Down in the Dumps with my Kohler Engine / Not fixed / FIXED!

[Jim_Rogers]

I too was a little surprised to hear you were going to buy another Kohler. What other options do you have? Can you get some other brand or is that it for an easy replacement engine?

Jim Rogers

[red]

April Fools

[Magicman]

That stinks David.  Stinks!!!   :-\

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I too was a little surprised to hear you were going to buy another Kohler. What other options do you have? Can you get some other brand or is that it for an easy replacement engine?

Jim Rogers

Its the only gas engine Woodmizer offers. If they have another, I was not told of it.
New 26.5 hp gas Kohler : around $2400 from WM
New 33 hp Yanmar Diesel: around $8200 from WM

What else can I do? Just tired of down time.

*****As it is now.....this engine is burning almost twice the amount of gas as it used to*****

[Magicman]

I am seeing a 35 hp gas, but the brand is not indicated.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I am seeing a 35 hp gas, but the brand is not indicated.

I see the 35 hp on the WM website....its a Kohler.

[Ga Mtn Man]

A 35HP Kohler is an option on the LT40HD.

[Dave Shepard]

Those people at Kohler need to know if they mess with the goat, they're going to get the horn! I think they just found an easy mechanical problem to blame the issue on and never found the real problem. But it's easy for me to say that from here. I hope you get back to milling soon.

[Peter Drouin]

What.  ..

Not sure what I would do.

Yup. I would tell Kohler where to put the engine. Get the diesel have WM put it on the mill.
Take the old Kohler put it out front of your place with a sign on it.

Turf Care can't fix this 25 horse engine.

[pineywoods]

Dave, here's something to try. Costs nothing. Find the wire going from the key switch to the ECU. Disconnect it from the switch and hook it to an external 12 volt source, like a jumper pack (other side to frame ground.). If the problem goes away, you have an electrical problem messing with the ecu, if not then it sounds like an ecu problem, or one of the sensors feeding the ecu. ..The backfire sounds like  ignition, but the ecu fires the spark plugs and the fuel injectors. .  Yeah, I see you hooked up a voltmeter but it will be too slow to show a momentary drop in voltage.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Dave, here's something to try. Costs nothing. Find the wire going from the key switch to the ECU. Disconnect it from the switch and hook it to an external 12 volt source, like a jumper pack (other side to frame ground.). If the problem goes away, you have an electrical problem messing with the ecu, if not then it sounds like an ecu problem, or one of the sensors feeding the ecu. ..The backfire sounds like  ignition, but the ecu fires the spark plugs and the fuel injectors. .  Yeah, I see you hooked up a voltmeter but it will be too slow to show a momentary drop in voltage.

Good idea Piney

[LeeB]

I would be hard put to buy another kholer. Old saying, " Screw me once shame on you, screw me twice shame on me."

[Kbeitz]

Dave, here's something to try. Costs nothing. Find the wire going from the key switch to the ECU. Disconnect it from the switch and hook it to an external 12 volt source, like a jumper pack (other side to frame ground.). If the problem goes away, you have an electrical problem messing with the ecu, if not then it sounds like an ecu problem, or one of the sensors feeding the ecu. ..The backfire sounds like  ignition, but the ecu fires the spark plugs and the fuel injectors. .  Yeah, I see you hooked up a voltmeter but it will be too slow to show a momentary drop in voltage.

Good idea Piney

Just run a jumper form your truck battery.

[ladylake]

 Did it run like that right after you got it back from Kohler or take a while...   What kind of gas are you using, try a different supply.  I like Pineys idea to run a external power supply but it sure sounds like its starving for fuel or bad gas.  If your using ethanol you could be getting some with 20%.  Steve

[Ox]

Poston - this sucks with a capital S.  I'm very sorry to hear your troubles and tribulations.  I also believe you're a guy who doesn't just lay down and take it and I don't believe you'll ever give up.  I hope the end to all this is near and I hope you'll get satisfaction from this run around with that "repair shop".  This is not looking good concerning WM and Kohler and Kohler authorized repair shops.  I put my money on you and WM.

[4x4American]

Did you try changing the blade?  ;D

[Ga Mtn Man]

My bet's on a loose drive belt.

[Remle]

POSTONLT40HD
Is the ECM sending out any codes ?

