Kohler vs Cat

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mshields

mshields

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Location
Boston, MA
Would be interested in any feedback comparing Kohler to Cat. Like working with our Kohler rep up here in Boston but am getting pressure to spec Cat. Do you think Kohler is comparable, inferior, superior, depends the type of unit? etc.

Appreciate your thoughts.

Mike
 
Around here, the Cat rep is second to none. And I think Cat has an great reputation. But I may be a little biased: this is Cat Country (Central Illinois).

On the other hand, the Kohler rep won't even return my calls.

The last small natural gas generator I specified, I put Cat, Kohler and Cummins on the list so the client would get the best price. Funny thing was, all three brands used the same exact Ford motor (or was it GM?)

If nothing else, the Yellow & Black Cats look nice:)

Steve
 
I think some of it depends on what engine technology you are talking about. When it comes to diesel, there is no competition to CAT. Kohler does not manufacture an engine to my knowledge and uses makers like John Deer, Ford, Chevy, etc.

IMHO, CAT wins hands down, no matter what fuel you use. However I have used Kohler when budget is a primary concern over reliability.
 
This is just a personal opinion based on what I have seen.

Over the past 10 years I have noticed a real decline in at least the appearance and quality control of the CAT equipment.

Much more plastic, and more start up / check out time.

Just a few months ago I had a CAT tech out to do a start up on a 600 KW unit. It was about 6 hours before he got it to fire.

Then there was another day working on it with a lap top.

Some of the problems stemmed from the enclosure manufacturers work but they are also supposed to be the 'Cadillac' of enclosures.
 
iwire said:
Just a few months ago I had a CAT tech out to do a start up on a 600 KW unit. It was about 6 hours before he got it to fire.

Then there was another day working on it with a lap top.
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Not to mention the night that we cut the generator over, it was running about as good as a weedwacker with stale gas in it.
 
I use CAT, simply because I can get very local service and support for it. Nothing wrong with Kohler. I'd use that too if I had a local servicing dealer. I generally use Onan small gensets, and CAT large gensets, when the brand is up to me.
 
peter d said:
Not to mention the night that we cut the generator over, it was running about as good as a weedwacker with stale gas in it.
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Thats true, it was smoking like crazy and smelling like it was pumping fuel straight through.

Shut it down for a few hours and it restarted normal. :-?
 
Peter no wonder it ran bad, you should not put gas in a diesel engine.

We work on diesels and my mechanics LOVE Cummins, but then they both worked for Cummins in the past.

I like the Big 3 Cat, Detriot, Cummins. Though in the smaller units you can end up with some strage configurations. Cat supplies a smaller unit made in Ireland (I think), we had nothing but trouble with this unit. It ran like a Cat when tested, but everytime there was a power outage it refused to start. Turned out to be a grounding issue with the controls. But the customer was somekinda of upset with US.

Like a truck some like Fords, some like Chevys
 
mdshunk said:
Sounds like someone had it calibrated for the tractor pulls ! :grin:
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Thats about what it looked like. :D

Peter and I had started the unit from inside a building about 600' from the generator, in a minute or two we could smell the unit from inside the building.

This was after it had passed a 4 hour load bank test no more than a day before.
 
brian john said:
Was the block heater working for an extended period of time prior to starting?
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No.

That was one of the issues that the tech was working on.

In the interim we had cranked up the enclosure heater for days so it was about 95 F on the water temp gauge.

The thing is we run it at least 5 minutes with it belching smoke with no sign of it cleaning up.

About 8 hours later we cranked it up and it ran fine.
 
The local CAT people here are very responsive and helpful. Cummins is pretty good, while Kohler isn't all that great about returning calls.

My boss has told me 99% of the large gensets installed in the area are CATs. Based on my experience with their sales engineers, I'm not surprised.
 
brian john said:
Peter no wonder it ran bad, you should not put gas in a diesel engine.
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I know you're joking, but gasoline in a diesel motor would have much more immediate indications of, uh, failure. Kerosene can be added to diesel to help in cold weather, but check your owner's manual beforehand ;)
 
tallgirl said:
Kerosene can be added to diesel to help in cold weather, but check your owner's manual beforehand ;)
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Isn't #1 Diesel and Kerosene the same thing? I have an older Mercedes Benz and it burns vegtable oil in the summer, and either a little #1 or #2 diesel mixed in for the winter.
 
dereckbc said:
... Isn't #1 Diesel and Kerosene the same thing?
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Essentially yes. ("Kerosene" is more of a generic term while "#1 Diesel" meets specific ASTM characteristics)

The diesel you buy at service stations is generally #2.

Fuel distributors do blend #1 into the mix during the winter to improve #2's low-temperature characteristics.

For those interested in more background, Chevron has a wealth of technical info available at: http://www.chevron.com/products/prodserv/fuels/diesel/dieseltechinfo.shtm
 
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we have used about 60% to 40% Cat vs Cummins for large Gensets in the last 5 years. But lately the local Cat rep has laid off all of their good sales people and I would have to say that I would rather deal with anyone but Cat at this point.
-Ed
 
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