I am new to surface drives and found one forsale. How are these motors and how reliable are they compared to the vangards and kohlers. Also why did mud buddy quit using this motor, i didnt see it listed as a choice anymore. any help will be appreciated

pros:
fuel injected
smooth running motor

cons:
no more power than a VG 29
super expensive replacement parts
uses a $300+ problematic fuel pump
big ass radiator right on the front ready to be poked by a limb
expensive


actually a good motor but a poor application imo.

I love mine and have been very fortunate to have had zero problems with the engine itself but the drive portion has been an uphill battle. never deal with carb ice up here in the north but didn't notice it with the go-devils we used to run either. I do not ever run flooded timber or woods of any kind so the radiator has been a non issue. if prodrive made an engine that was fuel inj and liquid cooled I would start selling organs to get one but it won't happen, I am leary of briggs, we use alot of them in our ground support equipment they don't seem to last long enough. we do have one honda that every one tries to get a the start of every day and it runs high rpms for 12 hrs a day for the last four years. briggs get replaced every 6-9 months. I think it is alot like the outboard market, most guys would rather have a jap motor then a merc but that is just an observation

Couldn't tell ya. just know they don't last as long. although I doubt any mud motor would see the amount of hours we put on our stuff in a lifetime.

A hunting bud of mine has one on a 1744 Gatortrax HyperTunnel Boat. This motor he bought new in '04 and other than minor maintenance (belt, prop, oil, etc) it has performed very well. It is a little underpowered as it will only manage 19-20 with 2 persons and dog and hunting load. This motor is extremely easy to handle and drive. Other than the power thing it is an exceptional motor. IMO

By the way this rig is the skinniest traveling rig I've been in.

I have owned a 29 Kawi Hyperdrive. I must admit that the electronic fuel injection is nice when you are running at various altitudes and in cold temps, as I did.

The Kawasaki underperforms verus a 29 to 31 HP Vanguard when put on a heavily loaded boat. And the Kawis can be pricey when they begin to require parts for repair. I sold the one I had to a guy locally and he had to spend four bills when his fuel pump went out.

As far as the liquid cooled, it is a nice idea but I would not buy a motor just for the presence of it. I have since owned four air cooled Vanguards on various boats and the air cooling has worked just fine.

I guess if the price is right on the used motor, go for it. But I would not buy a Kawasaki over a Vanguard just because it is a Kawasaki.

I like mine. I have had it for one season and didnt have a big blade prop till it was over. It is nice for starting when its 5 above. Had zero problems so far.

The FD791D-BS00 29 H.P. Kawasaki is one of the finest, best built motors out there. In 2004 it was the king of the hill for mud motors. Several things changed that. It was discovered that the horsepower and torque curves did not line up too well and at max. RPM the engine was off of its optimum torque output. Second, everyone was afraid of the EFI and there was no easy way to adjust the fuel/air ratio to allow the use of performance enhancements. When the carburated air cooled Vanguard 35 came along, it was relatively easy to increase the performance by the usual methods. This caused the Kawasaki to fall by the wayside. I have a slightly modified 29 Kawasaki (K&N filter, performance pipe and high strength push rods) that turns 3900 RPM all day long and will run with any 35 Van. I am still working on a fully modded 29 that will meet or exceed any fully modded Van out there.

Keep in mind that liquid cooled engines run cooler oil temp., head temp., produce more H.P. per pound and are overall longer life engines. The downside is slightly more weight and complexity. My experience has been that for a tree limb to punch a hole in the radiator, it has already skewered the driver! My rotaMax rotary engine is also liquid cooled. If you have any questions or need any help with a Kawasaki, please let me know.

Rotex Rotax, Rotomax Rotomex, Kotax Kotex.. It's all the same..

In all honesty pushing your boat 36 isn't a huge achievement.. RC was pushing a 500# boat with 1600# of guys and some additional poundage at 34mph.. The thing that I know you know and realize is that that motor will never make the torque in the rpm range it needs too so why keep playing with it unless it's just a fun project for you.. Like I told you long ago, I think it's great in theory and have loved following your work.. Carry on..

Now we the modded Briggs motors would only hold oil instead of puking it out of the case after 30 hours!

LOL, OK, I was type talkin on my phone!

Thanks

Yep, well aware, matter of fact I think EVERYONE was aware of that ! LOL

Rail..... lookie here. This guy knows first hand.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFcpu19h8v4

Sounds like a pissed off bumble bee

You must be new... THAT is Weathers1200 and his Kotex/Rotomax... Ain't it still looks like a whole lot of shit goin on with thing...

Keep up the good fight Weathers... One day we might look at you as the pioneer..

Yackity fu*#kin' yack, ya'll talk all your bullshit, don't mind me if I work while we talk. After you have spent 20 or 30 thousand dollars, a few years of your nights and weekends and advised most of the performance mud motor guys out there (you know who you are), drop me a line and we will talk serious. As long as this industry depends on lawn mower technology, it will get lawn mower performance, period!

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo snap

I have this motor its bulletproof. Guys with bigger motors may beat you there but you will be leaving while they're cranking on their engines.