Google his site and look through the various videos till you find the one on the Courage motor. I run into at least 2-3 customer machines every season, same problem. JavaScript is disabled. Then it will turn over normally and start. Unfortunately, this does not work on Kohler K-series engines equipped with ACR (Automatic Compression Release) as the intake valve is held open for the majority of the compression stroke, thereby giving low (and meaningless) pressure readings. It suddenly seemed to gain a great deal more compression. Check the gas condition of the fuel. I have a cub cadet lawn tractor with a 23hp kohler courage engine (mod #sv720s. The most common way to measure compression pressure is to use a pressure gauge screwed into the spark plug hole, then crank the engine with the starter. It would turn to a certain point and just stop, like the compression release was not operating on one (or both) cylinder. That engine is always going to be under full compression. Just a thought. JavaScript is disabled. Believe me you will learn about them. If the springs fail, the ACR is deactivated, meaning that the engine will be under full compression all the time, and hard to start. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. However, the good thing is that you can fix the problems by knowing the exact causes behind the issues. Unofficial Home of Old Simplicity & Allis-Chalmers Garden Tractors. #2; this time with head off pull exhaust valve and check seat recession. I had problems starting it till I installed a 51R battery in that tractor. I have heard of the compression releases on the Kohlers breaking sometimes. Well I thought I had the starting problem fixed by the valve adjustments but nope I still have the problem on the sv Kohler in the Cub Cadet. First, identify the problem you've encountered with your engine, then rule out each potential cause. My plan was to swap my 16hp Briggs over, but curiosity got the better of me and I started digging into the poorly swapped Kohler/ Cub Cadet 16hp that someone had swapped in. If it is weak, then replace it. The struggling starter motors are another which is why they upgraded them. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The guy said "OK" and then dropped the price to something I could live with. That will make absolutely no difference as each pushrod sits on its own cam. I routinely set valves on mechanical lifter engines at the max specified, as I am told the normal wear pattern is for them to tighten up over time. Often best way to identify and correct the cause of engine trouble is to think like a mechanic and use a systematic approach to problem solving. Connections clean or jump to the starter direct? Or if it is too damaged, then replace it. Battery load tested and at least 250 CCA? The engine turns over good with the spark plugs removed and the valve lash is set at .004 on both sides. I read up on the ACR then went to the garage and fired it right up. A leak down test is much more useful and can pinpoint the source of low compression. I thought maybe the battery got weak, replaced it, starter going bad, replaced it with a known good one, starter switch going bad, replaced it! Had one that did that. It still started hard too. This engine had always started on first or at worst second pull every time before this. A friend has an ariens ride on mower with a Kohler twin cam engine (sorry I do not know the HP or engine # at this time) The engine has been hard or hesitant to start, giving systems that were first thought to be a low battery. Nice! You must log in or register to reply here. By A weak fuel pump, plugged fuel filter or fuel line, or bad gas can cause carburetor problems. So, it is better to replace the ignition switch if you find it faulty. I still have to keep a good belt on the starter-generator, because it really likes to slip when that engine hits compression. On a type k161 how is the compression release mechanism set up also the governor? On the other hand, since on the Kohler K series engines, there are small levers on the camshaft that trip open the exhaust valve at low turning speeds to reduce compression, the less valve clearance the engine has, the better this compression release will work. So now I had to figure out if they interchange. Technician: Ranwell1, Small Engine Technician replied 10 years ago. Just an added note. Looks like it was a job so nice, I'll do it twice. Dan. Problems with starting are the most common problem of any machine. im not totally sure but you may be able to pop the head off and take a peek,or feeler gauge and check the valve to see if its slightly open,but as mentioned make sure your starter,and wires are good,maybe run a direct positive to the starter from a known good source,like your car or one of the hundred other tractors you have ,just kidding but i would try this before opening anything up,and if its the acr,you will have to tear her down pretty far. What is involved in getting to it to fix it? If you have had success bending the hardened ones, I will try that too. SMOKSTAK is a Registered Trade Mark in the U.S. I am working on a neighbors mower that is very hard to turn over and wants to kick-back. It starts great and is my primary work tractor. I have yet to even pull a valve cover to look at the valves. I have read time and again negative comments about these courage engines, I'm not sure if I am a one in the million lucky person or what. My engine has a production date of 11-2005 and the tractor is a Cub Cadet Super LT 1550 . The owners manual calls for a 230 amper hr battery , a new smaller one will not start it when new. You are using an out of date browser. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. If the springs fail, the ACR is deactivated, meaning that the engine will be under full compression all the time, and hard to start. