Really disgusted with Kohler....

[ents]

I will keep overhauling this one. It is kohler but with a cast iron block
and real gears.

Nothing beats good ole old iron. Love it. Keep it running, beats anyting built today.


Later,

 

[Junkfxr]

I have had 3 different Kohler engines over the past 15 years or so on different pieces of equipment and the best thing that I can say about any of them is that they are junk. If somebody tried to give me one now, I'd have to hit them in the mouth as hard as I could with both fists. I got the same answers from the so called tech line that you have. Probably better off to dig a hole and just bury it, count your losses and move on to another engine brand because it's probably not going to get any better.
P.S. I do have an old cast iron K series Kohler that at least will start sometimes.

 

[Patrick62]

Perhaps I got lucky

My splitter has a 15hp single cylinder Kohler on it.
So far, so good. It runs very well. I was the most engine I could buy for the least $$$.

Something ain't right with your engine. I would be tempted to have a gasket made out of a hunk of "dead soft copper". Machinist should have the stuff on hand.

-Pat

 

[hickslawns]

Is this a "Command" series Kohler engine? If so, bent push rods from lifters that pump up and don't release was a problem. Head gaskets have been problems. I even had bottom end bearings go out of one of them. Replaced it under warranty with much argument. Second one crapped within 6 months but the thing was then out of warranty. Replaced it with a Honda. Kohler does not acknowledge this was a problem engine. I currently have a 2001 model mower with the same engine getting a short block right now. It will be replaced next year with a new mower with anything but a Kohler. I have less than 2000 hours on the 01 model getting a shortblock. It has been on a strict maintenance plan but still went thru 3 head gaskets and 2 sets of lifters/push rods prior to snapping a connecting rod this time. Kohler is putting the nails in their own coffin one upset customer at a time. You would think they would have quit building that engine after the first few years of problems. Good luck.

 

[avalancher]

Is this a "Command" series Kohler engine? If so, bent push rods from lifters that pump up and don't release was a problem. Head gaskets have been problems. I even had bottom end bearings go out of one of them. Replaced it under warranty with much argument. Second one crapped within 6 months but the thing was then out of warranty. Replaced it with a Honda. Kohler does not acknowledge this was a problem engine. I currently have a 2001 model mower with the same engine getting a short block right now. It will be replaced next year with a new mower with anything but a Kohler. I have less than 2000 hours on the 01 model getting a shortblock. It has been on a strict maintenance plan but still went thru 3 head gaskets and 2 sets of lifters/push rods prior to snapping a connecting rod this time. Kohler is putting the nails in their own coffin one upset customer at a time. You would think they would have quit building that engine after the first few years of problems. Good luck.

Yep, this is the Command engine. I got off the phone with the tech rep yesterday, and finally landed a good guy, a guy named Hank. Evidently he is a little bit more up the ladder there so to speak.
He dropped a new head, head gasket kit with new bolts, and a new key for the flywheel that is supposed to retard the timing by 3 degrees into the mail for me.
According to Hank, my engine should have been timed at the factory at 18 degrees, but he admitted that some of them got out of the factory without the offset key which bumped the timing up to 21 degrees.
When the head gasket blows, its common for the head to warp from the heat. My overall distortion was right at .003 which is the max that Kohler recommends. According to the local dealers, that is still good enough and doesnt warrant spending the 300 bucks for a new head, but Hank decided to error on the side of caution and send out a new head. He seems eager to help me with this issue, and even though my engine is long out of warranty he was glad to drop the parts in the mail for me.
I will be keeping my fingers crossed on this one, I am sick of mowing 3 acres with a push mower.

 

[Mike Van]

avalancher - Hank sounds like a #1 man - I hope it's the answer to all the BS you've had to put up with.

