Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Driveway Erosion Control, ETC.

This is the first I've heard about it but it was 2 years ago


From the interwebs......

"Kohler Energy, formerly the engine and standby generator division of Kohler Co., has officially rebranded as Rehlko following a significant equity investment. The company, now a standalone entity, takes its new name as an anagram of its former parent, Kohler. Rehlko is pronounced “REL-co.”

The restructuring was made possible through a majority acquisition by Platinum Equity, a private equity firm led by Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores. Kohler Co. retains a minority stake in the new business. While the financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed, estimates from Bloomberg and Robert W. Baird suggest a valuation of around $3 billion when the deal was finalized in May 2023.

Rehlko CEO Brian Melka expressed optimism about the company’s future, emphasizing their continued commitment to solving complex energy challenges while staying true to the values instilled during its Kohler Co. legacy.

Rehlko will keep its headquarters in Wisconsin and continues to operate in over 100 locations across the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Businesses under the Rehlko umbrella include Power Systems, Engines, Kohler Uninterruptible Power, Clarke Energy, Curtis Instruments, and Heila Technologies. Power Systems and Engines are set to complete their rebranding to Rehlko by the end of 2024.

Platinum Equity, the investment firm behind the transformation, manages more than $48 billion in assets and has extensive experience in the industrial products sector. Founded by Tom Gores in 1995, the firm has a strong portfolio of investments across various industries. Gores, who also owns the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, acquired the basketball team and its parent company for $325 million in 2011, according to Forbes.

This new chapter for Rehlko positions the company to build on its legacy while embracing opportunities for growth as an independent player in the global energy sector."

 

Ok...

So does this mean dont buy any equipment w "Kohler" engines?

Im seeing a lot of Kawasaki engines in small farm equipment now, prob has been for a while but Im just noticing it. Are these good to go? What about modern Briggs and Stratton?

On a related note I took my 2023 Honda push mower for warranty / recall service last year and was told they stopped making mowers.

JB

 

I'd buy them in this order...for now anyways but this is just me.

1-Kohler or whatever the new name is.
2-Kawasaki

84th- Briggs and Stratton

 

The B&S Vanguard are legit motors. They are Japanese built.

They are very well built and hardly anything on makes you think that this engine is a B&S product.

 

I had a Bobcat zero turn with a B&S on it, I was not impressed. It wasn't a Vanguard though.

 

The Kawasaki 25 HP in my old John Deere x500 seemed like a good engine. Smooth, powerful, gave me no trouble. It was really cold blooded, though - took longer than you'd expect to warm up enough to do anything at all. Try to move the machine or engage the PTO too soon in cold weather and it would instantly die.

 

The Kohler on my welder is cold natured. You have to choke it every single time you start it. Doesn't matter if you turn it off after running it 30 minutes, still got to choke it to start it back. It's been that way since I bought it new.

 

Don’t know that much about Onan engines but when I scrapped my 20 plus year old Toro 212-5 the Onan engine was still running like new. I pulled it from the mower and sold it as a stand alone setup. BTW The manual transmission grenaded. It was one of those sealed transmissions and to repair or replace wasn’t cost effective. When I saw in the service manual it required bentonite grease I said forget it. I think it was part my fault due to me shifting gears while on slopes or non level ground. Even using the clutch. I could tell the trans didn’t like it.

 

Saw this a bit ago.

I hope they don't have my number...

If they do I'll forward it the scrap yard.