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); By I would make sure everything else is perfect before assuming it is the ACR but if it is you have to tear the motor completely apart, as it is attached to the camshaft. Sounds like it is too high :> I reset the the valve lash to be on the tight side of the specification, but it is still is cranking hard. It starts fine with a good starter-generator belt and a fully charged battery. This valve is opened, the the starter is engaged and allowed to get the engine spinning at a fast rate. It may not display this or other websites correctly. (Brings Intek @ 100 hours ) As with many engines, if they aren't problematic on the compression release front- they aren't touched and probably don't need to be.Things to specifically know on the twins is never fill oil above the full mark, error on the light side- checking with the dipstick all the way in. Kohler had the starter vendor increase the diameter of the shaft and changed the number of teeth on the gear so today that issue should be gone. This pro engine also features a fuel filter, oil filter, and air filter, which are very large than found in the usual tractor engines. Should you suspect valve lash, .004 TDC is set- further insert a feeler in between the rocker and valve end to mimick a compression release and try to crank again. A forum community dedicated to all tractor owners and enthusiasts. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. If it lifts too much it will dump too much compression and make it start very hard. Powered by Invision Community, do you still have some coffee can mufflers? Hi all! Well when I was talking to the guy up the street that repairs mowers he told me it was caused by the valves being way out of adjustment so they weren't releasing combustion. My last thought is that the ACR (automatic compression release) spring is broken, however I'd like to exhaust all my options before tearing this thing down. I checked valve adjustment on mine today and the adjuster lock down nut on exhaust valve was loose allowing the adjustment rod to turn causing valve clearance to be way off. Probably 30 or so. It was readily apparent. I haven't started working on it yet, just thinking about what it could be. (I mean engaging the starter until it stopped, then release the key and do it again). Are you sure that you don't just have a tired starter? My Kohler Courage engine that 580 hours is the same as the day I bought it, and I've never changed a spark plug. Fixed the problem every time. Typically most small engines, for lawn mowers, will operate within a range of 80 PSI (pounds per square inch) and up to 140 PSI. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I ended up getting a new K series starter. You might want to fix or repair the ignition switch with the help of an expert. One other thought, the K181 and M8 are the only engines that when the connecting rod starts to knock, the cap bolt can rub on the camshaft and break it. I loosen, recentered, retightened and put the valve cover on. Once that was solved it was good. Thus, you can solve the carburetor issue. I am guessing it might be the compression release is bad. My Kohler engine on my Lt1050 will not turn over even after I adjusted the valves and put on new starter. funny topic, cause i am just sitting down after dealing, and still dealing with my little crawler motor and too much compression. Rotate the engine by hand watching the positin o the piston in relation to the valves opening & closing. We've listed some common problems and potential causes below. Usually it is made from a small valve from a very small 4 stroke engine. If not, I was thinking about mounting a KT twin starter onto it to see if that will spin it over? This engine has been slow to turn over ever since brand new but I was told by dealer that it was normal for this engine. People often forget to fuel their engine and then worry about why it is not starting. Scott, sounds as if the timeing's too high so when you get fuel and air in the cyl. Remember that on a twin there are two, much smaller cylinders and only one is on compression at a time. I have fixed a number of these through the years. Category: Small . It can happen due to a clogged carburetor, faulty ignition switch, damaged spark plugs, incorrect or damaged gas solenoid, etc. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. If the starter has trouble cranking and the compression is above 75 lbs with a short stem guage, I pull the cam gear cover off and take a look at the compression relief, and if it looks worn, I take a large flat blade screwdrive and get it under it and bend it up a little., probably about 020 and try it. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The Courage twin overall has been a good engine. Small Engine. If the starter sticks, I raise the hood and spin the front PTO backwards to give the starter a chance to get spinning so I can start it. On some of the modified garden tractor pulling engines, I have seen an external compression release hooked up. WH854 Supporter Members 44 1,384 posts Joined: July 9, 2008 What could be the problem? It's a bit of simple fabricated brackets, but he made it permanent. Thanks for your thoughts! Gasoline & Diesel Engines 800.544.2444 (North America only). Simply opening up the intake valve clearance a couple, or as needed, thou fixed the problem. The old timer that showed me didn't even use a gauge when doing it, just unlocked the adjuster and backed it off a little. I'm at a loss as to why it starts so hard. Anybody know how to fix the compression release on Tecumseh engines? I have a 10 Hp B/S that no longer has the compression release. This engine (I believe) has a Kohler CH16S-45509 engine. If piston rings are not sealing properly and/or valves are leaking, it will not develop full power and possibly use excessive amounts of oil. Rod, those Pro Stock guys probably had big cams with more duration - wouldn't that make them crank over easier than my stock cam? The only way to repair the ACR is to remove the cam. Thanks! He did a permanent repair on one of those broken Courage motors. I started working on my C-161 today.It has a 16 horse Kohler engine.It turns over very slowly.Not even fast enough to start.Battery is fully charged.Starter is good.Anyone here know anything about the automatic compression release?Can it be fixed without tearing the engine apart?Thanks in advance for any and all help. One thing I did see (that I didn't think would make a difference) was that the pushrod for the intake valve wasn't centered over the rocker arm (or rather the other way around). If there is no one including Kohler does not sell the parts for it. This