Engine Rebuild

O

onetotaltoolman

Forum Newbie
Ok - new to forum. Thanks for any input. I esentially bartered to get a 2019 Exmark Laserz with a Kohler 27hp engine and 66" deck
thrown in for our house/land purchase . I guess the price on the exmark then became free . (odd thought !)
The machine has 1,400 hours. I have done a bumper to bumper, replacing many worn parts and putting on a suspension seat.
I also aquired a bad boy rebel in this deal as well, so kinda nice to have two machines available. The exmark is quiet and rides great.
Problem? the hydraulic pumps and wheell motors are whining pretty bad. I'lll guess a repacement is on the horizion. The engine
pretty much purrs , but is starting to leak a lot of oil. Looks like the proverbial blown head gasket and maybe the main crankcase seal, which i guess is now
a sillcone gasket. So, the quesion is your experience. I can buy a Kohler engine for about 3k. I can also pull this motor and start replacing seals.
Looks like the original kohler engine had pretty fair maintenance, but i wonder what i really will get out of this engine anyway before a rebuild/replacement is
necessary. So, do i just run it and get thru summer , then shoot for a replacement? Or is it more efficient/economical to rebuild the entire engine?
Thanks for any input ! Toolman
 
What repairs that would be feasible on the Kohler would be dictated by what model of Kohler engine is on the mower. The 27 hp was available in a Command, a Courage Twin, and the newer Confidant engine.

Something to look into before dropping a coin on the engine is possibly doing an oil and filter change on the pump and drive motor system, because if they are leaning needing work or replacement, that along could be a deal breaker on doing repairs on the mower.
 
onetotaltoolman said:
Ok - new to forum. Thanks for any input. I esentially bartered to get a 2019 Exmark Laserz with a Kohler 27hp engine and 66" deck
thrown in for our house/land purchase . I guess the price on the exmark then became free . (odd thought !)
The machine has 1,400 hours. I have done a bumper to bumper, replacing many worn parts and putting on a suspension seat.
I also aquired a bad boy rebel in this deal as well, so kinda nice to have two machines available. The exmark is quiet and rides great.
Problem? the hydraulic pumps and wheell motors are whining pretty bad. I'lll guess a repacement is on the horizion. The engine
pretty much purrs , but is starting to leak a lot of oil. Looks like the proverbial blown head gasket and maybe the main crankcase seal, which i guess is now
a sillcone gasket. So, the quesion is your experience. I can buy a Kohler engine for about 3k. I can also pull this motor and start replacing seals.
Looks like the original kohler engine had pretty fair maintenance, but i wonder what i really will get out of this engine anyway before a rebuild/replacement is
necessary. So, do i just run it and get thru summer , then shoot for a replacement? Or is it more efficient/economical to rebuild the entire engine?
Thanks for any input ! Toolman
Click to expand...
1400 hours is a lot of hours. Probably a Kohler Command, which is a great engine. Buying a $3000 engine and putting it into a zero turn that might be worth $3000 is a personal choice.

Hydro pumps and motors whining is not good. Are the hydros responsive? How loud are they when whining? Does it get worse after running mower for about 40 minutes plus? Any trouble on hills with movement? Has the oil and filter(s) ever been changed and how many times?

If hydros are suspect, I would hold off on rebuilding or replacing the engine.
 
Thanks for both responses above. Yes, i am thinking about the same things. I got the service records on this exmark from the dealer that is close to our house. Outside of that, this is a 1400 hour machine with all originall everything. The pumps whine quite a bit. I did replace the hydro fluid and filter when we took possesion of the house. Thinking the same thing you guys are - 3k on an engine, at least 3k on new hydro pumps and wheel motors. This starts to get pretty scarry, but then again, walking thru the dealer i see a new exmark laser, similiar to mine, with an 18k price tag on it. The motor-hydro system gets expensive to repair. So far, just noise from the hydro pumps. The pumps don't slip, and they pull fine when this heavy machine is on a hill, but who knows how long they willl last. I say all this, and will point out i saw another forum where several people posted they had over 2,000 hours on machines like mine with zero major engine-hydro problems. So, probably will replace a couple of engine seals (leaking), and continue to run it until it won't move!
 
I have a 2003 Exmark Lazer Z with the 23 Kohler. Separate pumps and wheel motors and they have whined since new and continue to work fine. 600 hrs on mine.

22R
 
Re-seal the engine.
Keep the hydro oil and filters change at the correct hours and using the correct fluid. Send it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 22R
22R said:
I have a 2003 Exmark Lazer Z with the 23 Kohler. Separate pumps and wheel motors and they have whined since new and continue to work fine. 600 hrs on mine.

22R
Click to expand...
Some hydro systems do whine I have a Dixie Chopper that does as well. you might try some Lucas hydro booster and stop leak at about 20 to 30 %
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top