[Seavee]

Sorry to hear this. I have been shying away from Kohler products for  a while now.  When I picked up my mill a couple weeks ago someone had dropped off a mill in front of the building over the weekend and just left the Kohler engine siting on the ground beside the mill. I think they tossed in the towel on that one. I hope this works out for you.

[starmac]

WOW I have just read this entire thread. I have always figured I would get the kohler replacement engine from woodmiser when my onan gives up the ghost, but will now have to rethink.

[Chuck White]

I've had the 25hp Kohler on my sawmill now for coming up on 2 year, come July and I personally have nothing but praise toward the engine.

I suppose with any product that there will be issues here and there.

[tnaz]

I've had the 25hp Kohler on my sawmill now for coming up on 2 year, come July and I personally have nothing but praise toward the engine.

I suppose with any product that there will be issues here and there.

And with those issues Woodmizer and Kohler should step up to the plate?/! Customer service!!!!

Thats my NO ADVICE
and please excuse the spelling and grammer errors; thats why I don't post.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Here is what went on today.

Got a call from Woodmizer, N.C......the engine I ordered will be at their place in about 10 days.
I asked them about getting the Kohler 35. If I bought this engine, it would come with no warranty. Why? Because I would have to change the wiring harness myself to fit my mill to the 35 hp engine.
I am assuming, I would have to take my mill to WM and let them put on the 35 hp to get my warranty.

Now....15 seconds after I hung up.....Kohler in Ann Arbor, MI. called and wanted the names and number from the folks at TURF CARE. It seems that Kohler pays these company's extra money to have a tech. come to your place and check a problem. This guy I talked to was really concerned that Turf Care blew me off.

As soon as I hung up with Kohler, I called Turf Care and told them I knew Kohler pays your company to come out to the field for problems. He got a little tongue tied and didn't know what to say. I told him he would be getting a call from Kohler.

As soon as I hung up with Turf Care, the Kohler people in Ohio called me. This was a super guy.
I explained everything that had been going on. He asked for all the serial number and model numbers on my mill and told me he is going to look into the warranty on this engine and he would help me and get back in touch with me.

Now.......within 20 minutes, a shop 6 miles away from me called me. This guys name in Ron.
He is a Kohler Tech at FORMAN'S REPAIR SHOP. Kohler had called him and asked him to call me.
He wants to see the work order from Turf Care and find out what they did.
He is coming out and bringing his lap top to plug up to my engine and see whats going on.
He asked me about the codes from the light. I explained that Turf Care has ordered me a new code light since my original light did not work. Ron said I would need to get that light. I said as soon as it comes in I will call you. Well.....low and behold, 15 minutes later Turf Care calls and my light is in.
I go to Turf Care and pick up my light....knowing Kohler has already called them. I was nice but they knew I was not a happy camper ( miss you brother). I paid for my light and he told me they are working on getting my money back to me I spent with them for a "band-aid". I said thanks and I'd call them in about a week.

Now....I have a friend that has an LT40 newer than mine. His Kohler engine went crazy doing the same thing about a 7 weeks ago. He took his engine and mill to FORMAN'S 6 miles away....the same people that wanna see my engine now.
My friends engine needed a new cam shaft. His is running like a brand new engine now.
The bad cam shaft was causing the surging and causing the fuel pump to act up.

                          ***********************************************

This is what I have done today. I have talked to my customers today. They know what I am going through,
They are very supportive in having to wait.

Me, Kohler, Woodmizer and Forman's really want and need to know what is going on with this engine in case another member or another customer with a piece of equipment has the same problem. One way or another, we're gonna find out.
I toss and turn at night thinking if I just install a brand new engine, I'll never know whats wrong with the engine thats got a problem.
The good thing is I can still saw but have to listen to the surge and popping and backfiring.
I'm mean DanG....I didn't see a Crow within a half mile of my mill all day from the backfiring.

Ron at Forman's will touch base and set up a time to come hook up his computer and read codes.

I'll let Y'all know how things work out. 

[Ga Mtn Man]

I was just on the phone with a guy who had the same exact thing happen to him.  Figure the odds of that... ;D

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I was just on the phone with a guy who had the same exact thing happen to him.  Figure the odds of that... ;D

;D