kohler lifter noise

[markster]

Hi,

I have a 98 dixie chopper with the 20hp kohler engine. It has low hours and I maintain it religously. Sometimes when starting it up, the lifters clatter for 5-10 minutes. Sounds real bad. What can i do to fix this?

thanks,
mark

[DC Service]

Welcome to Lawn Forums.I think the only way to repair this would be to replace the lifters.How long has it been tapping? If it was doing it within the 2 year warranty,your dealer should have replaced them.Have your dealer call Kohler and ask about a policy adjustment.They might supply the parts it you pay the labor.Or you can just live with the noise.Good luck and let us know how you make out. :)

[txchopper]

It could be the oil that you are using. Which oil are you running?

[markster]

Hi,

I did some google searches and apparently Kohler vertical engines are notorious for lifter noise. Apparently air gets trapped in the lifters and they clatter, especially after an oil change.

I was using 10w30, and this latest time the noise started after an oil change. It seems the general advice is to use a low foaming oil. I changed the oil to Rotella 15w40 and the lifters quieted down. Other advice that i read is to use synthetic oil which is also low foaming, or Kohlers 10w30 oil if you can find it.

Thanks!
mark

[tshank]

Had the same prob. on a 25 horse. Was told it was a design flaw in the earlier mods. that is now corrected. The 25's have a kit avail. that cuts down on foaming. Fixed mine. Was suggested I run the oil cap. bout 1/4 low and use only Kohler oil. Believe the kit fixed mine. Dealer said sometimes the kit works, sometimes won't. Don't think the oil made much difference.

[bam3611]

HI There is a fix for tis and kohler does make a kit. What had happened is they drilled the oil hole for the lifter to high on the intake side of the #1 cylinder and it lets the lifter run in the air all most all the time. The kit changes where the lifter gets it oil and a new cover plate takes care of the air Every one that I have installed has taken care of the problem and you will need to change the lifter too.

[cclllc]

Did kohler make a change to the 25's?.I bought one about a yr or so ago.

[DC Service]

If you are having a lifter problem,bring your machine to your local dealer(while the 2 year engine warranty is still in effect) and have it repaired.The lifters should not tap. :)

[tshank]

From what I was told, Kohler redesigned and corrected the problem.
If I remember, my engine was mfg. in '01. Don't know when the new design kicked in.

[DC Service]

I will have an answer from Kohler in the morning. :)

[DC Service]

After speaking with Kohler,the engine was not re-designed(the gasket for the breather cover was re-designed).A lifter noise could be caused by (1) Lack of proper maintenence,(2) Wrong oil,or (3) Air in lifter.An authorized Kohler Dealer is the best place to have the unit diagnosed,and the dealer will determine if it is a warranty situation.This re-designed gasket was introduced in April of 2001.

[olddix]

Is it possible to retro fit the updated gasket into 1996 20 hp engine ? Will this help my lifter noise? How difficult is this gasket to install?I have tried different oils including lucas syntec and rotella but I still have lifter noise after extended mow sessions and a restart of the engine . Is the old gasket design letting a lifter drain when engine is shut down hot ?

[bam3611]

Yes it will work on a 20 Hp comand engine what they did is lower the oil passage about 1/8" to get it to run where it can get oil ON the new engines. I tryed this one time I blocked the old passage off with a lead fishing weight and redrilled it myself it worked but I do not recamend some one trying this with out knowing what they are doing if you drill it wrong you just bought yourself a new block. The kit you get from the dealer has instruction in it and a lot of gaskets and a rubber plug . What you do is take the carb off and the heat shields to get to the breather cover. take out the four bolts pull off the cover remoce the pressure switch and lay it off to the side you will need it later clean off the old gasket. Now take the rubber plug and install it like the direction say it will need to be flus with the gasket surface. now install the new gasket and cover and pressure switch. put all the parts back on and now remove the rocker cover and take off the top rocker arm and install a new lifter and reinstall the rocker torque it to spec and install all the parts you had taken off. let it run at a idle for about 10 minutes and the noise will go away.

[olddix]

Thanks ,that doesnt sound too difficult . Any idea the cost of the kit ?

[DC Service]

Your dealer has the info on the kit. :)

[bam3611]

I will check and let you know the part # and price so you can get it quicker from the dealer

[bam3611]

Here is the part # for the kit 24 755 135-s as for the price you will need to ask your dealer

[olddix]

Thanks for help ,just installed kit and lifter noise is gone :D I sure hope it stays gone

[DC Service]

Glad it was a simple fix! :) Kohler makes a very reliable product.Sometimes there are a few minor problems :rolleyes: ,but Kohler updates its authorized dealers when ever there is a problem.Thats why they are still used on Dixie Chopper mowers :cool: ,Kohler stands behind their American made product. :D

[tshank]

Glad it was a simple fix! :) Kohler makes a very reliable product.Sometimes there are a few minor problems :rolleyes: ,but Kohler updates its authorized dealers when ever there is a problem.Thats why they are still used on Dixie Chopper mowers :cool: ,Kohler stands behind their American made product. :D

Heard a Kohler rep. say that horsepower is on the way. Avail. this fall, on machs. for '06. Anything you can talk about?

[DC Service]

Nothing yet,I am sure there will be some exciting new products at Louisville this year! :D