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With the video I put on here, does it sound like my valves need to be adjusted? It was running perfectly fine yesterday, then when I started it today, it was making this noise. I don't know if it's either the valves, the cold (11°F), or something else.


My engine is a Kohler Command 15 HP OHV, Model # CV15S

Id start it up and let it run for 20min or more. Probably just cold engine.

Sound like just cold thick oil.

But it was this cold yesterday and it sounded perfectly fine.

What grade of oil are you using?

5W-30 Synthetic.

X-man said:

5W-30 Synthetic.

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5w-30 is probably too thin. Id use 10w-30 on riding mower. 5w-30 is used on walk behind snowblowers.

I don't think its thin oil or valve adjustment. Have you checked the air cleaner or crankcase vent. Valves tighten up when the engine is hot and for cold weather your oil is just fine. Have you been moving or running it in the snow. If so your air cleaner will get snow in it. Another thing check for snow or ice in the flywheel screen? You are from Michigan and I would think it would be the same environment as NY. I move snow with my garden tractor and the cold weather tens to freeze up things. The loose snow turns to water on a hot engine. Now when the tractor sits in a cold garage that water turns to ice.

reynoldston said:

I don't think its thin oil or valve adjustment. Have you checked the air cleaner or crankcase vent. Valves tighten up when the engine is hot and for cold weather your oil is just fine. Have you been moving or running it in the snow. If so your air cleaner will get snow in it. Another thing check for snow or ice in the flywheel screen? You are from Michigan and I would think it would be the same environment as NY. I move snow with my garden tractor and the cold weather tens to freeze up things. The loose snow turns to water on a hot engine. Now when the tractor sits in a cold garage that water turns to ice.

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Yep that sounds like good advice to me.

reynoldston said:

I don't think its thin oil or valve adjustment. Have you checked the air cleaner or crankcase vent. Valves tighten up when the engine is hot and for cold weather your oil is just fine. Have you been moving or running it in the snow. If so your air cleaner will get snow in it. Another thing check for snow or ice in the flywheel screen? You are from Michigan and I would think it would be the same environment as NY. I move snow with my garden tractor and the cold weather tens to freeze up things. The loose snow turns to water on a hot engine. Now when the tractor sits in a cold garage that water turns to ice.

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I believe that's exactly what's happening. For the past 2 days I've been driving it in the snow. Plus it's been real windy so snow has been blowing all over it too. Makes perfect sense.

Right now it's 12 degrees and the wind's blowing. Dumped 3 inches last night.
My tractor is stored indoors.

X-man said:

I believe that's exactly what's happening. For the past 2 days I've been driving it in the snow. Plus it's been real windy so snow has been blowing all over it too. Makes perfect sense.

Right now it's 12 degrees and the wind's blowing. Dumped 3 inches last night.
My tractor is stored indoors.

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Yep the ice could be underneath to rubbing on one of the moving parts, pulley, etc.

wjjones said:

Yep that sounds like good advice to me.

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Kohler command have hydraulic valve lifters, no adjustment needed. Sounds like flywheel cover is rubbing.

Kohler OHV engines should be run with 10W-30.

Rivets said:

Kohler OHV engines should be run with 10W-30.

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Look it up in your owners manual or on line. CV15 command Temps below 32 5/W30 or 5/W20. His oil is just fine

reynoldston said:

Look it up in your owners manual or on line. CV15 command Temps below 32 5/W30 or 5/W20. His oil is just fine

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This is what it says on my air filter cover:



I'm pretty sure below-freezing temps is considered "Winter".

I forgot to add that it sounds like the noise is coming from the carburetor. You can especially hear it at the end of the video when I shut it down.

X-man said:

This is what it says on my air filter cover:

View attachment 18806

I'm pretty sure below-freezing temps is considered "Winter".

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No thats not completely correct. 10w-30 means it was winter tested at zero degrees. 5w-30 means it was winter tested at -25 temperatures. The "W" stands for winter tested oil. 5w, 10w, 20w, etc. is all a multi visocity oil.