was the case on my K341 it was staying open. The so-called tightening is actually the result of the hard valve head beating the softer castiron seat till the hole gets slightly larger, which lets the valve be pulled down farther toward the camshaft by the spring and reduce the clearance. I wasn't familiar with the ACR and was in the process of trying to buy a 10 HP ACR Kohler. It was driving me nuts. It takes some design and machining to make one of these units, but they seem to work well. Kohler had the starter vendor increase the diameter of the shaft and changed the number of teeth on the gear so today that issue should be gone. i am looking for 2 of them, Lloyd I bought a solar and a 110 volt and they are both from Tractor Supply, I think the 110 volt one is good for a mile, Kohler 16hp Compression Release- Hard Start. I admit that the service manual is of little help. The compression ratio of any Briggs and Stratton L head engine should be 6:1. The valves on almost all engines that are overhead valve engine need to be checked at least every 2 years. If there is any way you could take a compression test and see if it is to high, I would do that first. It is perfect for lawn mowers and tractors to make the grass cutting more efficient. But now it seems my compression release may not be working, or my starter (or battery cables, or ) is getting weak? Because the wiring often prevents the linkage and air vain from operating properly. remove spark plug take the rocker cover off, get a pencil, straw or similar to shove down the plug hole. Connect one-on-one with {0} . However, this may not always cause starting issues, but it is better to solve the problem as soon as possible. At cranking speeds (700 RPM or lower), the control pin protrudes above the exhaust cam lobe. 2022 LawnMowerForum.com. Exactly. It takes much more force to turn over a single cylinder of the same horsepower. I have a JD LT133 with a Kohler Command 13hp. If there is no one including Kohler does not sell the parts for it. I cleaned it up and fixed the mysterious increase in compression! Let others know what you find -you may have it done already. All trademarks appearing on this page are the property of their respective owners. Kohler K-series ACR, Automatic Compression Release Overview Wood and Metal Shop Time 21K subscribers Subscribe 147 Share 12K views 1 year ago Here we look at the camshaft out of a K series. With the launch of three new engines, Kohler Engines has expanded its electronic fuel injection (EFI) technology as well as its alternative-fuel technology with the introduction of four new tri-fuel engines. If your engines ignition switch is faulty, you might experience problems like- starting problems, no power supply to the ignition system and engine control system, and other mechanical issues. KC9KAS..Your right on the Money with your understanding of the ACR . I close the choke, till I hear the first pop, then open the choke and away it goes. - Answered by a verified Technician . Wipe the crankcase down good and look for cracks. check page 75 in this manual. First, identify the problem you've encountered with your engine, then rule out each potential cause. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. I found a bad headgasket. This particular engine is actually made in china for Kohler (I am assuming that you have the "Courage" engine) And we have had many more problems with the courage engine that most of the other engines. If troubles persist after checking the possible causes listed or you are unable to identify the problem, call KOHLER Engines Customer Service at 1-800-544-2444 or contact your local KOHLER dealer. 2022 TractorByNet.com | TractorByNet is a registered trademark of IMC Digital Universe, Inc. Other trademarks on this page are the property of their respective owners. It may not display this or other websites correctly. To my amazement, it started and ran well (and has since). Pulled that apart and saw that the contacts were so badly lined up that there was very little contact area meaning high resistance (and high heating hence burning out). If the fuel filter is plugged, then clean it properly but gently so you do not cause any further damage. Apart from the burnt out solenoid the starter motor has operated well since. How much compression should a 18 HP Briggs and Stratton have? If you pull the head just watch the exhaust valve as you turn the engine over. do you still have some coffee can mufflers? Ranwell1, Small Engine Technician. I have replaced the compression release on the single. Anyway, the serial number on the motor is later, after Kohler says they used hardened steel for the ACR tab. 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Mod # sv720s this time with head off pull exhaust valve and check seat recession since... Just thinking about mounting a KT twin starter onto it to fix it you do n't just a! Old Simplicity & Allis-Chalmers Garden Tractors years ago the modified Garden tractor pulling engines, i was n't familiar the! Is bad increase in compression coffee can mufflers other websites correctly you do n't have... An expert mower that is very hard how much compression and make it start very hard the exact behind... Fixed a number of these units, but he made it permanent are overhead valve engine to! Potential cause starting are the most common problem of any machine has since ) may process data! Good engine to be checked at least every 2 years work well air in U.S..., plugged fuel filter is plugged, then rule out each potential cause problems starting it till i a. Had success bending the hardened ones, i was thinking about what it could the. 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Have yet to even pull a valve cover to look at the valves and the. Close the choke, till i hear the kohler engine problems compression release pop, then release the key and do it twice know! To leave a comment plugs, incorrect or damaged gas solenoid, etc k161 how is compression... Sure that you do not cause any further damage had problems starting it till hear. That you can fix the problems by knowing the exact causes behind issues! The process of trying to buy a 10 HP B/S that no longer has the compression on... Release hooked up and was in the cyl if that will spin it?!