Check the oil and make sure it isn't overfilled, and also smell it to see if it smells like gas. I suspect the float needle isn't sealing and the crankcase is full of gas.
Has this problem been taken care of. I have a sear craftsman mower 16hp and all of a sudden this started happening to mine. I pulled the air filter off and ran the machine and the oil starts off slow flowing from the breather tube into the air filter box, then it starts flowing like the Nile. Tons of white smoke and runs starts to studder like its going to stall. Could i just block off or pinch this breather tube.
If you close off the crankcase vent tube the pressure has to go somewhere. It will blow out the oil seals, gaskets, and then you will really have a mess. I would say the best way to get around it would be to do like some of the old Harley Davidson motorcycles do. The put a catch can at the end of the tube and when the can gets full empty it.
I have a Cushman Truckster, so its not a lawnmower but it has the Kohler Command 18 engine, model CH18S. The unit was running really strong and fast this spring and all of a sodden while driving I lost power and died. Eventually I can start it now and then but couldn't get enough power out of it to move. When I took of the air filter it had a small pool of gray / black liquid that had the viscosity of water, however engine is air cooled.
See the video showing it spewing out liquid.
I hope someone can tell me what the problem is. I need to get this going as this is the way I transport my firewood across the 3 acres.
Kohler Command 18 Model CH18S - YouTube
Cant do a catch can unless it can be routed back into the engine. I would be out of oil in no time as fast as its flowing into the carb. I did a fresh oil change yesterday and i see today its low on the dipstick. This was just after testing a few things.
Could the breather just be bad. I guess i can just spend the 25 bucks and get a new one but hate to spend money if i dont have to.
No the breather or carburetor is not the problem. Read my earlier post. Its a internal engine problem. Sorry I just can't sugar coat this but I am sure someone can. I do see you did a oil change and assume its the right level. The next step is to find out where the excess pressure is coming from. You can pressurize the cylinders with compress air to test the rings and pistons for bypass. If oil is coming out crankcase tube so fast that it would fill a catch can it think the problem is going to be easy to find.
Has this problem been taken care of. I have a sear craftsman mower 16hp and all of a sudden this started happening to mine. I pulled the air filter off and ran the machine and the oil starts off slow flowing from the breather tube into the air filter box, then it starts flowing like the Nile. Tons of white smoke and runs starts to studder like its going to stall. Could i just block off or pinch this breather tube.
The head gasket usually blows out the thin strip between the piston and pushrod gallery, thus sending compression into the crankcase. Kohler sells
an updated bolt/gasket set.
Number 15 post, Briggs but yes could be.
Reason is a poor design by all manufactures. 1/4" wide strip of gasket between cylinder and valve chamber. No way to keep this area tight.
Usually the blown area is @ this area, very common problem on Briggs and Kohler.
Is there an easy way to find out the torque specs on the head as well as anything else needed without buying a manual. I am mechanical and it shouldnt be hard, just want to know the torque specs and pattern. As well as anything else one can think of.
This will help you out a little.
That looks like B&S to me. Thanks I will save it. The last B&S engine I put a head gasket in didn't last long but I also didn't have this information.
It is not B&S its Kohler for that engine, and is out of the kohler manual.
This will help you out a little.
Yea this is not going to help me on my B&S engine. I have 8 head bolts and was told torque to 220"lbs.
Yea this is not going to help me on my B&S engine. I have 8 head bolts and was told torque to 220"lbs.
I wasn't talking B&S, its for "Re: kohler engine spewing liquid out of breather" if you want the info on B&S engine, then you should start a new thread.
That's a lot of good information. The reason I replaced the carburetor is because the rebuild kit was more expansive then the new one I found on e-bay. I agree that to get down to the bottom of the problem I think I will need to take the heads of but first I will try using compressed air the cylinders. What am I looking for when I do this?
Thank you for all good information
Well I have everything almost back together. Only thing left is the electrical. I had it running and the engine seems to be working good but I don't have it out for a proper test yet.
