Kohler experts

[chardie]

Even with my 30 plus years as a diesel tech these little engines get me. About 3 years ago I rebuilt the engine in my 122. Up until 3 weeks ago it’s been sitting on the corner of my work bench. Got it all together and started it. After a bunch of messing around with the Chinese carb it ran ok. But the governor wouldn’t work. Went back through all the adjustments and it finally started working. Put the deck on and went to work with it this afternoon. About a half hour in the governor stopped working again. Looking for thoughts or suggestions before I go tearing this engine all apart again. Thanks

 

[joligschlaeger]

Even with my 30 plus years as a diesel tech these little engines get me. About 3 years ago I rebuilt the engine in my 122. Up until 3 weeks ago it’s been sitting on the corner of my work bench. Got it all together and started it. After a bunch of messing around with the Chinese carb it ran ok. But the governor wouldn’t work. Went back through all the adjustments and it finally started working. Put the deck on and went to work with it this afternoon. About a half hour in the governor stopped working again. Looking for thoughts or suggestions before I go tearing this engine all apart again. Thanks View attachment 138005View attachment 138005

The first Kohler in old CC acted the same for me. Turned out to be the governor shaft, ie, the paddle (lack for proper nomenclature?) rivet was loose.

 

[chardie]

Yep made sure that was all good when I had the engine disassembled. Sorry for the extra pictures. Internet here isn’t always the best

 

[abthomas]

Had one like that a year or so ago,original gov gear was broke and laying in the oil pan, rebuilt engine and installed a used gov set I had, didn't work,took it back apart checked everything reassembled adjusted and still didn't work. Long story short the third time I took apart put new gov gear in reassembled and it worked, but for the life of me I couldn't see anything wrong with the one I took out ! good luck ! taking one apart 3 times is a PITA !!

 

[lkortkamp]

Is the clamp on the shaft slipping? Is the shaft binding up on the bushing in the block? Isn't there a centrifugal weight set up inside? (it's been a year since I looked at mine)

I had a real eye opener when I rebuilt my 12 hp last summer. I had NO clue what I was getting into(I'm a gearhead, but never a one lunger), but for some reason...I got it all together and it works flawless? Don't ask how LOL!! I read the book on setting the governor and some how I got it right. Though that little motor is still a mystery.

 

[chardie]

Thanks for the replies. Guess I’ll be tearing it apart again

 

[dkirk]

Most of the time it's the governor arm slipping on the shaft. Suggest resetting the governor per the shop manual, then tighten the 1/4 nut/bolt REALLY tight. Try this before tearing into the engine again - just a suggestion.

 

[bfleisch]

I am assuming when you said it stopped working that you mean the engine would not increase RPM with load. Here is what happened to my original when the RPM would run away.

 

[chardie]

Mine is also running away. If I let it. When I rebuilt the engine I made that was tight and in good shape but you never know. I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet.

 

[bfleisch]

Hopefully like the others have suggested, the arm is just loose on the shaft. If you not you can check this without dissembling the engine. Take off the linkage and the nut and see if the shaft pulls out. Even if it does not there is still a small chance that it is broken, but maybe not as clean as mine was.

 

[Stu]

I just rebuilt my K301, for my 1250, and had the same issue, from what you described. It occurred to me that when I initially set the arm on the governor shaft during reassembly, I followed the directions and put the arm and the shaft as far counter clockwise as possible - but that was of course without the tin surround in place. On mine the tin limits the arms rotation - so I loosened the shaft again, and re-did the counterclockwise of both. This has the effect of making the governor react sooner to higher rpms. Now it works perfectly. Sweet! Hope it works the same for you.

 

[dschwandt]

The arm from the carb needs to be adjusted to the correct length for the application listed in the service manual and needs to be in place w/the carb at WOT while adjusting the governor arm and shaft all at the same time..

 

[Stu]

Yes.

 

[Beltrack]

Yes.

Is the specified length of the arm (that threaded adjustable rod from the governor to the carb) listed in the CC shop manual or is that in a Kohler manual? Thinking about checking the lengths on my K241 models 104 and 109.

 

[Stu]

On the cubfaq page there is a great guide - Cub Cadet FAQ - it lists the lengths for the links with pictures for each.

 

[dschwandt]

Best to copy all that stuff off and keep it in the shop in a 3 ring notebook for future reference.