Motor Oil Viscosity Grades Explained in Layman's Terms

davbell22602 said:

No thats not completely correct. 10w-30 means it was winter tested at zero degrees. 5w-30 means it was winter tested at -25 temperatures. The "W" stands for winter tested oil. 5w, 10w, 20w, etc. is all a multi visocity oil.

Motor Oil Viscosity Grades Explained in Layman's Terms

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Regardless, it should still have 5W-30 in the winter.

This should have nothing to do with the oil anyway. The noise is mainly coming from the carburetor.

Actually they had some models that had adjustable valves. It could be a sticking valve, or noisy lifter, carbs cannot make noise.... Well, if you dropped one.....

Fish said:

Actually they had some models that had adjustable valves. It could be a sticking valve, or noisy lifter, carbs cannot make noise.... Well, if you dropped one.....

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Yep the carb is right behind the valve area.

Fish said:

Actually they had some models that had adjustable valves. It could be a sticking valve, or noisy lifter, carbs cannot make noise.... Well, if you dropped one.....

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Did half of you even listen to the entire video?

The noise is coming from the carburetor, and whenever the engine requires more fuel, it's louder. When I shut down the engine, it sounds like it's "choking" for air or something like that. Otherwise, it's running perfectly fine. It's not idling erratically or anything.

So this thing runs fine? You are chitting us!!!

Yeah!!!! Buy a new carb!!!! No one needs a noisy carb!!!!!

Buy a new carb also.

You southern boys don't know what cold means for some reason.

Real cold does different things to engines. They sound different and run different, you have to learn how to diagnose with your ears. Sounds travel farther and to different parts of the engine, creating interesting diagnoses. If you live north of I-90 you will know what I mean. Monday they say the wind chill will reach -55 degrees, service calls will get an extra charge, if we have to go out.

Did you let it run for 20 mins ?

Let it run and warm up.
It is not good to start a engine then shut it off before it warms up

reynoldston said:

You southern boys don't know what cold means for some reason.

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I second that!:laughing: The wind chill here in Michigan is supposed to be -20 degrees for the next few days. We're expecting at least 8" of snow from now until Tuesday.

Fish said:

So this thing runs fine? You are chitting us!!!

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Why don't you travel north of Kentucky for once then come back to us.

I have seen on real cold weather that frost will form on top of the carburetor and intake when running.

Yes, have seen frosty carbs more than once, most of the time when someone either modifies the heat box or swaps an engine set-up for warm weather on a blower with out removing the air filter and installing a heat box.

Rivets said:

Yes, have seen frosty carbs more than once, most of the time when someone either modifies the heat box or swaps an engine set-up for warm weather on a blower with out removing the air filter and installing a heat box.

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From the carb sounds I heard, it does sound like a stuck or sticky valve. The carb can only get throaty sounds like that if an intake valve is partially open, maybe stuck, or even more probably a small piece of carbon stuck between the valve and seat. Being a twin cylinder one cylinder can keep the engine running, and almost sound right, but the machine will have almost no power. I have seen this kind of situation when a valve seat moved because the engine overheated because the air screen on the flywheel was covered over with either chaff or ice snow mix.

Just curious if it sounded better after the temps got warmer......




My guess was going to be a leaking gasket, that's what it kind of sounds like to me.

BTW, it should be a single cylinder.

Maine Yankee said:

From the carb sounds I heard, it does sound like a stuck or sticky valve. The carb can only get throaty sounds like that if an intake valve is partially open, maybe stuck, or even more probably a small piece of carbon stuck between the valve and seat. Being a twin cylinder one cylinder can keep the engine running, and almost sound right, but the machine will have almost no power. I have seen this kind of situation when a valve seat moved because the engine overheated because the air screen on the flywheel was covered over with either chaff or ice snow mix.

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My tractor is a 15 hp single cylinder. Already said that in the first place (not trying to be an ***).