 

[Jkebxjunke]

it sounds like you have to :deadhorse: to try to get them to live up the warranty but that seems the way it is anymore... customer service is almost dead. hope it works out

 

[urhstry]

Tell Hank about our site. Maybe he can help the masses

 

[norm8845]

According to the dealer and Kohler, the first time could have been a fluke. head wasnt torqued down enough during assembly,etc.
The second time the second shop blamed it on the first shop's faulty repair.we had moved from Alabama to Tennessee.
The third,fourth,fifth time it was out of warranty and Kohler just shrugged their shoulders. Mostly just said that they are happy to help with advise, but no repairs at their cost once warranty is over.
They are just basically doing what everyone else does. Keep passing the buck until the customer gets frustrated and goes away.
I have had several Kohler engines in my life and they always seemed bulletproof, but I gues Kohler is going the way that they all go eventually. Build the cheapest products that they can, assemble them in Mexico, and charge as much as they think they can get away with.

 

[omegajim]

in a related vein, my folks mower (with Kohler engine) had enough problems as well.

1- starter relay cooked, no big deal
2 - fuel pump cooked, replaced, then
3 - fuel pump rod bent, they took that one to the mech.

for a mower with about 200 hours on it, you're not impressing me. Either.

 

[Hugenpoet]

Assuming that you have retained all the documentation regarding the timing and extent of repairs, I would suggest that you go on line and check your State statute regarding upper limits for making a claim in Small Claims Court-usually relatively easy and inexpensive. The courts are much more likely to side with an abused consumer than with a large corporation, particularly because of the obvious fact that this was a defective engine from the very start.

 

[avalancher]

Assuming that you have retained all the documentation regarding the timing and extent of repairs, I would suggest that you go on line and check your State statute regarding upper limits for making a claim in Small Claims Court-usually relatively easy and inexpensive. The courts are much more likely to side with an abused consumer than with a large corporation, particularly because of the obvious fact that this was a defective engine from the very start.

The problem with small claims court is you have to file in the state where the defendent lives, not your own state. In small claims court the defendent can not be compelled to travel to your state to defend themselves. I imagine it would be far more costly to travel twice to where Kohler has their headquarters than it would be worth. Once to file, once to appear.
Travel expenses are not a compensable expense in small claims court.
I couldnt even hire an attorney in their state to handle the affair because attorneys are not allowed in small claims court as well.
The internet and online shopping has brought a raft of complaints to our civil court systems because of this matter, but in reality its really the only way to handle these affairs. Imagine a small mom and pop shop having a website and having to travel all over the states defending themselves because some customer was unhappy with their transaction? it would be maddness, let alone shut down all but the largest companies.
My wife and I run a online craft store, and i hate to think how I would end up flying all over the country because some cranky customer was unhappy with her beads that she bought from us.

 

[Hugenpoet]

The problem with small claims court is you have to file in the state where the defendent lives, not your own state. In small claims court the defendent can not be compelled to travel to your state to defend themselves. I imagine it would be far more costly to travel twice to where Kohler has their headquarters than it would be worth. Once to file, once to appear.
Travel expenses are not a compensable expense in small claims court.
I couldnt even hire an attorney in their state to handle the affair because attorneys are not allowed in small claims court as well.
The internet and online shopping has brought a raft of complaints to our civil court systems because of this matter, but in reality its really the only way to handle these affairs. Imagine a small mom and pop shop having a website and having to travel all over the states defending themselves because some customer was unhappy with their transaction? it would be maddness, let alone shut down all but the largest companies.
My wife and I run a online craft store, and i hate to think how I would end up flying all over the country because some cranky customer was unhappy with her beads that she bought from us.

I would be very surprised if a company as large and diverse as Kohler was not required to be "Licensed to do Business" in your state with the requirement that it have a local agent for service of process and having consented to the jurisdiction of the local courts.

 

[Hugenpoet]

I did a quick search of the Tennessee Secretary of State's records and, as I suggested, found that Kohler, Co. is a registered "Foreign Corporation" in Tennessee with a registered agent in Tennessee.

Also is a Tennessee listing for Kohler Power Equipment, Co.