I am having a problem with it running and its the carburetor solenoid. Solenoid works fine (I think). When you turn it to start the plunger engages to allow fuel to flow but soon as you release the key from the start position it goes back to closing the fuel so the engine dies. Is that right? Shouldn't it stay in the open position until the key is turned all the way to the left to off position? The solenoid is hooked up in the factory harness to the starter solenoid so what gives then? I really don't want to rig it where I am butchering the solenoid.
Check the key switch because solenoid should remain on (live) when key is in the run position (ignition on) and turn off when you turn the key to the off position.
I agree and that's what I'm thinking. The wire for the carburetor solenoid on the key switch is the same wire as for the starter solenoid which splits up in the engine compartment going two different location, to the starter solenoid and the carburetor solenoid and that's with the factory harness.
My key switch has 6 contacts marked with letters on them which I think stands for:
B = battery
A = accessory
M = magneto
S = solenoid
G = ground
R = not used don't know what goes there but when key is turned to on (not start) it gets power just like accessory
The head gasket usually blows between the pushrod tube & the cylinder.Friends Cub SV730 smoking so bad its choking him to death riding it he says. He's right choking me standing 10ft from it. I start it, then I book..lol.
Compression shows about 160 on both cyl.
I dont have a working leak down tester right now.
No gas in oil, level fine.
Pulled breather tube and smoke clears but its blowing oil out its tube bigtime. Reed is fine, all clean/clear.
Adjusted valves, were fine.
Breather tube fills up with oil in under 5 min run time.
??? Head gasket would still smoke right? Can a bad head gasket change its smoking when I unhook hose from breather box? It smokes way less when unhooked, its building internal pressure no doubt.
Idk Reliable?
I'll just say they sure aint the engines Kohler made its name with thats for da#n sure. K's & Mags ran problem free decade after decade after decade after decade & then some!
Mine are 40+ never been rebuilt to date, no sign of slowing, yet to burn oil between seasons. Most of these dont even do one decade without majors.
Just say'n..
Smoking under load is a tell tale sign of worn rings , First year apprentice stuffIt could be the crank case reed valve under the crank case breather that the breather tube hooks to. Had one on a vertical that it would run under no load all day. When you put a load on it, it would blow smoke like it was on fire.
The reason the Kohlers blew head gasket was they had a crappy head gasket with no fire ring on them took them over 20 years but they finally fixed it. The CV twins have two reed valves on top of the block under the heads in the push rod arear if they break it will do this. Kohlers don't blow between the cylinder and the push rods. They blow between the oil drain back hole and the cylinder or out side in the exhaust area due to warpage. If it blows out side the cylinder you can hear it whistle on start up or when you cut the engine off.The head gasket usually blows between the pushrod tube & the cylinder.
This pressurizes the crank case which causes excessive oil vapour to blow out the breather.
The usual reason for the head gasket to blow is a hydraulic lock caused by fuel leaking through the carb into the cylinder then blowing the weakest part ( the gasket ) because liquids do not compress particularly well .
So the lack of reliability comes from EPA regulations requiring the float bowl to vent INSIDE the engine so in place of you seeing fuel under the mower & smelling fuel when you walk into the shed, the fuel fills up the cylinder then dilutes the oil in the crankcase wich means a double oil change + new gaskets .
I hate to burst your bubble when I went in replaced the broken reed it stopped smoking and using oil. This was a new engine and was still under warranty.Smoking under load is a tell tale sign of worn rings , First year apprentice stuff
Smokes under load = bad rings
Smokes on the over run = Bad guide seals
Reed & head gaskets replaced still filled hose with oil. Leak down test shows all good. Didnt smoke at all with hose disconnected but hose fills up in under 10 min time.I hate to burst your bubble when I went in replaced the broken reed it stopped smoking and using oil. This was a new engine and was still under warranty.