Kohler 30hp questions

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

I have a ZTR mower with a Kohler 30 hp engine.  It's been running fine and has had regular service.  The last couple of days, it's been out in the rain.  When I tried to start it, it cranks good but with white smoke.  It cranks fine but sometimes comes to almost a dead stop, then starts cranking again.  Plenty of fuel, oil and the choke is working.

Any tips on what might be causing this sudden stoppage - the engine almost stops then starts spinning again.

[CindyYLee]

Hey Jim, this is Cindy Lee from Kohler Engines. Our field service team can help you out. Please email your engine spec and serial numbers to them at enginefieldservice@kohler.com.

I informed them about your situation and they're waiting to hear back from you.

Thanks, Cindy

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

I don't recall getting any return response but think the situation was caused by hydrolock.  It's stil losing oil but I can't figure out why.  Oh, well.  

[siloguy]

Hydrolock will cause those symptoms. It also puts enormous stress on the piston, rings, and rod as well as the crank and block.  We bent a connecting rod on a diesel in a skid loader from hydrolock. Is there a way water could get into the exhaust or intake? Are you saying you got it running now, but it uses oil?

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

Compression is good and plugs look OK.  I need to recheck the seat in the oil drain - I wonder if it is seeping a little.  It seems to be running better lately.  Maybe just operating is good for it.

[Shaggy98]

I've got a 20HP 2 cylinder Kohler engine on one of my farm mowers that has between 200 and 300 hours, and not hard hours, I would call them Gma hours. Engine was overhauled first time at 75 hours, and it is shot again. I will never, MOCK MY WORDS NEVER own another kohler engine. I am planning on replacing the Kohler with probably a Honda twin. I've got 2 or 3 other small Honda engines on the farm and they are much better all around, hands down. IMO, Kohler is nothing but junk.

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

I talked to a local small engine man who said the Kohler I have is made in the U.S.  I think it is the Challenger.  There is a cheaper Kohler made in China and he said be cautious about that one.  The name should be the guarantee.  I don't want to have to know which model was Chinese and which American.  Kohler needs to figure this out.

[Shaggy98]

You said it Jim, from now on if it says Kohler I'm walking away. I think I've still got a couple other Kohler's around the farm somewhere. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

[ECIN]

Shaggy --- It's  MARK my words ---   lol  You starting to post like me ! LMAO 

BTW I had a kohler --------- once ----- it was on one of my transfer pumps on thetender truck - Every dam time I would get caught in a shower --with out the motor covered - I would have to pull the top cover off and use some sand paper or emery cloth to shine it up so I could get spark again - Love my Honda's

[Shaggy98]

I agree, those little Honda's are hard to beat. I've also got 2 or 3 of them on compressors and one on the sprayer with 0 issues from day one.

Thanks for the grammar lesson. LOL