Propane Outboard?

Lots of examples can be found of "labeling the same product differently", but that isn't what's going on here. If we look at the parts manuals for the two engines, we'll find the differences the Kubota rep talked about.

So....the two products labeled differently are actually different.

 

in the USA every head was lead free compliant from the mid u70's so all ( cast iron) had induction hardened seats so propane was no issue

 

You've been in hardware sales for many years Frosty.
I wouldn't be surprised about a $1200 difference in retail price.

 

powerabout, my reply was in response to this:

That statement makes it seem as if all seats are pressed in, and that isn't the case. Plenty of OHV cast iron heads had the seats machined right into the head casting itself. On the valve-in-block engines, the seats were machined right into the block.

Additionally, the information I posted about Kubota's situation is still relevant. The same engine they produce for unleaded gasoline has a different version intended to run on propane. It really doesn't matter to me what anyone does, and I don't necessarily think anyone will experience issues IF they convert their engine to run on propane.

All I'm saying, is simply that the aftermarket companies that sell "kits" for converting this or that have not necessarily done their homework, nor should what they tell anyone automatically trump the information an owner receives from the manufacturer that built their engine in the first place.

 

Great discussion. Not sure if that Kabota engine is the one in my lawn tractor, it;s 22 hp as well. However, aren't the OB heads now usually aluminum? Like a 20 hp Mercury?