Kohler and the LT28

[Wallys World]

I was milling the other day, everything was going fine, went to load a log, shut it down, loaded the n tried to restart. Click, nothing. Battery is fairly new, pulled starter, spins fine. Decided to pull the front fan cover, I can turn it by hand hard, but a grinding noise. Pulled the motor off and took it to our shop and this is what I found:


 

 
Ordered a new flywheel and coil. Parts are here but too many other things going on this week to work on it.

[Gere Flewelling]

That is an interesting breakdown.  I wonder if it had gotten hot for some reason.  Low or shorted battery possibly.  Although you did say the battery was new.  Could it have been caused by the old battery?  I haven't worked on Kohler charging system much but did work on Wisconsin engines back in the 80's that had a similar looking charging stator and magnets in the flywheel.  Those had an external rectifier and regulator that often bothered.  Have you tried taking the bolts out of the stator yet?  On the Wisconsin's those bolts would get rusty and loved to snap off.  Plus the stator used a pair of roll pins to keep the stator in the exact centered location and the bolts just held it in place.  I would suggest a little anti-sieze on the bolts going back in.  Might save some stress the next time you have to get in there.  Good luck with the repair.  I think that just getting the flywheel off will probably be the hardest part of the repair.  I usually is for me anyway.

[Wallys World]

I think the magnets came loose first and then took out the coil. I have been reading that Kohler has had problems with the glue holding the magnets. Flywheel came off easy, Blue Creeper and a puller. Bolts on the coil came out easy, again Blue Creeper. It's ready to go back together, but I'm getting ready to head north for a family reunion and pick up a truck.