JD mower

Tom in Ga · May 26, 2016

I have a lx266 lawn mower with a 16 hp Kohler engine. I was cutting today when all of a sudden it started running wide open way above governed speed. I had to cut it off because I couldn't slow it down. My question is will an air leak cause a 4 cycle engine to do this? I had a husky saw that had an air leak and It acted the same way. The mower is in good shape and I hope I can figure it out. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Tommy

Bob · May 27, 2016

Sounds like the governor failed. I have no experience with that engine, but, likely, plastic parts are involved. Take a look at the info plate on the engine and get the Kohler model # and do a little drilling down through menus at www.Kohlerengines.com and you should be able to download an owner's manual and a shop manual for FREE.

Also, you should be able to pull up a parts breakdown at www.jdparts.com.

bdunegan · May 27, 2016

Had a 15hp Kohler once on a cub 1515 that did the same thing. Was given to me because of this. Come to find out, the throttle butterfly in the carb had lost a screw and was stuck wide open. Pulled carb, replaced screw and used it another 5 years with no problems.

ztrmower · May 27, 2016

you have a govener linkage issue or you have lost it internally

T.R.K. · May 27, 2016

Not familiar with that engine, but check:
-Governor spring. runs between throttle cable lever and governor arm in most cases.
-butterfly on throttle shaft: like has been said, no butterfly, no control of the volume of fuel/air mix going in the engine.
-linkage between the throttle shaft and the governor arm.
-governor arm tight on shaft coming out of engine.
-internal parts of governor.

Most Kawasaki internal governors I have seen have been among the heaviest duty parts used in the small engine industry.

p.s.: I have seen pictures of extremely overheated engines where the ball separator melted and froze up the governor. Does it have oil in it?

wisbaker · May 28, 2016

Don't know if you have a real Kohler (the K series cast iron wonder) or one of those new fangled aluminium things they make. I have a Cub Cadet 120 (yes I know they didn't make a 120, it's a 70 or 100 with a K301 12 HP engine, had IH made it that way they would of called it a 120) and I had the throttle butterfly come loose and I lost all throttle control, much like you've described. I bought a kit on E-bay with a new throttle shaft and bushing as it was $4.00 and much easier than trying to remove the broken screws in the old throttle shaft and it was back to mowin with about hours worth of work.

Tom in Ga · May 29, 2016

The shaft in the carburetor had lot of loose motion. When I removed it, it had wallowed out the bore it was in. I went to get parts and the parts man said I need the whole carb. Web site was down so it will be Tuesday before I can get a price. I think the mower is pretty good otherwise. It has 850 hours on it now so a lot of gas has been thru the thing. Thanks for y'alls help. Tommy

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Tom in Ga

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Bob

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T.R.K.

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wisbaker

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Tom in Ga

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