Seized Kohler Courage 20 hp

[Timn8r66]

Hello all,

I have an LTX1045 that I purchased in mid-2013 from one of the big box stores. It came with a 20hp Kohler Courage single lung engine. It has less than 100 hours on it.

In October it developed a miss. I got it back to the garage and shut it down. I found the problem: a critter had chewed through the plug wire. But after the repair I found that somehow, in those last few seconds of operation, the engine had seized.

My questions are around how to proceed:
- I could rebuild what I have, but it would be a first for me to do (~$400 maybe), but I'm not so inclined to try this
- I could buy a replacement Kohler engine (~ $800)
- I could buy a replacement engine from Harbor Freight for about the same amount
- I could sell the rider outright and probably not get much out of it.

What advisements might you provide? Is there another option I haven't considered?

Thank you.

[ol'George]

If we may ask, how do you know it is seized?
A critter chewing on the spark plug wire is not going to seize the engine.
I will believe the wire has been chewed for a while and you happen to find it after looking for a running poor problem.
Did you try to turn the engine over by hand and it will not turn,
or it will not turn with the starter?
or you removed the head and the cylinder is scored, or went farther and the rod is welded to the crank?
I'm hoping for your benefit, that is is not a catastrophic seizure but something simple that got overlooked.
How many hours on it? was it full of oil? or you ran it out of oil ?

[Cubcadet_107]

Courage engines aren't known to be the best engines, but I gotta agree with George, a little critter chewing a plug wire won't seize your engine.

Now if that little critter managed to get into the cylinder, maybe. But by the sound of it you were using the machine just before it "seized".

You said you made the repair, assuming you removed the coil, when you put it back on, maybe you didn't gap it from the flywheel? If it's rubbing directly on the flywheel the engine ain't gonna wanna turn over.

Going off what George said, when you say it wouldn't turn, was this trying by hand, or trying with the electric starter? If the starter won't turn it then most likely you've got an electrical issue, say bad solenoid, key switch, or maybe you left the PTO on or have it in gear. Could be as simple as you forgot something and a safety switch is preventing the starter from cranking the engine.

[crazycubtrio]

Be advised also that a cylinder full of gasoline will make it seem seized too. A courage 19 I had did that until the fuel pump got replaced. Good luck and hopefully it’s something simple

[Timn8r66]

After I replaced the coil pack / plug wire, it wouldn't turn over. Replaced the battery. Then replaced the starter. Then I tried to turn the engine by hand. It's firm, there is no budge. Before replacing the wire I had the plug out of the engine and no gas came out. I checked the PTO, the mower is not engaged. I can't think of any other electrical safety switches - sitting on the seat, brake engaged. There is less than 100 hours on the engine.

Thanks.

[R Bedell]

Before replacing the wire I had the plug out of the engine and no gas came out

.

Did you roll over the engine to determine this ??

[Cubcadet_107]

Originally Posted by Timn8r66

After I replaced the coil pack / plug wire, it wouldn't turn over.

I go back to, did you gap the coil properly? Usual recommendation is .010" between the edges of the coil and the flywheel. Easy way to make sure it's gapped right is loosen the coil, pull it back, insert a piece of like card stock (thick paper, basically) and rotate the flywheel to the magnet. The magnet would pull the coil in towards the flywheel, but the card stock keeps a gap between the 2 surfaces. Tighten the coil down good, and rotate the flywheel until you can pull the paper out.

Now if you haven't gapped it right, and it's just rubbing right on the flywheel, the moment you loosen the coil mounting bolts and pull it back, the flywheel should now spin freely as will the engine. The situation would be even worse if the coil is rubbing on the flywheel in the spot where the magnet is, because then you have the combined force of metal-on-metal friction AND the magnet's pull, keeping the engine from spinning.

Again, not saying this is the case, but in my opinion it seems rather likely.

Here's a pic I stole from the webs:



Just a piece of paper is all it takes to gap it properly

[Timn8r66]

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

[darkminion_17]

I agree what ol' George said about the wire, if were chewed on it would still run.
I am surprised you put a new stater in it without seeing if the engine would turn buy hand even when you had the old starter out. More than likely it is seized

[Billy-O]

I have to imagine a brave little critter chewing on a plug wire while you are mowing the grass....... Is it still alive? I meant the critter!

It had to be something else that caused the miss.