Cold weather starting
 

I have a 129 with the Kohler 12HP...before it got cold I changed the oil and used Shell Rotella straight 30 weight oil....it starts in this cold weather, but starts slugishly to turn...like a low battery ( battery is fully charged....load tested and good..I tried a different battery also and same thing) ...then catches after a few attempts and gets running....I am wondering if the if using straight rather than multi visc oil (5-30?) is causing it...any thoughts?...thanks in advance...Mark

Put a magnetic electric heater on the bottom of the hydro case.
You are cranking/pumping the cold oil in the hydro as well when you turn the key on a cold morning.
I know my gear drive cubs start lots easier than the hydros do when the temp drops.

I use 0-20 weight synthetic in my old 169 snow blower tractor in the winter. Starts way better with the old starter-generator. Been doing it for years. No mechanical issues. You'll be able to see all your leaks!

Thank you...think I will start with that mag heater..I will take a look on Amazon for one...or does anyone know of a source?

I've used 10/30 in my cubs for 40+ years without any issues particularly in the winter months, once in a great while they might have gotten a dose of straight 30 for the summer but I could count those times on one hand ! Oils are much better now than they were 50 years ago ! just my opinion !

I never gave it much thought because cold weather starting my hydro has never been a big factor for me, but if it were, I might put some thought into a permanent solution such as something like this heater.
Drill and tap a hole into the cover plate below the oil level. Then just plug it in when you need it.

I'd be leery of adding another place for a leak to start.
The covers are pretty thin to tap threads into.
One would have to weld a threaded bushing of sorts, like the fill plug utilizes, to the cover for that procedure to be leak free.

Location of the proposed hole for the heater should be taken into consideration as well if the use of a tiller is opted for in the summer. A hole of sufficient size would be required in the tiller mount to allow for clearance of the plug/wiring receptacle.
Inner clearance for the element may also be an issue in this scenario.

The biggest key for me is to make sure the starting system is in tip-top shape. Good battery, good wiring and connections clean, bright and tight.

I wasn't suggesting that an individual contemplating something that might benefit himself should not do his own due diligence to work out the details.

As I posted, I have no need for the idea, but if I did, I have no doubt that I could come up with something workable that would eliminate the pain in the ass of attaching something to the case. Laying on the ground and cleaning slop for a place to attach something magnetic doesn't seem like fun to me.

I realize some projects are beyond the abilities, or even desires of some members to try something new or different. Others might look at an idea and say "that looks pretty cool, I might give it a try". Those are the people my post was directed at.

The only thing I do is (a) change the oil to 10W-30 as recommended by Kohler, and (b) use 90 octane fuel [Rec-90] as seen in my neighborhood. This works well for me.

:IH Trusted Hand:

I never heard of the 90 octane for the cubs Roland. What about overheating the head?

In really cold weather, keep a trickle charge on the battery.

Cub Cadet 123

In my area, Rec 90 is 90 Octane and no ethanol. It is targeted for the Small Engine and Recreational Vehicles, hence the name Rec 90. I only use it in the winter time. So far, so good.

That, and a cheap jump box just in case, and you're good to go!

I ordered an adhesive type heat pad...and I don't fool around with batteries...I always get good ones with max CCA that I can find....and I always have a good one less than a few months old around t o use if I need a backup...no Walmart crap...and when I am looking for something to do, I clean and tighten the terminals and connections.as for fuel...in most parts of the country, as hard as it is for some people to accept...the fact is you just cannot get ethanol free fuel....I have heard the directive to go to a local airport, or a marine facility.....they are not allowed to sell it...AVgas is only available for legal sale directly into an airplane...

Has anyone tried a synthetic trans fluid in a hydro Cub? I’m running Kubota synthetic fluid in my Kubota BX. It claims to give better performance in cold weather than their previous fluid, I assume because it doesn’t get as thick in cold weather. That would help with cold starting.

There are 2 places around me that sell RV gas, it is 100% ethanol free.
it is for off road RV/mowers/chainsaws weed whackers etc.
Completely legal but about a dollar a gal more than regular gas.
both were Mobil stations.
One in particular quit selling kerosene from that pump and now sells the RV gas.
Didn't bother to see what the octane was as I don't use it.

Here is a link to locate ethanol free retailers. Click on a state at the bottom.
If you click "details" for a particular station, customers give feedback on prices, etc.

https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp

Yep, we have several stations in town that have a single pump for 100% gasoline. I use it for all the small engine stuff.

I believe the manual calls for 10 weight oil when the temps dip below 32.
I don't need to use my older machines in the winter. I use the twin cyl newer types and run 10-30 full syn Mobil 1 in them.

Kohler actually recommends straight 30 and cautions against substituting a multi visc

You are correct about straight 10 under 32*...and I use Mobil 1 in all my newer stuff too
And again guys chime in that they have no trouble finding real gas....if you do not live in a high population density part of the country it is available...if you are in or near a large population area...it is simply not legal to sell it

You might care to read the article at this link. Granted, it is 4 years old but it kinda refutes what you are saying about legalities.

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2015/0...u-might-think/

Take a look at this https://www.epa.gov/gasoline-standar...lated-gasoline
that is the EPA website....if you notice, Hemmings cites California as "no position" (just using this one because it demonstrated it the best) ...the EPA document (from which the laws are based) cites differently.....that is just one example......it's availability is predicated on more local government than the State level...for instance upstate NY has a lot of stations at which it is available...but in the NY metropolitan area (New York, Kings, Queens, Bronx, Richmond, Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk counties) local laws prohibit it...so....here in NY ...yes it is available...the closest station is over 100 miles from me

and


Straight 10 weight????

You need to spend a little time reading a Kohler service manual. Page 1.4 talks about what oil to use for what temp.

While you are reading your Kohler service manual read page 1.5. It deals what fuel you can run in your Kohler engine. The manual says it is ok to run gas with 10% or less ethanol.

I've ran some of what you call "real gas". My 149 didn't not have get up and go like it did on E10 gas plus I had to pay more. Talk to station manager and he says the bulk tank for the non ethanol gas doesn't get fill as often as the ethanol gas gets filled. Small engines need fresh gas.

I've been running E10 gas with no fuel related issue(s) for 15 plus years. Biggest problem I see is cause by poor fuel storage-handling habits.

Merk...take a look at post #20...that is a copy of the page from the original 129 manual...i could not make it any larger and still post it, so it is a little difficult to read ...but if you use a magnifying glass you will see ...it does call for 10 at temps below 32*...I think it sounds too thin also...but that is what the manual specifically calls for...in any event the pan heater is supposed to arrive today...and it has not been so cold...Also this engine is from 1973...manual says to use minimum of 91 (unleaded) octane, but since gas with ethanol was not really even available then it is not mentioned

My post says this:
I trust a Kohler service manual over the original IH manual any day. You should too.
My 149 Is my main show pusher. It doesn't need heating pad on trans. I run Kohler 10W-30 in the winter months.

Ethanol has been around for a long time. It was call bio gas back in the 80s.
The moonshiners called it shine or locally where I live it was called corn squeezins.

I've been working on Kohlers for 50 plus years. I learned a few things over the years.

I do see the discrepancy that you point out...but I think IH sold a lot of them with that recommendation...I would never use the straight 10 ...no matter how cold it gets..