 

[Black19]

Just out of curiosity, you can tell by this post that I am working my tractor to hard?I dont recall mentioning how much weight I hauled, etc.
If it makes you feel any better, the tractor comes equiped with a 1 7/8 ball mount, is designed to pull 1500lbs, and can be equiped with a bucket loader as well. This is not a riding mower, but designated as a GARDEN TRACTOR.

I'm sorry Mr. Avalancher sir. I wasn't picking on your GARDEN TRACTOR, I was just trying to offer another option. I have been through the GARDEN tractor phase and it worked for awhile, it wasn't as productive as a Kubota. It is now in use in my father in laws GARDEN. For the past 2 yrs we have been using a J.D. back hoe for our wood harvesting, works better than the Kubota.

I have been reading here for a year or so and liked what I saw as far as the advice and stories and such. Thought it would be a cool place to hang out. Sorry I hurt your feelings. I will try to not do so again.

 

[bore_pig]

Black19--You have no need to apologize. I thought the same thing. Garden tractors these days are just barely what lawn tractors were 10 years ago.

 

[avalancher]

yep, you are so right, i am severly overworking this little tractor. Yep, its really uncouth to expect a 25 horse tractor to haul a little wood from the woodpile to the house with this trailer. In fact, that little 16 gallon sprayer might be a little rough on it as well.
i had been considering pulling the 16ft trailer around with it, but its a little tight to haul it around the yard anyway. Guess I better leave that to the truck.
However, this little tractor works great for pulling logs out of the woods. I just attach a long 50 ft chain, back all the way up to the log, and take a run at it. I just hate the part where you hit the end of the chain at full speed, takes a toll on the dental work. But it does move that log a few inches every time, and we all know that is the important part, getting the wood home!
Well, I am sure glad you answered my question about why this engine is blowing a head gasket on one cylinder, I guess it cant handle the strain of the BIG garden trailer.
Guess I will have to go back to the ole wheel barrow method until I can afford a BIG Kubota.
Sure appreciate your sarcasm though Black19!
Sure you dont work for Kohler?

 

[avalancher]

I did a quick search of the Tennessee Secretary of State's records and, as I suggested, found that Kohler, Co. is a registered "Foreign Corporation" in Tennessee with a registered agent in Tennessee.

Also is a Tennessee listing for Kohler Power Equipment, Co.

Thanks for that point, it was well thought out, and one that I didnt consider. I pulled a reference that I have pertaining to small business law concerns, and you are right. If a business has a presence in a state, they are liable as well as answerable to all local courts and proceedings including small claims court.
It will definetly be on my agenda if all does not go well with the repairs. I have never been one to sue someone just because of their stance on an issue, but what is right is right. I paid a little over 3K for this tractor, and this problem made itself known from the get go. I gave Kohler every chance, and offered to be reasonable. Right now it appears that Hank at Kohler tech support is doing everything in his power to right this problem, and maybe the problem was with the tech support staff,and not the company as a whole.
I will keep you posted as to what comes of all this.

 

[omegajim]

it's not the engine, its the transmission.

In particular, the rise of hydrostatic.

hydrostatic does wonderful things, it allows infinite amount of speeds both forward and reverse.

However, being hydrostatic, it has limits; those limits will be most notable when pulling heavy loads (loads approaching the weight of the mower w/out you on it) for any significant distance. Hydro transmissions weren't built heavy enough on a lawn mower/ tractor to function this way, and usually fail due to overheating. Usually.

Which is why I'm always on the lookout for an old craftsman/whatever that has gears. A mower with a gear drive transmission will allow you to pull much heavier loads without transmission failure. But you have to shift. That is the tradeoff.

 

[woodchuck361]

that stinks, seems everything is junk now. I will be in the market for a new lawn\garden tractor in the next year and have no clue what is still good. My neighbor has a new John Deere that is complete junk, the big box stores really jacked things up.

What deere model does he have?