it simply is not tall enough and when I raise it to knock down drifts and what not it just shoots snow under the tractor.