CH 18 valve seat question

Mike McKown · #1 06-05-2015, 06:46 PM

I have read here that valve seats will come loose in the CH series Kohler engines. I've never been exposed to that condition until maybe, now?

If this happens, what symptoms do you see and hear?

J-Mech · #2 06-05-2015, 06:48 PM

Engine misfire/ dead cylinder. Bent pushrods/ pushrod fell out.

Only fix is head replacement

dvogtvpe · #3 06-05-2015, 08:52 PM

if you keep the cooling fins clean you stand a better chance of not having a problem.

Mike McKown · #4 06-06-2015, 07:52 AM

If a pulled valve seat is consistent with the symptoms posted here, that isn't my problem.

This engine had a leaking front/rear crank seal when I got it a couple of years ago. Also, a blown head gasket in the left side. The engine was pretty well caked with oil and dirt then so I got it all cleaned up.

After cleaning the fuel system, replacing hoses, filter and cleaning the tank valves and carb, the thing has run very well until last fall. Since then, if the tractor sits awhile, it won't start unless you shoot a little starting fluid in the carb.

Last week, I cut about an acre and a half of grass and then parked it. It was running okay. Three days later, after I got it started, it would barely run cold, smoke out the exhaust and the choke had to be almost all the way on to run.

My first thought was head gasket causing the smoke and vacuum leak but I've never had a gasket cause that severe a problem.

I have put head gaskets on three different Kohlers and one Vanguard in the last two years but none of them ran like this engine. None of them looked as bad as this except this one Vanguard that I cleaned up and got running but everyone that had a blown head gasket had a dirty engine.

Eslenk · #5 06-09-2015, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Mech

Engine misfire/ dead cylinder. Bent pushrods/ pushrod fell out.

Only fix is head replacement

When mine fell out I brought it to a machine shop and had them install an oversize valve seat , do a valve job, resurface head for the price of $50.oo.

When mine fell out the first time, I froze the seat overnight and left the head in the hot sun. When I pressed it in it "felt" like a good fit. Put the engine back together and ran it 3 hours to cut the grass. It ran perfect. Turned it off to blow it off and put it away. Went to start it and the seat had dropped out while it was turned off.