Update on terramite engine.

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member
You can't always believe what everyone tells you.

Service manager at the mower repair shop told me, without seeing my kohler 20 hp engine, I have a blown head gasket. He even showed me where it blows.

Yesterday, I did a compression test. The rich cylinder had 180#, the lean cylinder had 165#. It takes about 10 minutes of run time for the right plug to turn black. I've tried many things. Then I started thinking like Edison, who said "I know 100 of ways how not to make a light bulb."
Well I know many things that can't be my problem, so move on and try what you haven't tried.

Stopped of at HF and bought a cylinder leak down tester. Warmed the engine up, followed the instructions. Tested the good cylinder first. No hint of air leaks in exhaust or intake. Small sound in crankcase, 25% on gauge which is in the green range for being good. I was impressed. Engine has 1600 hrs on it. The rich cylinder was slightly better. Good valves. Small sound in crankcase, air going past the rings. 22% leak down,slightly better.

The service manager showed me on a head gasket where typically the kohler will blow out. So I removed the valve cover, sprayed a little WD40 in the place he said to look, NO LEAKS. Guess you can't trust what people tell you, have to test it yourself.

So, the last thing on my list was to replace the carb. Recently I purchased an 18 hp kohler command, that had an overheating issues, grass choked fins, not to mention a mouse nest. I picked it for $35, removed all the parts and sold the block to a guy for $50. He knew the head had a problem, but wanted it anyhow.

So, I took the 18 hp carb apart, cleaned a little junk off the bottom of the bowl. Blew everything out, Installed it. Works fine. I can tell when it's warming up, I need to give it about 1/4 inch on the choke. So, I feel the engine is a little leaner. After letting it run wide open, I sprayed bursts, about 1 second, of sea foam in carb. Did this for about another 10 minutes. Then I tested out the engine power on a frozen mulch pile. All is well. Good power under load. The plug was cleaner than I've ever seen it. Hopefully there will be no more posts on the kohler sago, done, finished chasing windmills, splitting hairs and all the other things I was told I was doing. And if I blow the engine, so what? Less than $2K for a new one.
 
Hi I'm glad you got to the bottom of the problem.
The biggest issue with a forum , a guy on the phone or asking in a dealership is we can't see the problem, if the machines not in front of us!.
We can only guess at a problem, from what we have seen here in our world of these things or the description we are given. So you advise the guy on common stuff. Then when you got a different problem Termed as "well I've never seen that issue before on those". we's all termed idiots L.O.L.
it's kinda like a guy or 2 own a model Deutz tractor someones asking about buying on here. 2 guys say it's fantastic. I list a problem I have seen on 3 tractors all the same. I fixed the thing so would think there are more out there did the same ,But i know nothing as 2 guys haven't had the problem.
Please don't get mad at guys that try to help you for the fun of doing it, when they can't see the whole picture, sometimes a crystal ball needs repair to.
My shop customers pay $45 an hour, Some will ask what forum they need to join, to get my info for free and cut me out L.O.L
Regards Robert
 
I suspect that's why car dealerships now charge $79 to $129 for their time and equipment to diagnose trouble codes. They get paid for their efforts if the customer decides to try to fit it himself without buying anything.
 
we get paid for fixing the things the idiots mess up, For instance man spent over 500.00 trying to fix his own car. He had taken it to a couple of different parts houses and the guys would put their scan tools on it and sell him the parts they thought he needed. He finally dropped it off for our shop to look at, a 20.95 sensor fixed it. As you say you cant diagnose something when it is 20 miles away or the person doing the diagnostic work doesn't have a clue.
 
Hi
It could also be to do with the cost of the machine, My hydraulic flow meters cost just under $2000. I have used them on 2 tractors so far and only one got fixed. I have to charge a plug in fee, as I have to earn that money back on top of my other running costs. Its kinda like My cutting torch. Guys don't like it itemized on the bill at $10 an hour for use. I'm probably loosing money at that price with refill and rental costs.
I can't afford to give use to the guys.
Regards Robert
 
I've had some bad luck with so called professional mechanics. One guy worked on my truck, forgot to put a hose on between valve cover and air filter. I got all kinds of engine codes. When to replace O2 sensors and discovered mechanic's mistake. Put hose where it belongs and fixed problem. Last time I let him work on my truck.

I bought a new truck and only the dealer works on it. They have done right by me. Oil changes at dealer are a bargain too. They had to do a lot of warranty work too. Thank God for 5year/100000.

Had I taken my terramite to the mower service center. I'm sure he would have removed heads, installed new valves and do absolutely no tests.
 
Thanks, You are the first to mention intake manifold. When changing carb, to the one off an 18 hp engine, I noticed the manifold was PLASTIC.

I'm convinced I have or had an issue that was outside the box of normal possibilities, but never thought of intake manifold.

I can see why more air getting to one cylinder would lean that side down. Why would it make the other side richer? I was even thinking of putting a small hole in rich side and controlling the amount of air if all else fails.
 
Bryan,
When you said you replaced a ton of intake manifold gaskets, are you talking about the gasket between manifold and engine or gasket between carb and manifold? Thanks
 

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