Fish said:

Just curious if it sounded better after the temps got warmer......

My guess was going to be a leaking gasket, that's what it kind of sounds like to me.

BTW, it should be a single cylinder.

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Warmer? I don't even know what warm is anymore. Lol.

I haven't had a chance to start it lately. It's been sitting since January 6, not enough gas to run it, can't afford it at the moment.

Just what are you using this tractor for snow removal? I run a snow blower on mime and this brings the engine up to full operating temperature even in this 0 degree weather. Yes gas can be pricey when moving snow, more so then cutting grass. If you don't already know it you are living in the wrong state if you don't like cold weather.

reynoldston said:

Just what are you using this tractor for snow removal? I run a snow blower on mime and this brings the engine up to full operating temperature even in this 0 degree weather. Yes gas can be pricey when moving snow, more so then cutting grass. If you don't already know it you are living in the wrong state if you don't like cold weather.

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That's why I'm not running it. I only have enough gas to do a few driveways.
Haven't needed it since Jan 6.

X-man said:

That's why I'm not running it. I only have enough gas to do a few driveways.
Haven't needed it since Jan 6.

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Now don't bashful, just take your gas can down to the local gas station and fill it up. By the way, you had also better bring a 20 dollar bill along with you to pay for it. ouch :wink:

reynoldston said:

Now don't bashful, just take your gas can down to the local gas station and fill it up. By the way, you had also better bring a 20 dollar bill along with you to pay for it. ouch :wink:

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Tell me about it. Gas prices just jumped 20¢ today. :O

Damn phone. I think I just hit the "report" button by mistake (oops)

X-man said:

...I think I just hit the "report" button by mistake (oops)

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Yep you did, but it's all good. :smile:

lawn mower fanatic said:

Yep you did, but it's all good. :smile:

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I hate how them dang buttons are so close to each other on the mobile version.

I almost did it again just now.

X-man said:

I hate how them dang buttons are so close to each other on the mobile version. I almost did it again just now.

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This is how it looks on mine. But if I just hit on the text it self anywhere on the page. This does not come up. Brings me to where I can type without the risk of hitting the dang report

Carscw said:

This is how it looks on mine. But if I just hit on the text it self anywhere on the page. This does not come up. Brings me to where I can type without the risk of hitting the dang report

<img src="http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=19085"/>

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This is what mine looks like

X-man said:

This is what mine looks like

<img src="http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=19086"/>

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I use this app to

When the engine was shut down it sounded like an excessive amount of compression, any chance of snow or ice in exhaust.

negcash said:

When the engine was shut down it sounded like an excessive amount of compression, any chance of snow or ice in exhaust.

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Welcome to LawnWorld :welcome:

After running it for a while, it was still making that noise. I would imagine if there was snow/ice, it would have melted after the engine ran full tilt for 20 minutes.

Check the engine to frame bolts make sure they are tight. Only takes a couple mins and everyone should check them once a year anyways.

I will check that when I get a chance. It's been sitting since Jan 6. Yes, it does have sta-bil in the gas.

This is what my tractor normally sounds like. It was 29 degrees Fahrenheit in the video:

Sounds like a blown head gasket to me ? Maybe check the compression.

No one has mentioned engine operating temps. An oil temp gauge into the sump would show if the little engine is even warm in such nasty cold. Here we've had a mild winter with only one week of 15F. When I operate my Intek in 40F it takes 30 minutes for the oil to reach 190F, around the minimum to drive out moisture. This operation here is not hard like snow blowing AND I have an oil cooler which is not doubt taking longer to warm, The conservative set will say "blah blah blah." There goes the gauge freak again. Nevertheless I will post again the Lowes pn for a sump drain plug predrilled for a 1/8 NPT oil gauge sensor if anone is interested. . This solves the need to drill and tap your own if you put in a gauge.

By the bye...Does anyone install winter baffling of any kind to help the little buggers get to temp?

