1862 Kohler Magnum 18 -operating temp?

[DAC1227]

Hello Everyone

I bought my 1862 in pieces and have assembled it back to life. I have a lot of experience with vanguards, however, this is my first Kohler machine. I feel like it runs too hot (comparatively to other air-cooled engines I have). I've checked the normal of things to inspect, fuel settings, airflow obstruction, ect...

"Hot": with and without heat shields, the hood and sides are uncomfortably hot to the touch. Nothing is melting, nor do I believe its hot enough under there to ignite anything native on the machine.

Opinions, is this temp range considered normal on this set-up?
If normal, I'm thinking of rigging up some 12V fans supplying cool air or helping exhaust heat.

the photo is just for reference, and does not reflect it's current state (it's cleaned up and packaged with its shielding)

 

[Carl_NH]

DAC,

I have the same machine but 1811 18 HP Kohler Magnum. Hot is relative I think, but I can tell you it seems to run hotter than my Kawasaki in the Ferris.

I have had mine since 1989 (new) and I did have a mouse family made their home in the back of the cooling fan shroud with insulation last year - and it did get warm - got that cleaned out and now its running fine.

I have a digital temp probe and will check the left side air in the front for you as a reference - I also have one of those infrared temp probes. I will take some measurements and let you know.

Just by feel, its probably 120-130 - cant hold your hand in front of the machine too long.

Have you measured yours? Be interesting to see the difference.

Carl

 

[DAC1227]

Hi Carl, I have not measured it. I think a friend of mine might have an infrared thermometer that I could use, I agree that's a good starting point and would be interesting to compare results. when I first got the tractor a few months back I too had nests that I cleared out. Fan blows strong.

as I thought about it more today I have had some blow by here and there that I've noticed. replacing the breather seem to help but I bet I still have some issues perhaps with the head gaskets.

with your experience it sounds like maybe these are just warm engines to begin with. it's hard with an old machine you know very little about its history on whether or not to put money into it - plus I'm afraid to start pulling it apart in fear of what I will see. sometimes ignorance can be bliss ;-)

 

[Carl_NH]

Dac,

So tonight I ran my CC - I have a spray rig with my Stihl BP blower for Mosquito spraying and I use the 1811 as the transport - so not a lot of load on the engine in this case.

Ran for 20 minutes, ambient temp 75* humidity 50% (nice evening in NH) and I used a digital temp probe on the left side of the tractor just inside the front grille on the left side (non exhaust side). Temps stabilized at 193-195 wide open throttle.

I would suspect if I were to measure right near the head it would be 25-30* warmer. I also consulted the engine manual I have for the 1800 series and it doesnt specify the temp range. I think mine is within spec tho 195-200 air temp would be about right I surmise.

Next weekend I will get the infrared thermoter and see what the engine cooling fins register. Just wanted to pass this along.

Carl

 

[DAC1227]

Carl, thank you for this! I feel more comfortable seeing your results, and I am surprised at the high temps being 'typical'. I haven't yet produced an appropriate thermometer, but seeing your results, I think I have a steak thermometer that may work for some over-the-counter readings!
The weather here has been about the same in the evenings so at least we have some controls set. I have an engineer friend who is very meticulous, I hope he can come assist me with the right reading equipment soon.

I'll keep you posted. Thanks again!

 

[Carl_NH]

DAC,

I have been composting for 10 years now, but wife wanted "cooked compost" to elimnate weeds so I got some 9 yards of horse manure and mixed with my 15 or so yards of leaf mulch this year and covered it with a tarp.

In order to cook off the weed seeds it needed to be up to155F for about a week. So I "borrowed" her oven thermometer with the SST leads and put the lead on a stick and measured the temp a few times a week. Well the pile got cooked and so did I when she found out I was using her tools..

So I bought her a new one and also bought two extra probes for my "barn thermometer now.

I would buy this one and one or two spare probes as well. The units work fine - its the probes around water that does them in.

Amazon.com: Taylor 1470 Digital Cooking Thermometer/Timer: Kitchen & Dining

Carl

 

[DAC1227]

"Well the pile got cooked and so did I when she found out I was using her tools.."
That's great! After posting yesterday I wandered up to the kitchen only to find the steak thermometer to not go past 'well' -which ought to be some 30-40 degrees short of your readings. Thanks for the tips and amazon link.

 

[mark1]

Hi Dac 1227. I have a Cub Cadet 1863 with the 18hp kohler.let me tell you it runs HOT,Hot Hot and always has. If you try to check the oil after using the machine you have to have a rag or something. I have had it apart a couple years ago when it had a valve guide come loose. Then I replaced the head. So I know all the fins and air ways are clean. It has not melted anything yet but. I'll have to find a thermometer too and see what it reads.

 

[DAC1227]

I'm kind of glad to hear that actually! Still waiting for my friend with the good tools to come over.

Was thinking of adding exhaust fan just under the hood in the picture below just for the sake of tinkering. Question is will a good 12v computer van fan from Micro Center withstand the heat?

 

[Captain Ned]

Your best best is to find the applicable oil cooler kit (assuming your motor has one). It's an adapter that goes between the filter and the block and runs back to a radiator that hangs over a hole you cut in the air-cooling shroud so air blows through it.