Rebuilding the Kohler Command V -twin

[GTSRider]

My 550 hr. Kolhler V-twin is in a constant lightly smoking condition.
It runs hard and hot... and started this recently ..despite frequent oil changes...
at around 30- 40 hrs... of Rotella 15-40.
I was thinking of rings this winter... any one have any rebuild tips they can share ?
Pete

 

[GTSRider]

After doing some online research, and making some additional observations to my 3000 series Cub.... I am 99 % convinced ... all my problems are from a blown right side head gasket.
I see there was an up grade to the head gasket... so may have been
a design problem.
I am going to replace both... as they are sold as a pair.

 

[90cummins]

If a head gasket resolves your problem great but I would recommend switching to synthetic oil in your command. I use it in all my engines and would highly recommend it.
On my commercial mower with a 16hp vanguard I do 100hr oil changes and the oil looks fine.
It currently has 530hrs on it and uses no oil between changes.
Air cooled engines run much hotter than liquid cooled engines and trash conventional oil rather quickly.
Synthetic can handle the extreme heat and maintain viscosity much longer in sever conditions and is cheap insurance.
Tim

 

[GTSRider]

Tim.... good tip.... what brand do you like ?

 

[Captain Ned]

Tim.... good tip.... what brand do you like ?

Many here have had good luck with Shell Rotella T6 in 5W-40. Not only is a full-synthetic it's also primarily designed for diesels, which are much more highly stressed than gas engines.

 

[PoorPlowboy]

Many here have had good luck with Shell Rotella T6 in 5W-40. Not only is a full-synthetic it's also primarily designed for diesels, which are much more highly stressed than gas engines.

That T6 5-40 and Mobil 1 15w-50 is what I run in all of my small air cooled engines. Not that the diesel engine is stressed more, but that it's formulated to keep soot particles in suspension so that they can be filtered out.

I really notice an improvement in how much longer the engines last, and how clean the internals remain during 100hr or once per year oil changes.

Synthetic medium to high viscosity oil and ethanol free fuel will allow a small air cooled engine to see it's maximum available lifetime.

 

[slow wrench]

I also have a kohler command,you said it was running hot,hopfully you dont have a mouse nest in your motor.At idle i put my hand under each head and it blows pretty good .I try to check that once in a while.

 

[oldnslo]

My 550 hr. Kolhler V-twin is in a constant lightly smoking condition.
It runs hard and hot... and started this recently ..despite frequent oil changes...
at around 30- 40 hrs... of Rotella 15-40.
I was thinking of rings this winter... any one have any rebuild tips they can share ?
Pete

Have you performed a compression test on this engine? If not it might provide some info as to which cylinder is weak. if the valves wear tighter on that model this can also cause them to run lean which will make them run hotter.

Roy

 

[MoKelly]

My 550 hr. Kolhler V-twin is in a constant lightly smoking condition.
It runs hard and hot... and started this recently ..despite frequent oil changes...
at around 30- 40 hrs... of Rotella 15-40.

Shouldn't conventional oil be perfectly OK ... even for air cooled engines ... if its changed every 30-40 hours???

MoKelly

 

[Captain Ned]

Shouldn't conventional oil be perfectly OK ... even for air cooled engines ... if its changed every 30-40 hours???

MoKelly

The difference in price between dino squeezings and Rotella T synthetic is minimal and is cheap peace of mind, IMO.

 

[slow wrench]

I have read hundreds of posts about motor oil, the way my brain understands it,synthetic is more refined (less wax),Conventional (maybe 10%wax).Wax is a insulator(more heat)wax does not flow as well cold,but wax it makes oil stick to parts longer between start-ups.All oil must meet the same standard, forcing everyone to use simular additives. UOA reports are simular for both oils.

 

[micman32]

I have ran Kohler oil in my cub since I bought it new. I have 580 hours on a Command 20. I mow for 3+ hours usually without stopping. I have added oil only one time this season.

Mike

 

[GTSRider]

How often do you change oil & filter ?

 

[micman32]

I change it every 100 hours as stated in the manual. This works out about once a season for me.

 

[SKIDOZER]

I have a briggs vanguard that I run Amsoil v-twin motorcycle oil in for a racing motor that turned 6500 rpm with no failures.

I also run the amsoil in my 3185 for the last 10 years,starts great in winter for snowblowing. I only change the filter and oil once per year.