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OT Kohler Command 18hp Question

J

John B.

Well-known Member
I bought a Woods Zero Turn last saturday with a 52
inch cut and a Kohler 18hp Command Engine. One
cylinder has 155 psi of compression and the other
cylinder has 135 psi. If I squirt a little oil in
the lower one it comes up to 155 psi. Do you think
this difference is much to be concerned about? I'm
thinking I may pull the head off and see why it
has lower compression.

The man I bought it from said it started
running on one cylinder and he took it to a shop
and they said the engine was totaled. For some
reason they even took the flywheel off and found
it only had 3 magnets in it for the charging
system. He said he always put a trickle charger on
it. They also told him some one had it apart once
before. The hour meter has 856 on it.
 
I would think it's on borrowed time. What do you plan on doing with it? Home use or commercial?

Sounds like it was thrown back together just to say it did run. How long, well depends on how well it was reassembled and what is wrong with it.

Instead of tearing it down, only to verify that it's in bad shape, think I would run it as long as it would run, especially if it is for home use and under your supervision.

In the meantime, start looking for a deal on another engine, do some research, decide if you want another Kohler or do a repower.
 

My old Bolens mower (1977) has a 17 hp Kohler twin in it, with many thousands of hours on it and it only shows 95 # Compression and runs well..
(we have 3 of these)..

I just pulled the Heads and removed the carbon deposits and welded the cooling shroud, new points, etc.
Yours is much newer..maybe it has higher compression, but your numbers are plenty good..

Ron.
 
Check the exhaust ports for oil. If the lower psi has no more oil in it than the other you just need to do a valve job.
 
I have a JD 687 Zero turn that has a Kohler Command motor on it. IT is showing 589 hours and the motor is shot.

These newer Kohler motors are now where as good as the old cast iron ones.
 
By chance, is it smoking on start up, and anytime the engine is revved after idling for a moment? I don't think the smaller Commands had the same problems the bigger one did, but I think, if it smokes, it cold be the head gasket on that one side.
 
JohnB
I bought a used terramite with a 20 hp command. Left bank had a fouled plug. I discovered by removing the breather, there were 3 small holes in carb, near the top of the venture. I gave each a small puff of air, saw gas come out lower in venture. That was all it needed to make carb work fine.

When it doesn't run right, I give the carb another blast of air.


I was told Kohler's blow head gaskets, so I keep my engine running instead of turning it off and then right back on.

Do a leak down test before you tear it down. That will tell you where your problem is.

I don't think 20 psi will hurt that much.
I wouldn't tear engine down for that reason.

I have 1500 hours on my engine. Change oil every 75 hrs. Still runs strong.

Check out small engine warehouse for a replacement engine. It may be better to get a new engine. If I ever have problems with mine, that what I'll do.
george
 
If the compression come up with oil added to the cyl, that means the rings are bad. Also the cyl could have some scratches, that the oil helps cover raising the compression.
 
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