Need Guidence - Kohler CH23S

[ironman]

Originally Posted by ol'George

Not to rain on your parade in any way, keep an eye on the motor for a while.
It is possible the loose valve adjustment was not the problem, but a loose seat in the head was, that allowed the rocker to jump off the pushrod.
Like I said in post #2, I don't have any experience on those motors, but been around the block a time or two.
Just a FYI.

Originally Posted by Terry C

I'm with George on that. I hope the best for you but it seems like a strange thing. Also that George has been around the block a lot.

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

If it dropped a valve seat it wouldn't have the compression it does.

Originally Posted by Terry C

I've heard of the lifters pumping up and bending the pushrods. Usually in cold conditions. The lifters are like what's in a small block Chevy.

Originally Posted by ol'George

Agreed,
but if the seat reset itself into the head, it is going to happen again thus my comment to keep an eye on it.
Only time will tell ( or pull the head/look see)
hoping the best and it was just a loose stud nut.

Originally Posted by ol'George

Seen a lot of weird pushrod problems on them SBC's going back to the first ones in 1955.
prolly the most used /longest running design in history.

WOW! Now my brain is spinning. So much to ponder. I'll be doing cleanup and fixing minor stuff for another week or so until I feel comfortable that this thing is where I want it and will have it ready to test run, but you guys help a bunch for dealing with whatever comes next.

Thank ya'all!

[farmall fred]

I had the same thing happen to my CH 23 in my 1872. On mine the rocker arm pivot bolt loosened up and the rocker arm twisted to the side bending the pushrod and knocking a valve keeper out. I found it lying beside the valve spring. I installed a new pushrod replaced the keeper and cleaned the threads in the head and pivot bolt and installed them using blue loctite. I also did the same to the other pivot bolts to be safe. That was two years ago and it is still running great. I mow with it every week. I recommend the loctite treatment to insure that it does not happen again. The ch 23 is a good engine. If this fixes it you made a good deal. Good luck
Tom

[mcfried]

Same thing happened to my CH-23 in a GT3204. Was my grass mower for 10 years. Same valve even. Replaced lifter and push rod. Re torqued all the rockers
On both sides. Have been using it as snowblower for last two years no more
Problems. Seems like a pattern.

[ironman]

Originally Posted by farmall fred

I had the same thing happen to my CH 23 in my 1872. On mine the rocker arm pivot bolt loosened up and the rocker arm twisted to the side bending the pushrod and knocking a valve keeper out. I found it lying beside the valve spring. I installed a new pushrod replaced the keeper and cleaned the threads in the head and pivot bolt and installed them using blue loctite. I also did the same to the other pivot bolts to be safe. That was two years ago and it is still running great. I mow with it every week. I recommend the loctite treatment to insure that it does not happen again. The ch 23 is a good engine. If this fixes it you made a good deal. Good luck
Tom

Originally Posted by mcfried

Same thing happened to my CH-23 in a GT3204. Was my grass mower for 10 years. Same valve even. Replaced lifter and push rod. Re torqued all the rockers
On both sides. Have been using it as snowblower for last two years no more
Problems. Seems like a pattern.

I did not loctite anything at the time I discovered it. Nothing was damaged so I just corrected things and closed it up to see if it ran OK.

I have only used it 2-3 times since and everything remains fine. It is put away for the winter now but in the spring I think I will open it back up and do the loctite thing. Thanks for your inputs.