Kohler Rebuild or Replace?

Just pulled the engine off the X Mark mower.

It's a Kohler CV18S. The meter shows 2300 hours, bought used, no history but it ran good for about 5 years. The boss is pretty sure it was ran out of oil (closest he's gonna get to confessing! LOL). It still ran, a little noisy but nothing hammering, lots of smoke though.

Question is, how rebuildable are these? Should I even tear it down or just start looking for a short block?

If I do rebuild it, any strong points, oddities, or weaknesses I need to know about?

Thanks!

Check to make sure head gasket didn't fail. On Briggs when the head gasket fails, they will smoke like crazy and send oil all over air cleaner.

If it was just for around the house, I would try and rebuild it. Have the cylinder sleeved or honed oversize if there are deep scratches in the walls.

If your boss depends on this to run long hours and make money, I would go with a new short block or low hour used engine.

Installing a Briggs might bring the cost down some.

i may have complet used engine of that model that ran fine when unit came in. also have new briggs 20 for 550.00 if want drop that in place. shrot blocking i don't do anymore simply cost factor complete motor can get for little more.

That engine is very rebuildable but gets pricey if your need both crankshaft and bore work. I would tear it down at least far enough to be certain of the bore and crankshaft condition. Link is to a site I have used in the past with good prices on genuine Kohler kits. Smoke is often from blown head gaskets or bad crankcase reed valve. There were several updates for the head gasket issues, different gaskets and studs. Be sure to go to Kohlers web site and download the manual. They have the best step by step instructions for total tear down and rebuild that you will ever lay your eyes on.
Pats Small Engines

I had the motor on my Cub 1200 done two years ago. It was pricey, but it worked out well.Get the RPM"s up where they should be or you will not get the power out of it. Ed

Update... Got the engine torn down today.

Cylinders look serviceable, some scratches, no galling, think they will hone out but haven't measured anything yet. The pistons look good but feel really sloppy. Again I haven't measured them.

The crank is another story. One of the rods looked great, the other has been hot enough to just color the crank and show some galling on the rod. I need to polish the crank and measure.

Haven't dismantled the heads yet but nothing looks unusual.

One of the problems I'm up against is finding a reputable shop that can grind the valves and seats, and whatever else needs to be done. I'm near the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, you would think a metromess this size would have lots to offer, but it's dismal. The few good shops won't mess with small engines. The bad ones, well they base their business on an endless supply of people that don't know better. If anyone knows of a good shop, I might have to box up the parts and UPS them.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Butch: I went to the link, if this will rebuild I'll be going with the Kohler rebuild kit. That is a good manual on the rebuild process, well written.

ztrmowers: The new Briggs is very tempting. Is it electric start? That's half price of what I've seen!

Steve you have my condolences.
I moved out of Garland in 1983, spent a couple years in Camden, AR, and been out near Abilene since 1985.
The last machine work I had done in that area was White Rock Machine Shop (near White Rock Lake) and they did a lot of work for Devil's Bowl racers back then. Don't have any idea if they still exist and if they would work on a small engine.
Bryce

yes they are both still in boxes