Signed, your fellow enthusiast, motoman.

reynoldston said:

Sounds like a blown head gasket to me ? Maybe check the compression.

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S**t. I hope it's not the head gasket.

X-man said:

S**t. I hope it's not the head gasket.

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Head gaskets are really simple in small engines the hardest part is re adjusting the valves

Yeah, I said it sounds like a gasket leak to me, I would have someone crank, while I sprayed some wd40 around the head, intake and exhaust gaskets, and look for a movement of the vapor for a quick check. Not a hard repair if one of them is blown.

I thought a blown head gskt sounds like a bird chirp,but this vid wasn't in hi def.lol

I'm starting to assume that I blew a gasket. Pretty soon I'm gonna be taking it to my mechanic to get it fixed. Gasket is not the only thing wrong with it.

X-man said:

I'm starting to assume that I blew a gasket. Pretty soon I'm gonna be taking it to my mechanic to get it fixed. Gasket is not the only thing wrong with it.

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I've pretty much beaten my tractor to hell last year.

Things it needs:
ｷRear tires need tubes
ｷCarburetor needs cleaning
ｷHead gasket (?)
ｷPulleys on mowing deck need to be tightened (that I can do myself)
ｷNeeds a drive belt
ｷAlso needs Mowing belt (I can do that myself too)

Hopefully nothing else gets added to that list during springtime.

X-man said:

I've pretty much beaten my tractor to hell last year. Things it needs: ｷRear tires need tubes ｷCarburetor needs cleaning ｷHead gasket (?) ｷPulleys on mowing deck need to be tightened (that I can do myself) ｷNeeds a drive belt ｷAlso needs Mowing belt (I can do that myself too) Hopefully nothing else gets added to that list during springtime.

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Clean all your pulleys with a wire brush. Will help the belts last longer

FYI - SV15-S should have hydraulic lifters.

LawnmowerJustin said:

FYI - SV15-S should have hydraulic lifters.

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*CV15-S*

It does have hydraulic lifters. However it's not a lifter problem. I've pretty much come down to the conclusion that it's possibly a blown head gasket. I haven't started it since January 6 (Feb. 12 today) so I haven't had a chance to know for sure what went wrong. It's a 16 year old tractor so I know that problems are gonna arise more often than not. I may retire it after the 2014 mowing season if it holds up this year.

X-man said:

*CV15-S*

It does have hydraulic lifters. However it's not a lifter problem. I've pretty much come down to the conclusion that it's possibly a blown head gasket. I haven't started it since January 6 (Feb. 12 today) so I haven't had a chance to know for sure what went wrong. It's a 16 year old tractor so I know that problems are gonna arise more often than not. I may retire it after the 2014 mowing season if it holds up this year.

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All good, I just hope you get it sorted. My comment was purely because the thread topic is "Valve adjustment???" and there is no valve adjustment on this engine as it has hydraulic lifters.

***UPDATE***

I finally had the time to start the tractor today (Feb. 18, been sitting since Jan. 6). It's still making that noise and I can even hear it when I'm cranking the engine. Right now it's about 36'F. At this point I will assume it's my head gasket. I even noticed that it's idling a little rough.

I'm gonna be taking it to my mechanic relatively soon.

Okay...

So I've finally decided to get off my rear end and figure out why my tractor is making that loud noise (no, it's still not fixed).

I have determined that it is my head gasket, because when I turn the flywheel, I can hear that hissing noise coming from the head gasket's location. I previously thought that my muffler was shot, because the noise almost sounds like it doesn't even have a muffler when it is running.

This week I'm gonna buy a new head gasket online and when money allows, I'm gonna take it to my mechanic up the road and have him replace the head gasket for me, because I really don't feel like taking half the engine apart just to change out one damn piece of rubber.

I also need to clean my carburetor, because I think the needle valve in the float is sticking. I noticed when I had my muffler removed today that a whole s**t ton of gas was pouring out of the exhaust gasket each time the piston did its exhaust stroke. I'll clean the carb myself.